[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8369-8376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3954]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 36 / Tuesday, February 24, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 8369]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 19, 2004.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or fax (202) 395--5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
(202) 7208681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: ``Certificate for Quota Eligibility'' (CQE) to Enter Sugar 
into the United States.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0014.
    Summary of Collection: 5(a)(i) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States authorizes the Secretary to establish a raw-can sugar 
tariff-rate quota (TRQ). 5(b)(i) authorizes the U.S. Trade 
Representative to allocate the raw-cane sugar tariff-rate quota among 
supplying countries. Certificates of Quota Eligibility (CQE) are issued 
to the 40 countries that receive TRQ allocations to export sugar to the 
United States. The CQE is completed by the certifying authority in the 
foreign country that certifies that the sugar being exported to the 
United States was produced in the foreign country that has the TRQ 
allocation. The Foreign Agriculture (FAS) will collection information 
using form FSA-961.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect the following 
information: (1) Country of origin or area of the eligible raw can 
sugar; (2) quota period; (3) quality of raw can sugar to be exported; 
(4) details of the shipment (shipper, vessel, port of loading); and (5) 
additional details if available at the time of shipment (consignee, 
address of consignee, expected date of departure, expected date of 
arrival in the U.S., expected port of arrival). The information will 
help determine if the quantity to be imported is eligible to be entered 
under the TRQ.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 40.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 200.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Certified Mediation Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0165.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has amended 
its agricultural loan mediation regulations to implement the 
requirements of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (the 1994 Act) and the United 
States Grain Standards Act of 2000 ( the Grain Standards Act). The 
regulations provide a mechanism to states to apply for and obtain 
matching funds grants from USDA. The grant funds help states supplement 
administrative operating funds needed to administer their agricultural 
mediation programs. FSA will collection information by mail, phone, 
fax, and in person.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine whether the State meets the eligibility criteria to be 
recipients of grant funds, and secondly, to determine if the grant is 
being administered as provided by the Act.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 29.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 928.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Facsimile Signature Authorization and Verification.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0203.
    Summary of Collection: Individuals wishing to conduct business and 
provide certain signed documents to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) Service Center agencies via facsimile machines must complete 
form FSA-237, Facsimile Signature Authorization and Verification. The 
form serves as evidence that the individual is willing to conduct 
business and provide signed documents through facsimile machines. Each 
of the USDA service center agencies (Farm Service Agency, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development Agencies) will 
share the signature on the FSA-237 forms to eliminate redundant 
collection of the same data.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect the name, 
signature and identification number from service center customers. The 
information collected will be used to verify the authenticity of 
signatures on documents provided to USDA service centers via 
telefacsimile. Failure to collect and maintain the original signature 
will limit USDA's ability to offer the telefacsimile alternative to its 
service center customers.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 51,965.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (once).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,039.

[[Page 8370]]

