[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 59 (Friday, March 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15781-15785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6788]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 22, 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) 720-6746.
    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: Food Donation Programs (Food for Progress & Section 416(b)) 
and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0035.
    Summary of Collection: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS) helps provide U.S. agricultural commodities 
to feed millions of hungry people in needy countries through direct 
donations and concessional programs. The Food for Progress program 
provides for donations of or sale of U.S. commodities to developing 
countries and emerging democracies to support democracy and an 
expansion of private enterprise. The commodities donated through Food 
for Progress may be used for direct feeding programs, or may be sold in 
the recipient country, and the proceeds used to support agricultural, 
economic or infrastructure development programs. Section 416(b) program 
provides for overseas donations of surplus commodities acquired by the 
Commodity Credit Corporation. Commodities are made available for 
donations through agreements with foreign governments, private 
voluntary organizations, cooperatives, and intergovernmental 
organizations. The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and 
Child Nutrition Program helps support education, child development, and 
food security for some of the world's poorest children. It provides for 
donations of U.S. agricultural products, as well as financial and 
technical assistance, for school feeding and maternal and child 
nutrition projects in low-income, food-deficit countries that are 
committed to universal education. The authorities to collection 
information for these programs are under 7 CFR Part 1499, Foreign 
Donation Programs and 7 CFR Part 1599, McGovern-Dole International Food 
for Education and Child Nutrition Program.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information from 
cooperating sponsor to determine its ability to carry out a food aid 
program, to establish terms under which the commodities will be 
provided, to monitor the progress of commodity distribution, including 
how

[[Page 15782]]

transportation is procured, and to evaluate both the program's success 
and the Cooperating Sponsor's effectiveness in meeting certain goals.
    Description of Respondents: Not for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 241.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: Semi-annually; 
quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 50,434.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Farm Loan Programs Account Servicing Policies.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0161.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Farm Loan 
Program (FLP) provides supervised credit in the form of loans to family 
farmers and ranchers to purchase land and finance agricultural 
production. The regulations covering this information collection 
request describes the policies and procedures the agency will use the 
service most FLP loans. These loans include Operating, Farm Ownership, 
Soil and Water, Softwood Timber Production, Emergency, Economic 
Emergency, Economic Opportunity, Recreation, and Rural Housing loans 
for farm service buildings. Servicing of accounts is administered in 
accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (CONACT) as amended by the Food Security Act of 1985, 
the Agriculture Credit Act of 1987, the Food Agriculture Conservation 
and Trade Act of 1990, the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992, 
and the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will be 
used by FSA to service the borrower's loan account and to consider the 
financially distressed or delinquent borrower's request for debt 
restructuring including rescheduling, reamortization, consolidation, 
deferral, and write down. Failure to collect the information would 
result in borrowers not being provided with available servicing options 
or could result in the potential demise of their operation and the loss 
of security property through either voluntary or forced liquidation.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; individuals or households; 
business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 24,189.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 14,312.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Fruit from Hawaii.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0123.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from 
spreading within the United States. Under the Plant Protection Act (7 
U.S.C. 7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture, is authorized to carry 
out operations or measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control, 
prevent, or retard the spread of plant pests new to the United States. 
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the 
interstate movement of fruits and vegetables from Hawaii to prevent the 
spread of Mediterranean fruit fly, the melon fly, the Oriental fruit 
fly, and the Malaysian fruit fly pests that occur in Hawaii and can 
cause millions of dollars in damage to U.S. agriculture.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using several forms to ensure fruits from Hawaii are free from pests 
and disease.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 327.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Imported Seed and Screening.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0124.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) 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 
pest when eradication is feasible. The Plant Quarantine Act and the 
Federal Plant Pest Act authorizes the Department to carry out this 
mission. Under the authority of the Federal Seed Act of 1939, as 
amended, the USDA regulates the importation and interstate movement of 
certain agricultural and vegetable seeds. The Plant Protection & 
Quarantine Division of USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service 
(PHIS) has established a seed analysis program with Canada that allows 
U.S. companies that import seed for cleaning or processing to enter 
into compliance agreements with APHIS. This program eliminates the need 
for sampling shipments of Canadian-origin seed at the border, and 
allows certain seed importers to clean seed without the direct 
supervision of an APHIS inspector. APHIS will collect information using 
two forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
prevent the spread of insect pests and noxious weeds from entering into 
the United States. If the information were not collected, there would 
be no way of preventing noxious weeds from entering the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 11,345.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Plum Pox Compensation.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0159.
    Summary of Collection: Plum Pox is an extremely serious viral 
disease of plants that can affect many stone fruit species, including 
plum, peach, apricot, almond, and nectarine. 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 new to the United States and eradicating those imported pests and 
weeds when eradication is feasible. The regulations in 7 CFR 301.74-5 
permit owners of commercial stone fruit orchards and owners of fruit 
tree nurseries to receive compensation under certain circumstances. 
Owners of commercial stone fruit orchards may receive compensation for 
losses associated with trees destroyed to control plum pox pursuant to 
an emergency action notification (EAN) issued by the Animal & Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using form PPQ, 651 Application for Plum Pox Compensation. The data 
collected provides 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 stone fruit trees from commercial fruit 
orchards or fruit tree nurseries. If the information were not 
collected, APHIS would be unable to compensate eligible grove and 
nursery owners for the loss of their trees.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 6.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Artificially Dwarfed Plants.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0176.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
7701-

