[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19811-19813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8461]


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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. 72 / Wednesday, April 14, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 19811]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 9, 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) 720-8681.
    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.

Agricultural Research Service

    Title: Evaluation of User Satisfaction with NAL Internet Sites.
    OMB Control Number: 0518-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: There is a need to measure user satisfaction 
with the National Agricultural Library (NAL) Internet sites in order 
for NAL to comply with Executive Order 12862, which directs federal 
agencies that provide significant services directly to the public to 
survey customers to determine the kind and quality of services they 
want and their level of satisfaction with existing services. In 
accordance with Executive Branch and Congressional mandates to provide 
information dissemination, and under its mission, NAL has rapidly 
expanded availability of vital agricultural information. The project 
aims to evaluate user satisfaction with the content and usefulness of 
Web-based delivery methods. NAL Internet sites are a vast collection of 
Web pages created and maintained by component organizations of NAL, and 
are visited by 3.4 million people per month on average. All seven of 
NAL Information Centers and dozen special interest collections have 
established a Web presence with a home page and links to sub-pages that 
provide information to their respective audiences.
    Need and Use of the Information: The purpose of the proposed 
research is to ensure that intended audiences find the information 
provided on the Internet sites easy to access, clear, informative, and 
useful. The research will also provide a means by which to classify 
visitors to the NAL Internet sites, to better understand how to serve 
them. If the information is not collected, NAL will be hindered from 
advancing its mandate to provide accurate, timely information to its 
user community.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; Federal 
Government; State, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 12,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,003.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Citrus Canker: Commercial Citrus Tree Replacement Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0163.
    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 Plant Protection & 
Quarantine Division of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) has regulations in place to prevent the interstate 
spread of citrus canker. APHIS will collect information using form PPQ 
652, Application for Citrus Canker Tree Replacement Payment.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect the owner's 
name, address, and a description of the owner's property, and 
certification statements that the trees removed from the owner's 
property were commercial citrus trees. The information will be used to 
verify the location and number of citrus trees for which the owner is 
requesting replacement funds. If the information were not collected 
APHIS would be unable to reimburse eligible grove owners for the loss 
of their trees.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 20.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 7.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Unshu Oranges.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0173.
    Summary of Collection: The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-
7772) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to regulate the 
importation of plants, plant products, and other articles into the 
United States to prevent the introduction of plant pest and noxious 
weeds. The regulations in ``Subpart-Citrus Fruit'' (7 CFR 319.26) allow 
the importation of unshu oranges from Kyushu Island and Honshu Island, 
Japan, into the United States under certain conditions. A certificate 
must accompany the unshu oranges from the

[[Page 19812]]

Japanese plant protection service certifying that the fruit is 
apparently free of citrus canker.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection (APHIS) will collect information using form PPQ 203, Foreign 
Site Certificate of Inspection and/or Treatment. The information from 
the form will be used to certify that unshu oranges from Japan are free 
of citrus canker and to also ensure that the oranges are not imported 
into citrus-producing areas of the United States such as Florida and 
California.
    Description of Respondents: State, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 10.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Ongoing Monitoring.
    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 interstate 
spread of contagious, infectious, or communicable diseases of livestock 
and poultry and for eradicating such diseases when feasible. In 
connection with this mission, the Centers for Epidemiology and Animal 
Health (CEAH), Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS), plans to initiate as part of the National Animal 
Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) an information collection to gather 
data for the ongoing monitoring systems. Collection, analysis, and 
dissemination of animal and poultry health information are consistent 
with the APHIS mission of protecting and improving American 
agriculture's productivity and competitiveness.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using several forms and questionnaires. The data collected will be used 
to identify baseline trends, determine the economic consequences of 
animal disease, management, environmental practices, and meet 
international trade reporting requirements for animal health. If the 
information were not collected the ability to respond to international 
trade issues involving the health status of animal commodities could be 
severely reduced, jeopardizing the marketability of meat and 
byproducts.
    Description Of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 160.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,029.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: Request for Applications for Research Partnerships.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Act of 2002 
authorizes the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to enter into 
partnerships with public and private entities for the purpose of 
increasing the availability of risk management tools for producers of 
agricultural commodities. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) had 
developed procedures for the preparation, submission and evaluation of 
applications.
    Need and Use of the Information: RMA will use the information to 
determine applicant eligibility and to evaluate the applications. The 
qualifying applicants are ranked and the scores are used for the final 
decision on awards. If the information were not collected, the 
consequences would be missed opportunity to improve and/or develop new 
risk management tools for agricultural producers. The impact would 
affect those segments of agriculture lacking access to existing risk 
management tools.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,467.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: Risk Management and Crop insurance Education; Request for 
Applications.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Act, Title 7 
U.S.C. Chapter 36 Section 1508(k) authorizes the Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation (FCIC) to provide reinsurance to insurers approved by FCIC 
that insure producers of any agricultural commodity under one or more 
plans acceptable to FCIC. FCIC operating through the Risk Management 
Agency (RMA) has two application programs to carryout certain risk 
management education provisions of the Federal Crop Insurance Act. The 
two educational programs requiring application are: to establish crop 
insurance education and information programs in States that have been 
historically underserved by the Federal Crop Insurance Program; and to 
provide agricultural producers with training opportunities in risk 
management with a priority given to producers of specialty crops and 
underserved commodities. Funds are available to fund parties willing to 
assist RMA in carrying out local and regional risk management and crop 
insurance education programs.
    Need and Use of the Information: Applicants are required to submit 
completed application packages in hard copy to RMA. RMA and a review 
panel will evaluate and rank applications as well as use the 
information to properly document and protect the integrity of the 
process used to select applications for funding. For applicants that 
are selected, the information will be used to create the terms of 
cooperative agreements between the applicant and the agency and will 
not be shared outside of RMA.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 110.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1732.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: Notice of Funds availability--Community Outreach and 
Assistance Partnership Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Act of 2002 
authorizes the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to enter into 
partnerships with public and private entities for the purpose of 
increasing the availability of risk management tools for producers of 
agricultural commodities. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has 
developed procedures for the preparation, submission and evaluation of 
applications for partnership agreements that will be used to provide 
outreach and assistance to under served producers, farmers, ranchers 
and women, limited resource, socially disadvantaged.
    Need and Use of the Information: Applicants are required to submit 
materials and information necessary to evaluate and rate the merit of 
proposed projects and evaluate the capacity and qualification of the 
organization to complete the project. The application package should 
include: a project summary and narrative, a statement of work, a budget 
narrative and OMB grant forms. RMA and a review panel will evaluate and 
rank applicants as well as use the information to properly document and 
protect the integrity of the process used to select applications for 
funding.

[[Page 19813]]

    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; State, local, or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 967.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-8461 Filed 4-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M