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Rate Quotation for Transportation Services.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) 
through the Kansas City Commodity Office (KCCO), solicits bids from 
approved Motor Carriers and Intermodal Marketing Companies for the 
purpose of providing transportation of agricultural commodities. 49 
U.S.C. 13712 authorizes USDA to receive freight rate quotes from 
approved Motor Carriers and Intermodal Marketing Companies that are 
compliant with USDA requirements to haul agricultural products for 
USDA. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using form 
KC-5, Rate Quotation for Transportation Services.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will be 
used by KCCO to: (1) Establish the lowest cost of movement via Motor 
Carriers or Intermodal Marketing Companies, (2) determine whether the 
transportation needs of USDA, FSA, and KCCO are being met, and (3) 
ensure that Motor Carriers and Intermodal Marketing Companies, 
providing transportation services have both the willingness and the 
capability to meet these needs.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other-for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local and Tribal Government; Federal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 132.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Other (as needed).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,353.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: National Agricultural Pest Information System.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0010.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from 
entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests not widely 
distributed in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests 
when eradication is feasible. The Plant Quarantine Act and the Federal 
Plant Pest Act authorizes the Department to carry out this mission. The 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has joined forces 
with the States to create a program called the Cooperative Agricultural 
Pest Survey. The program allows the States and the Plant Protection and 
Quarantine (PPQ) to conduct surveys to detect and measure the presence 
of imported plant pests and to input survey data into a national 
computer-based system (called the National Agricultural Plant 
Information System). APHIS will collect information using PPQ Form 391 
and the information from the survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
predict potential pest situations and to promptly detect and respond to 
the occurrence of new pests and to record the location of those pest 
incursions that could directly hinder the export of U.S. farm 
commodities. If the information were not collected, it would seriously 
affect APHIS ability to timely assist farmers, State personnel, and 
others involved in agriculture to plan pest control measures, detect 
new outbreaks, and to determine the threat posed by migratory pests.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 155.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,969.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0158.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to regulate the 
importation of plants, plant products, and other articles to prevent 
the introduction of injurious plant pests. Regulations contained in 
Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 319 (subpart--Fruits 
and Vegetables), sections 319.56 through 319.56-8 implement the intent 
of this Act by prohibiting or restricting the importation of certain 
fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the 
world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of fruit flies and 
other injurious plant pests that are new to or not widely distributed 
within the United States. Allowing these fruits and vegetables to be 
imported necessitates the use of certain information collection 
activities, including the completion of import permits, phytosanitary 
inspection certificates, and fruit fly monitoring records.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) will collect the name and address of the 
importer, the type of fruit or vegetables being imported, from which 
country these products are being imported, and other information 
regarding the shipment that will enable APHIS to determine whether the 
fruit or vegetables are eligible for import and if so, what (if any) 
risk mitigation measures will be necessary to ensure these items pose 
minimal risk of introducing plant pests into the United States. Without 
the information, APHIS would need to inspect each and every shipment 
very thoroughly to ensure that no pests were accompanying the shipment. 
This would require considerable more inspection time, thus drastically 
slowing the clearance of international shipments.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 150.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,200.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0160.
    Summary of Collection: Sections 901-905 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 authorize the Secretary of 
Agriculture to issue guidelines for regulating the commercial 
transportation of horses to slaughter by persons regularly engaged in 
that activity within the United States. To fulfill this responsibility, 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established 
regulations in title 9, part 98 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The 
minimum standards cover, among other things, the food, water, and rest 
provided to these horses while they are in transit; and to review other 
related issues that may be appropriate to ensuring that these animals 
are treated humanely. Implementing these regulations entails the use of 
two information collection activities in the form of an owner-shipper 
certificate, as well as the collection of employment information on any 
person found to be transporting horses to a slaughtering facility.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect the following 
information: (1) Shipper's name and address and the owner's name and 
address; (2) description of the transporting vehicle, including the 
license plate number; (3) a description of the horse's physical 
characteristics, including its sex, coloring, distinguishing marks, 
permanent brands, electronic means of identification, or other 
characteristics that can be used to accurately identify the horse; (4) 
the number of the USDA back tag that has been applied to the horse for 
identification purposes; (5) a statement of the animal's fitness to 
travel, which must indicate that the horse is able to bear weight on 
all four limbs, is able to walk unassisted, is not blind in both eyes, 
is older than 6

[[Page 8371]]