[[Page 15783]]

7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or 
restrict the importation, entry or movement of plants and plant pests, 
to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States or 
their dissemination within the United States. Plant Protection and 
Quarantine (PPQ), a unit within USDA's Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), enforce these regulations. Artificially 
dwarfed plants imported into the United States must be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate of inspection issued by a plant health 
official employed by the government of the country from which the 
plants are exported.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
from the phytosanitary certificate to state that the plants were: (1) 
Grown for at least 2 years in a nursery that is registered with the 
government of the country of export; (2) grown in pots containing only 
sterile growing media; (3) grown on benches at least 50 cm above the 
ground; and (4) inspected at least once each year by the plant 
protection service of the country of export. The collected information 
will enable PPQ to verify that the imported plants were grown under 
conditions that helped keep the plants free from infestation by certain 
longhorned beetles and other pests. Without the information, APHIS 
could not verify that imported nursery stock does not present 
significant risk of introducing plant pests and plant diseases into the 
United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; farms; 
State, Local or Tribal Government; individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 20.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 25.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: National Non-Ambulatory Livestock Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for protecting the health of our Nation's livestock and 
poultry populations by preventing the introduction and dissemination of 
any pest or disease of livestock and for eradicating such pest and 
diseases from the United States when feasible. The Center for 
Epidemiology and Animal Health, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), plans to initiate an information 
collection to gather data for the National Non-Ambulatory Livestock 
Study. The objectives of the study is to: (1) Assess the scope of the 
non-ambulatory livestock; (2) identify the causes that render livestock 
non-ambulatory; (3) examine humane treatment practices for non-
ambulatory livestock; and (4) examine the extent to which non-
ambulatory livestock may present handling and disposition problems for 
stockyards, market agencies, and dealers.
    Need and Use of the Information: The collected information will be 
used to promulgate regulations for the humane treatment, handling, and 
disposition of non-ambulatory livestock as the Secretary sees fit. The 
information will also be used to optimize BSE surveillance.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit; 
State, Local or Tribal Government; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 4,375.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; on occasion; quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,500.

