[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21495-21497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9023]


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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 21, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 21495]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, Correction

April 15, 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 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.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

    Title: CSREES Current Research Information System (CRIS)
    OMB Control Number: 0524-New.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES) administers several competitive, peer-reviewed research, 
education and extension programs, under which awards of a high-priority 
are made. These programs are authorized pursuant to the authorities 
contained in the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101); the Smith-
Lever Act; and other legislative authorities. The Current Research 
Information System (CRIS) is USDA's documentation and reporting system 
for ongoing agricultural, food science, human nutrition, and forestry 
research. CRIS operates administratively under CSREES, but is a 
cooperative endeavor whereby information is collected on a project-by-
project basis from many participant organizations, both federal and 
non-federal. Information is received from USDA agencies, State 
Agricultural Experiment Stations, the state land-grant colleges and 
universities, the institutions of 1890, state schools of forestry, 
cooperating schools of veterinary medicine, USDA grant recipients, and 
other cooperating institutions. The information is collected primarily 
via the Internet using CRIS Web forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: The collected information is 
necessary in order to provide descriptive information regarding 
individual research activities and integrated activities, to document 
expenditures and staff support for the activities, and to monitor the 
progress and impact of such activities. The information obtained 
through the collection process for CRIS furnishes unique data that is 
not available from any other source. Interruption in the collection 
process, or failure to collect this information, would severely 
compromise one of CSREES' primary functions stated in the agency's 
strategic plan of ``providing program leadership to identify, develop, 
and manage programs to support university-based and other institutional 
research.''
    Description of Respondents: State, local or tribal Government; not-
for-profit institutions; business or other for-profit; Federal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 30,441.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (varies by form).
    Total Burden Hours: 64,228.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

    Title: Reporting Requirements for State Plans of Work for 
Agricultural Research and Extension Formula Funds
    OMB Control Number: 0524-New.
    Summary of Collection: Section 202 and 225 of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) requires 
that a plan of work must be submitted by each institution and approved 
by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES) before formula funds may be provided to the 1862 and 1890 
land-grant institutions. The plan of work must address critical 
agricultural issues in the State and describe the programs and project 
targeted to address these issues using the CSREES formula funds. The 
plan of work also must describe the institution's multistate activities 
as well as their integrated research and extension activities.
    Need and Use of the Information: Institutions are required to 
annually report to CSREES the following: (1) The actions taken to seek 
stakeholder input to encourage their participation; (2) a brief 
statement of the process used by the recipient institution to identify 
individuals or groups who are stakeholders and to collect input from 
them; and (3) a statement of how collected input was considered. CSREES 
uses the information to provide feedback to the institutions on how to 
improve the conduct and the delivery of their programs. Failure to 
comply with the requirements may result in the withholding of a 
recipient institution's formula funds and redistribution of its share 
of formula funds to other eligible institutions.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 75.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 160,860.

[[Page 21496]]

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Annual Survey of Farmer Cooperatives.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0007.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBS) 
was mandated the responsibility to acquire and disseminate information 
pertaining to agricultural cooperatives under the Cooperative Marketing 
Act of 1926; 7 U.S.C. 451-457 and Public Law No. 450. The primary 
objective of RBS is to promote understanding, use and development of 
the cooperative form of business as a viable option for enhancing the 
income of agricultural producers and other rural residents. The annual 
survey collects basic statistics on cooperative business volume, net 
income, members, financial status, employees, and other selected 
information to support RBS' objective and role. RBS will use a variety 
of forms to collect information.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS uses the information collected 
to summarized for program planning, evaluation service work and 
cooperative analysis and education. The information collected and 
published in the annual report on farmer cooperatives supports and 
enhances most of the major functions of RBS. By not collecting this 
information, the RBS would have difficulties in carrying out its policy 
on farmer cooperatives.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,766.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,685.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1944-D, Farm Labor Housing Loan and Grant Policies, 
Procedures, and Authorization.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0045
    Summary of Collection: Section 514 and 516 of Title V of the 
Housing Act of 1949 authorizes Rural Housing Service (RHS) to make 
loans and grants to public, private nonprofit and farm worker 
organizations for developing farm labor. The objective of this program 
is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing and related facilities 
for domestic farm labor and migrant labor in areas where needed.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is based 
on the program requirements and regulation that help to determine an 
applicant's eligibility for a loan and/or grant. RHS has the 
responsibility for protecting the interest of taxpayer's funds and to 
assure that the objectives of the loan and grant programs are carried 
out as intended. Failure to have this information would result in 
illegal and unauthorized use of federal funds.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; not for profit institutions; 
State, local or tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 695.
    Frequency of Responses: Record keeping; reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 10,151