months of age, and is not likely to give birth during the trip; (6) a 
description of anything unusual with regard to the physical condition 
of the horse, such as a wound or blindness in one eye, and any special 
handling needs; (7) the date, time, and place the horse was loaded on 
the conveyance; and (8) a statement that the horse was provided access 
to food, water, and rest prior to transport.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,203.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: District of Columbia Plant Health Certificate.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0166.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing plant pests and noxious weeds for 
entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests and weeds 
not widely distributed in the United States and eradicating those 
imported pests and weeds when eradication is feasible. The Federal 
Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772) authorized the Department to 
carry out this mission. The Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) of 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides 
certification services for plant material moving interstate to ensure 
other states that the plants and plant products they are receiving from 
the District of Columbia are free of prohibited or otherwise regulated 
plant pests. APHIS will collect information using form PPQ 571 District 
of Columbia Plant Health Certificate.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using forms PPQ 571, to certify that the domestic plant or other plant 
material described by the shipper has been inspected according to 
appropriate procedures and that it is considered free from certain 
plant diseases, insects, or other pests, and is considered to conform 
with the requirements of the importing State. If the information is not 
collected, it would likely result in the interstate spread of damaging 
agricultural pests. Further entities in the District of Columbia would 
be unable to ship their products to other States, as other States 
require this certification.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 4.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 40.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Veterinary Services User Fees; Fees for Permit Applications.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0167.
    Summary of Collection: The Food, Agricultural, Conservation and 
Trade Act of 1990, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture 
to prescribe and collect fees to reimburse Agencies for the cost of 
carrying out the provisions of the Federal Animal Quarantine Laws that 
relate to the importation, entry, and exportation of animals, articles, 
or means of conveyance. The Veterinary Services Division of USDA's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the unit 
responsible for processing import permit applications and for charging 
a user fee to provide this service. VS 16-3, Application for Permit to 
Import Controlled Material; Import or Transport Organisms or Vectors 
will be used to collect information.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected from the 
import permit application process enables USDA to carefully evaluate 
the risks associated with commodities prior to their entry into the 
United States and to determine the appropriate user fee to charge. 
Failure to collect user fees could create a significant funding 
shortage that might cripple APHIS ability to process import permit 
applications in a timely manner.
    Description of Respondents: Federal Government; Business or other 
for-profit; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 2,350.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 47.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Citrus Canker; Payment for Recovery of Lost Production 
Income.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0168.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture, either independently or in 
cooperation with the States, is authorized to carry out operations or 
measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control, prevent, or retard 
the spread of plant pests (such as citrus canker) new to or widely 
distributed throughout the United States. The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Services (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine, has 
regulations in place to prevent the interstate spread of citrus canker. 
These regulations restrict the interstate movement of regulated 
articles from and through areas quarantined because of citrus canker. 
APHIS established a program under which eligible owners of commercial 
citrus groves in Florida could receive payments to recover production 
income lost as a result of the removal of their commercial citrus trees 
to control citrus canker. The payment of these funds is intended to 
reduce the economic effect of citrus canker quarantine on affected 
commercial citrus growers in Florida. Implementing this payment program 
necessitates the use of information collection activities in the form 
of an Application for Funds.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect from the 
application the owner's name and address, a description of the owner's 
property, and a certification statement that the trees removed from the 
owner's property were commercial citrus trees. Along with the 
application form, the owner must also send a copy of the public order 
or destruction order that describes the acreage the number and the 
types of trees removed. The information collected will be used to: (1) 
Obtain the correct address to which funds are to be sent, and (2) 
verify the location and acreage for which the owner is requesting 
recovery funds. Without the information APHIS would be unable to 
reimburse eligible grove owners for the loss of production income.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 20.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: CSF--Importation of Pork and Pork Products and Live Swine 
from 4 Mexican States.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0230.
    Summary of Collection: Disease prevention is the most effective 
method for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ability to compete 
in the world market of animal and animal product trade. Veterinary 
Services, a division with APHIS is responsible for carrying out this 
disease prevention mission. The agency regulates the importation of 
animals and animal products into the United States to guard against the 
introduction of exotic animal diseases such as classical swine fever. 
The regulations under which APHIS conducts these disease prevention 
activities are contained in Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter D, Parts 91 
through 99 of the Code of Federal

[[Page 8372]]

Regulations. These regulations place certain restrictions on the 
importation of swine, pork, and pork products in order to prevent an 
incursion of classical swine fever or other exotic swine diseases into 
the United States.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using a certificate issued by a salaried veterinary officer of the 
Government of Mexico. The certificate must identify both the exporting 
region and the region of origin as a region designated as free of 
classical swine fever at the time the swine, pork and pork products 
were in the region. If the information were not collected it would 
significantly cripple APHIS' ability to ensure that swine, pork, and 
pork products from certain States within Mexico pose a minimal risk of 
introducing classical swine fever and other exotic animal diseases into 
the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 5.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 50.