National Agriculture Statistics Service

    Title: Cotton Ginning Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0220.
    Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS) is to prepare and issue state 
and national estimates of crop and livestock production, disposition 
and prices as well as specialty agricultural and environmental 
statistics. The Cotton Ginning Survey provides statistics concerning 
cotton ginning for specific dates and geographic regions and aids in 
forecasting cotton production, which is required under U.S.C. Title 13, 
section 42(a).
    Need and use of the Information: The ginning data collected 
provides (1) all segments of the cotton industry-buyers, brokers, 
crushers, shippers, textile firms, and researches with exact quantities 
of cotton available at specific geographic locations within the U.S. on 
a regular basis; (2) precise statistics, especially when at least 50 
percent of the forecasted cotton production has been ginned in a state; 
and (3) (final season ginning data is used to establish final 
production. If the information were collected less frequent, the cotton 
industry would be without county level quantities ginned that could 
seriously affect transportation costs and marketing strategies.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 920.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (biweekly Sept.-Jan.).
    Total Burden Hours: 840.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Farmers Market Questionnaire.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0169.
    Summary of Collection: The Transportation and Marketing (T&M) 
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) conducts research to find 
better designs, development techniques, and operating methods for 
modern farmer's markets under the Agency's Marketing Service Branch. 
Individual studies are conducted in close cooperation with local 
interested parties. Recommendations are made available to local 
decision makers interested in constructing modern farmer's markets to 
serve area producers and consumers. T&M researchers will survey by 
mail, with telephone follow-up, the managers of farmer's markets 
identified in the 2000 National Farmer's Market Directory. These 
markets represent a varied range of sizes, geographical locations, 
types, ownership, and structure and will provide a valid overview of 
farmer's markets in the United States.
    Need and Use of the Information: The form, T-6 ``Farmer's Market 
Questionnaire,'' is used to collect information and will serve as a 
survey instrument to obtain a clearer picture of existing farmer's 
market structure as well as provide a measure of growth. Information 
such as the size of markets, operating times and days, retail and 
wholesale sales, management structure, and rules and regulations 
governing the markets are all important questions that need to be 
answered in the design of a new market. The information developed by 
this survey will support better designs, development techniques, and 
operating methods for modern farmers markets and outline improvements 
that can be applied to revitalize existing markets. If this information 
is not collected, the ongoing research to develop new farmer's markets 
must rely on limited and often anecdotal information. This narrow focus 
will limit the ability of research to provide effective designs and 
development plans for new markets where such information is not 
immediately available.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 3,100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Biennially.
    Total Burden Hours: 388.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794).
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0117.
    Summary of Collection: In December 1998, the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS)

[[Page 15784]]