Forest Service

    Title: Operating Plans.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0086.
    Summary of Collection: The National Forest Management Act, 16 
U.S.C. 472a(14)(C) (Act) requires timber sale operating plans on timber 
sales that exceed 2 years in length. The regulations at 36 CFR 223.32 
have a similar requirement. The operating plans are collected within 60 
days of award of timber sale contracts and annually thereafter until 
harvest is complete. There is no prescribed format for the collection 
of the information. Timber sale purchasers may submit the required 
information in the form of a chart or letter using surface mail, 
electronic mail, or via facsimile. The information is based on the 
timber sale purchaser's business plan.
    Need and Use of the Information: Forest Service (FS) will collect 
information to determine eligibility for additional contract time. In 
addition, the information is used to plan the agency timber sale 
contract administration workload and to meet other contract 
obligations. The information collected includes planned periods and 
methods of anticipated major activities, including, road construction, 
timber harvesting, and completion of other contract requirements.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 2,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,875.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: RUS Form 444, ``Wholesale Power Contracts''.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0089.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE 
Act) as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), authorizes the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) to make and guarantee loads that will enable rural 
consumers to obtain electric power. Rural consumers formed non-profit 
electric distribution cooperatives, groups of these distribution 
cooperatives banded together to form Generation and Transmission 
cooperatives (G&T's) that generate or purchase power and transmit the 
power to the distribution systems. All RUS and G&T borrowers will enter 
into a Wholesale Power Contract with their distribution members by 
using RUS form 444.
    Need and Use of the Information: To fulfill the purposes of the RE 
Act RUS will collect information to improve the credit quality and 
credit worthiness of loans and loan guarantees to G&T borrowers. RUS 
works closely with lending institutions that provide supplemental loan 
funds to borrowers.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 110.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 660.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1775, Technical Assistance Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0112.
    Summary of Collection: Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (CONACT), 7 U.S.C. 1926, authorizes Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans and grants to public agencies, 
American Indian tribes, and nonprofit corporations. The loans and 
grants fund the development of drinking water, wastewater, and solid 
waste disposal facilities in rural areas with populations of up to 
10,000 residents. Non-profit organizations receive Technical Assistance 
and Training (TAT) and Solid Waste Management (SWM) grants to help 
small rural communities or areas identify and solve problems relating 
to community drinking water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal 
systems. The technical assistance is intended to improve the management 
and operation of the systems and reduce or eliminate pollution of water 
resources. TAT and SWM are competitive grant programs administered by 
RUS.
    Need and Use of the Information: Non-profit organizations applying 
for TAT and SWM grants must submit a pre-application, which includes an 
application form, narrative proposal, various other forms, 
certifications and supplemental information. RUS will collect 
information to determine applicant eligibility, project feasibility, 
and the applicant's ability to meet the grant and regulatory 
requirements. RUS will review the information, evaluate it, and, if the 
applicant and project are eligible for further competition, invite the 
applicant to submit a formal application. Failure to collect proper 
information could result in improper determinations of eligibility, 
improper use of funds, or hindrances in making grants authorized by the 
TAT and SWM program.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 95.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,555.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Supplemental Qualifications Statement.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0209.
    Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture has an 
Interagency Agreement with the Office of Personnel, which provides the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) with the authority to 
examine, rate, and certify applications for agricultural statistician 
positions. In addition to resumes, curriculum vitae, and the standard 
Optional Application for Federal Employment, NASS has created a 
Supplemental Qualifications Statement (SQS) for agricultural 
statistician and mathematical statistician positions. The SQS allows 
applicants the opportunity to describe their achievements or 
accomplishments as they relate to the required knowledge, skills, and 
abilities.
    Need and Use of the Information: THe SQS provides applicants with 
information related to how they will be measured for a position and 
what kinds of information will be used to evaluate those abilities. 
NASS personnel specialist will use the information on the SQS to 
evaluate and rate the applicant's accomplishments or achievements. 
Ultimately, the information is used by the selecting official as one of 
the criteria in the selection process.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 50.

[[Page 8373]]

    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 150.

National Agriculture Statistics Service

    Title: Agricultural Surveys Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0213.
    Summary of Collection: National Agriculture Statistics Service 
(NASS) primary functions are to prepare and issue state and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production and collect information on 
related environmental and economic factors. The Agricultural Surveys 
Program is a series of surveys that contains basic agricultural data 
from farmers and ranchers throughout the Nation the preparing 
agricultural estimates and forecasts. The surveys results provide the 
foundation for setting livestock and poultry inventory numbers. 
Estimates derived from the surveys supply information needed by farmers 
to make decisions for both short and long-term planning. The General 
authority for these data collection is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, 
Section 2206.
    Need and Use of the Information: The surveys provide the basis for 
estimates of the current season's crop and livestock production and 
supplies of grain in storage. Crop and livestock statistics help 
develop a stable economic atmosphere and reduce risk for production, 
marketing, and distribution operations. These commodities affect the 
well being of the nation's farmers, commodities markets, and national 
and global agricultural policy.
    Users of agricultural statistics are farm organizations, 
agribusiness, state and national farm policy makers, and foreign buyers 
of agricultural products but the primary user of the statistical 
information is the producer. Agricultural statistics are also used to 
plan and administer other related federal and state programs in such 
areas as school lunch program, conservation, foreign trade, education, 
and recreation. Collecting the information less frequent would 
eliminate needed data to keep the government and agricultural industry 
abreast of changes at the state and national levels.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 578,650.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; Semi-annually; 
Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 134,129.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Nursery Production survey and Nursery and Floriculture 
Chemical Use Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0244.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS) is charged with the responsibility of providing reliable, up-to-
date information concerning the Nation's farms and ranches to farm 
groups, the public, Congress, the Executive Branch and the Secretary of 
Agriculture. Congress appropriated funds for the collection of 
pesticide use data on nursery and floriculture operations. This data 
will expand the existing NASS pesticide database that contains 
comprehensive annual pesticide use reports. The authority for these 
data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 
2204.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information to 
assess the environmental and economic impact of various programs, 
policies and procedures on nursery and floriculture operators and their 
workers. This data will enhance the national chemical use database 
maintained by NASS which is an integral source of data necessary for 
on-going risk assessments related to dietary exposure to chemicals, 
worker safety, water quality and ecological resources.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 12,145.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Biennially.
    Total Burden Hours: 7,052,

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Request for Electronic Loan Deficiency Payment Services.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0220.
    Summary of Collection: The USDA County Base Agency's (CBA) have 
developed a management and technical process that addresses user 
authentication and authorization prerequisites for providing services 
electronically. The process provides an electronic alternative to 
traditional ink signatures. The process is based on a one-time 
registration requirement for each CBA customer desiring access to any 
on-line services that require user authentication. The information 
collected on form AD-2016, USDA Registration Form to Request Electronic 
Access Code, is necessary to enable the authentication of users and 
grant them access to only those resources for which they are 
authorized.
    Need and Use of the Information: The voluntary registration process 
applies to CBA customers and partners (non-CBA employees) who request 
Farm Service Agency, Rural Development, and Natural Resources 
Conservation Service provided services. Registration can be requested 
by the customer in person, by mail, or by fax. The information 
collected on form AD-2016 will be used to verify and validate the 
identity of registrants and to enable the electronic authentication of 
users. The user will then have access to these authorized resources 
without needing to reauthenticate within the context of a single 
Internet session.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or Households; 
Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 5,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,600.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Research on Rural Cooperative Opportunities and Problems.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0028.
    Summary of Collection: Public Law 103-350, the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, established The Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBS). The mission of RBS is to improve the quality 
of life in rural America by financing community facilities and 
businesses, providing technical assistance and creating effective 
strategies for rural development. The primary objective of this funding 
is to encourage research through cooperative agreements on critical 
issues vital to the development and sustainability of cooperatives as a 
means of improving the quality of life in America's rural communities. 
RBS will collect information through research proposals prepared by 
applicants, who may be public or private colleges or universities, 
research foundations maintained, by a college or university, or private 
nonprofit organizations.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect information from 
applicants to determine (1) Eligibility; (2) the specific purpose for 
which the funds will be utilized; (3) time frames or dates by which 
activities surrounding the use of funds will be accomplished; (4) 
feasibility of the project; (5) applicants' experience in managing 
similar activities; and (6) the effectiveness and innovation used to 
address critical issues vital to the development and sustainability of 
cooperatives as a means of improving the quality of life in America's 
rural communities. Without the collection of information, there would 
be no basis on which to award funds or monitor project progress.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,339.