published its revised Environmental Policies and Procedures and in 2003 
revisions were made to clarify policy on certain environmental review 
processes. The rule promulgated environmental regulations that cover 
all RUS Federal actions taken by RUS' electric, telecommunications, 
water and environmental programs. The regulation was necessary to 
ensure continued RUS compliance with the Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), 
and certain related Federal environmental laws, statutes, regulations, 
and Executive Orders. RUS electric, telecommunications, water and 
environmental program borrowers provide environmental documentation to 
assure that policy contained in NEPA is followed.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
evaluate the cost and feasibility of the proposed project and the 
environmental impact. If the information is not collected, the agency 
would not be in compliance with NEPA and CEQ regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Non-for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of respondents: 600.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 440,200.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Animal Welfare; Transportation of Animals on International 
Carriers.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (7 U.S.C. 
2131 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to promulgate 
standards and other requirements governing the humane handling, care, 
treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research 
facilities, exhibitors, and carriers and intermediate handlers. The 
Secretary has delegated responsibility for administering the AWA to the 
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services 
(APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. APHIS will be applying 
the AWA regulations and standards for the humane transportation of 
animals in commerce to all international carriers operating within the 
United States, its territories, possessions, or the District of 
Columbia. APHIS believes that animals being transported by 
international carriers should be afforded the same protection under the 
AWA as if domestic carriers were transporting them.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using APHIS form 7001, United States Interstate and International 
Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals and APHIS form 
7011, Application for Registration. The information and certification 
is necessary for carriers and intermediate handlers to properly care 
for and deliver the animals to destination in a speedy and humane 
manner. The information is also used in documenting instances of 
violations for possible legal action and for location facilities or 
persons who are evading regulations under the law. Without the 
information, full enforcement of the AWA would be limited or totally 
ineffective.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 20.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 175.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Emerald Ash Borer.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0233.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) is quarantining 13 counties in Michigan because of the 
emerald ash borer (EAB) and restricting the interstate movement of 
regulated articles from these quarantined areas. The EAB is a 
destructive wood-boring insect that attacks ash trees (Fraxinus spp., 
including green ash, white ash, black ash, and several horticultural 
varieties of ash). The insect, which is indigenous to Asia and known to 
occur in China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Russian Far East, Taiwan, 
and Canada, eventually kills healthy ash trees after it bores beneath 
their bark and disrupts their vascular tissues. The authority for this 
collection can be found at CFR Part 301.53-1 through 301.53-9.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
prevent the artificial spread of this plant pest from infested areas in 
the State of Michigan to noninfested areas of the United States. If 
APHIS did not collect the information, the effectiveness of their EAB 
quarantine would be severely compromised, likely resulting in the 
interstate spread of this destructive (and economically damaging) 
agricultural pest.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal Government
    Number of Respondents: 225.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 180.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Land Contract Guarantee Pilot 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0228.
    Summary of Collection: Section 310 F of the consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act authorizes the Secretary to establish a pilot 
program to provide guarantees of loans made by private sellers of a 
farm or ranch on a contract land sales basis to qualified beginning 
farmers or ranchers. Pilot Program has been implemented in six States. 
The pilot program will be funded using the Guaranteed Farm Ownership 
loan allocation, and funds will be available for each State to 
guarantee up to five loans per year. Under the Pilot Program, the Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) will provide the seller of the land a ``prompt 
payment'' guarantee.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information using 
several FSA forms to evaluate and determine if the buyer and the sales 
transaction meet the criteria established by the Agency. Failure to 
collect this information may result in persons receiving benefits other 
than intended program beneficiaries.
    Description of Respondents: Farms, Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 460.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,126.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Guaranteed Farm Loan Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0155.
    Summary of Collection: The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (CONTACT), as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
make and service loans guaranteed by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to 
eligible farmers and ranchers. The statutory authorities for the 
guaranteed loan program is set out in the Code of Federal Regulations, 
Title 7, Chapter VII, part 762. The loans made and serviced under 762 
include farm operating, farm ownership, and soil and water loans. The 
loan applicant must be a citizen of the United States, own and operate 
or become the owner and operator of not larger than a family size farm 
and be unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere at reasonable rates 
and terms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information using 
several

[[Page 15785]]

agency forms to determine lender and loan applicant eligibility for 
farm loan guarantees, and to ensure that the lender protects the 
government's financial interests. If the information were not 
collected, the agency would be unable to meet the congressionally 
mandated mission of the guaranteed loan program.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Farms 
Business or other for-profit; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 16,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (when applying for loans).
    Total Burden Hours: 201,240.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Broadband Pilot Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0127.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service has the 
responsibility to deploy broadband service in unserved rural areas and 
to provide broadband grants for purposes of delivering broadband 
services to rural areas. Congress has appropriated funds in FY03 and 
FY04 to continue this program that will promote economic development 
and provide enhanced educational and health care opportunities.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will provide financial 
assistance in the form of grants to eligible entities to provide 
broadband transmission service in rural communities where such service 
does not currently exist. RUS will use the information to determine 
that funds needed to complete the project are adequate based on the 
amount requested.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 48,010.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Mangoes from the Philippines.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0172.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing plant pests and noxious weeds from 
entering the United States. Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
7711-7714), the Secretary of widely distributed throughout the United 
States. The regulations in ``Subpart-Fruit and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56 through 319.56-8) allow the importation of mangoes from Guimaras 
Island in the Republic of the Philippines into the United States under 
certain conditions. The regulations require the use of box marking to 
indicate the origin of the fruit, phytosanitary certificate to 
confirmed that the fruit has been grown and treated in accordance with 
the regulations and a trust fund agreement between the Republic of the 
Philippines Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to 
cover the Agency's participation in the treatment and inspection 
activities in the Philippines that are required for the importation of 
mangoes.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
verify that the commodity was treated adequately with heat to eliminate 
the pest risk and to verify that the temperature remained at the 
appropriate level for the entire treatment period, thereby destroying 
any fruit flies present in the commodity.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 20.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 40.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-6788 Filed 3-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M