[[Page 8374]]

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0048.
    Summary of Collection: The National Sheep Industry Improvement 
Center (NSIIC) is authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2008j to assist the U.S. sheep 
and goat industries by strengthening and enhancing the production and 
marketing of sheep, goats, and their products in the United States. The 
management of NSIIC is vested in a Board of Directors consisting of 7 
voting members chosen from the sheep and goat industries.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
to confirm that an applicant meet the eligibility requirements; the 
specific purpose for which the funds will be utilized; timeframes or 
dates by which activities surrounding the use of funds will be 
accomplished; feasibility of the project; applicants' experience in 
managing similar activities; and the effectiveness and innovation used 
to address critical issues vital to the development and sustainability 
of businesses, job creation, loans packaged, business information 
system network, and infrastructure development as a means of improving 
the American Sheep or Goat Industries. Without this information, there 
would be no basis on which to award funds.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; Farms; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 45.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Recordkeeping.
    Total Burden Hours: 383.

Rural Utility Service

    Title: Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0122.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is authorized 
by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to make loans to 
public agencies, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes for the 
development of water and waste disposal facilities primarily servicing 
rural residents. The Waste and Water Disposal Programs (WW) of RUS 
provide insured loan and grant funds through the WW program to finance 
many types of projects varying in size and complexity. The Waste and 
Water Disposal Guaranteed Program is codified under 7 CFR 1779. The 
guaranteed loan program encourages lender participation and provides 
specific guidance in the processing and servicing of guaranteed loans.
    Need and Use of the Information: Rural Development's field offices 
will collect information from applicants/borrowers, lenders, and 
consultants to determine eligibility, project feasibility and to ensure 
borrowers operate on a sound basis and use loan funds for authorized 
purposes. There are agency forms required as well as other requirements 
that involve certifications from the borrower, lenders, and other 
parties. Failure to collect proper information could result in improper 
determinations of eligibility, use of funds and or unsound loans.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 858.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Marketing Order Regulating the Handling of Spearmint Oil 
Produced in the Far West, M.O. 985.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0065.
    Summary of Collection: The marketing order programs provide an 
opportunity for producers of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty 
crops, in a specified production area to work together to solve 
marketing problems that cannot be solved individually. Far West 
spearmint marketing order regulates the handling of spearmint oil 
produced in the Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and designated parts of 
Nevada and Utah. The order authorizes the issuance of allotment 
provisions for producers and regulates the quantities of spearmint oil 
handled and has the authority for research and development. Under the 
Agriculture Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-
674), industries enter into marketing order programs. Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) may act as the Secretary's agent to oversee the 
order operations and issue regulations recommended by a committee of 
representatives from each commodity industry.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Committee has the 
authorization to require producers, handlers, and processors submit 
certain information as provided by the Order, rules and regulations. 
Various forms relating to spearmint supplies, shipments, and 
dispositions, are used and required to effectively carry out the 
purpose of the Act and order. The committee periodically reviews 
reports and forms to ensure that they are understandable, easy to fill 
out, and only the minimum of information necessary is reported. The 
information collected is used by authorized representatives of USDA, 
including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs' regional and headquarters 
staff, and employees of the Committee. Timing and frequency of the 
various reports has evolved to meet the needs of the industry and 
minimize the burden on the reporting public. Collecting data less 
frequently would eliminate data needed to keep the spearmint oil 
industry and the Secretary abreast of changes at the state and local 
level.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms, 
Federal government, State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 194.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping, Reporting: On occasion, 
Annual, Biennially.
    Total Burden Hours: 230.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Regulation governing inspection, certification, and 
standards for fresh fruits, vegetables and other products--7 CFR 51.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0125.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 gives 
authorization to USDA to inspect, certify and identify the class, 
quantity, quality and condition of agricultural produces when shipped 
or received in interstate commerce and to enter into cooperative 
agreements with cooperating Federal-State inspection Agencies that 
provide for this inspection work. The Fresh Products Branch provides a 
nationwide inspection and grading service for fresh fruits, vegetables, 
and other products to shippers, importers, processors, sellers, buyers 
and other financially interested parties on a ``user-fee'' basis. The 
program is voluntary and services are made available only upon request 
or when specified by some special program or contact.
    Need and Use of the Information: Various forms are used to collect 
information. Such information includes: The name and location of the 
person or company requesting the inspection, the type and location of 
the product to be inspected, the type of inspection being requested and 
any information that will identify the product. The information 
collected is needed to carry out the inspection and grading services.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 56,980.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 8,942.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Seed Service Testing Program.

[[Page 8375]]

    OMB Control Number: 0581-0140.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 
1946, as amended by 7 U.S.C. 1621 authorizes the Secretary to inspect 
and certify the quality of agricultural products and collect such fees 
as reasonable to cover the cost of service rendered. The purpose of the 
voluntary program is to promote efficient, orderly marketing of seeds 
submitted to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) are tested for 
factors such as purity and germination at the request of the applicant 
for the service. The Testing Section of the Seed Regulatory and Testing 
Branch of AMS, which tests the seed and issues the certificates is the 
only Federal seed testing facility which can issue the Federal Seed 
Analysis Certificate.
    Need and Use of the Information: Applicants generally are seed 
firms who use the seed analysis certificates to represent the quality 
of seed lots to foreign customers according to the terms specified in 
contracts of trade. The only information collected is information 
needed to provide the service requested by the applicant. Applicants 
must provide information such as the kind and quantity of seed, tests 
to be performed, and seed treatment if present, along with a sample of 
seed in order for AMS to provide the service. Only authorized AMS 
employees used the information collected to track, test, and report 
test results to the applicant. If the information were not collected, 
AMS would not know which test to conduct or would not be able to relate 
the test results with a specific lot of seed. The information must be 
provided for each sample the applicant submits for test. Without the 
AMS program, applicants would have to obtain tests from state or 
commercial laboratories.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 82.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 499.

Agricultural Marketing Service--Farm Service Agency

    Title: National Organic Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0191.
    Summary of Collection: The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 
1990, Title XXI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 
1990 (Farm bill), USC Title 7, Section 6503(a) mandates that the 
Secretary of Agriculture develop a national organic program. The 
purposes of the regulation mandated by OFPA are: (1) To establish 
national standards governing the marketing of certain agricultural 
products as organically produced products; (2) to assure consumers that 
organically produced products meet a consistent standard; and (3) to 
facilitate interstate commerce in fresh and processed food that is 
organically produced. The National Organic Program (NOP) regulation 
fulfills the requirements of the OFPA. It includes comprehensive 
production and handling standards, labeling provisions, requirements 
for the certification of producers and handlers, accreditation of 
certifying agents by USDA and an administrative subpart for fees, State 
Programs, National List, appeals, compliance and pesticide residue 
testing. Agricultural Marketing Service will approve programs for State 
governments wishing to establish State Organic Programs.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
to evaluate compliance with OFPA and NOP for administering the program, 
for management decisions and planning, for establishing the cost of the 
program and to support administrative and regulatory actions in 
response to non-compliance with OFPA. Certifying agents will have to 
submit an application to USDA to become accredited to certify organic 
production and handling operations. Auditors will review the 
application, perform site evaluation and submit reports to USDA, who 
will make a decision to grant or deny accreditation. Producers, 
handlers and certifying agents whose operations are not approved have 
the right to mediation and appeal the decision. Reporting and 
recordkeeping are essential to the integrity of the organic 
certification system.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 19,766.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually; Recordkeeping.
    Total Burden Hours: 593,523.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Eminent Domain Acquisitions: Reallocating Allotments and 
Quotas; Requesting Disaster Credit.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0033.
    Summary of Collection: A Federal, State or other government agency 
has the power to take a farm by eminent domain acquisition and thus 
displace a landowner. A farm may be taken by eminent domain through 
court proceedings to condemn the land or through negotiation between 
the taking agency and the owner of the land. When an owner is displaced 
from a farm by eminent domain, in order to avoid forfeiture of the 
tobacco allotment or quota which is assigned to the farm, she/he may 
contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee at the FSA 
County office, where the farm is located and arrange to place the 
tobacco in an `eminent domain' pool. The allotment or quota thus placed 
in a pool is held for the displaced owner for subsequent transfer to 
other farms she/he may own or may purchase. An owner must request 
transfer of the tobacco from the pool within 3 years from the date of 
displacement from the farm to which the tobacco originally belonged. 
Further a farmer whose tobacco crop could not be planted, or which 
failed, because of a natural disaster such as adverse weather 
conditions, disease, virus, and insects, can request disaster credit to 
help protect the quota/allotment from forfeiture. FSA will collect 
information using forms FSA-177, Record of Pooled Farm Allotment or 
Quota, FSA-178, Application for Transfer of Allotment or Quota From 
Pool, and FSA-182, Request for Tobacco Disaster Credit.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information from 
the three forms to ensure the following: (1) The displaced owner 
request that tobacco be placed in an `eminent domain,' (2) the 
displaced owner to request transfer of the pooled tobacco to another 
farm that she/he owns, and (3) to request disaster credit to help 
protect the quota/allotment from forfeiture.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Farms; 
Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 312.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (as needed).
    Total Burden Hours: 482.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Interstate Movement of Swine Within a Production System.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0161.
    Summary of Collection: Disease prevention is the most effective 
method for maintaining a healthy animal population, and for enhancing 
the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ability to 
compete in the world market of animal and animal product trade. The 
Veterinary Services Division of APHIS is responsible for carrying out 
this disease prevention mission. The regulations under which APHIS 
conducts these disease prevention activities are contained in Title 9, 
Subchapter C of Chapter I, which governs the interstate movement of 
animals to prevent the dissemination

[[Page 8376]]

of livestock and poultry diseases within the United States. Regulations 
in Part 71 contain requirements for moving swine interstate within a 
swine production system. (A production system consists of separate 
farms that each specialize in a different phase of swine production--
sow herds, nursery herds, and finishing herds). Moving swine interstate 
within a swine production system involves the use of two information 
collection activities in the form of a Swine Production Health Plan and 
an Interstate Swine Movement Report.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Swine Production Health Plan 
is a document developed by participating swine producers, stating that 
all farms within the given swine production system will maintain the 
health of their swine and remain vigilant for any signs of communicable 
disease. The Interstate Swine Movement Report is a document initiated 
by swine producers to notify their accredited veterinarians, APHIS, and 
State regulatory officials in the States of origin and destination that 
a group of animals is being moved across State lines in a swine 
production system. Without the information, the movement of swine 
interstate within a swine production system would become less efficient 
and more time-consuming, consequently placing more financial and 
logistical burden on producers who regularly engage in this activity.
    Description of Respondents; Farms; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,000.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-3954 Filed 2-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M