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 3570-B, Community Facilities Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0173.
    Summary of Collection: The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) authorizes Rural Housing Service (RHS) to make 
grants to public agencies, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes to 
develop essential community facilities and services for public use in 
rural areas. These facilities include schools, libraries, childcare, 
hospitals, clinics, assisted-living facilities, fire and rescuer 
stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings, and 
transportation. The Department of Agriculture through its Community 
Programs strives to ensure that facilities are readily available to all 
rural communities.
    Need and Use of the Information: Rural Development field offices 
will collect information from applicant/borrowers and consultants. This 
information is used to determine applicant/borrower eligibility, 
project feasibility, and to ensure borrowers operate on a sound basis 
and use loan and grant funds for authorized purposes. Failure to 
collect the information could result in improper determinations of 
eligibility, improper use of funds, and or unsound loans.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local and Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 863.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,070.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: Farm Labor Housing Technical Assistance Grants.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0181.
    Summary of Collection: The Housing Act of 1949 gives the Rural 
Housing Service (RHS) the authority to make loans for the construction 
of farm labor housing (Section 514) and to provide financial assistance 
(grants) to eligible private and public nonprofit agencies (Section 
516). Only three applicants' proposals will be selected for funding. 
The applicants will be notified and given the opportunity to submit a 
formal application. These grants will be awarded based on the 
qualifications of the applicants and their formal application. 
Eligibility for grants is limited to private and public nonprofit 
agencies.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS staff in the national office 
and Rural Development field offices will collect information from 
applicants and grant recipients to determine their eligibility for a 
grant, project feasibility, to select grant proposals for funding, and 
to monitor performance after grants have been awarded. The three 
applicants, who are awarded grants, are required to provide RHS with 
quarterly performance reports throughout the 3-year grant period. The 
respondents are not required to retain records for more than three 
years. Failure to collect this information could result in the improper 
use of Federal funds; difficulties in determining eligibility and 
selection of qualified applicants; and monitoring performance during 
the grant period.
    Description of Respondents: Not for profit institutions; State, 
local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 6.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually; 
Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 115.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Cotton Classing, Testing, and Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0008.
    Summary of Collection: The U.S. Cotton Standards Act, 7 U.S.C. 51, 
53 and 55, authorizes the USDA to supervise the various activities 
directly associated with the classification or grading of cotton, 
cotton linters, and cottonseed based on official USDA Standards. The 
Cotton Program of the Agricultural Marketing Service carries out this 
supervision and is responsible for the maintenance of the functions to 
which these forms relate. USDA is the only Federal agency authorized to 
establish and promote the use of the official cotton standards of the 
U.S. in interstate and foreign commerce and to supervise the various 
activities associated with the classification or grading of cotton, 
cotton linters, and cottonseed based on official USDA standards.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Agricultural Marketing Service 
uses the various forms to collect information pertaining to 
classification of cotton services, to request application for license 
and to order or acquire cotton grade and staple standards for upland 
and Pima cotton. Only authorized

[[Page 21497]]

employees of USDA use the information.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 394.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 109.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Cotton Classification and Market News Service.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0009.
    Summary of Collection: The Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act, 7 
U.S. Code 471-476, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to collect 
and publish annually statistics or estimates concerning the grades and 
staple lengths of stocks of cotton. In addition, Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) collects, authenticates, publishes, and distributes 
timely information of the market supply, demand, location, and market 
prices for cotton (7 U.S.C. 473B). This information is needed and used 
by all segments of the cotton industry.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information on 
the quality of cotton in the carryover stocks along with the size or 
volume of the carryover. Growers use this information in making 
decisions relative to marketing their present crop and planning for the 
next one; cotton merchants use the information in marketing decisions; 
and the mills that provide the data also use the combined data in 
planning their future purchase to cover their needs. Importers of U.S. 
cotton use the data in making their plans for purchases of U.S. cotton. 
AMS and other government agencies are users of the compiled 
information.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
     Number of Respondents: 956.
    Frequency of Respondents: Reporting: On occasion; Weekly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 716.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Seed Service Testing Program.
    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 
and assist in the development of new and expanding markets. Under the 
program, samples of agricultural and vegetable 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 
that test the seed and issues the certificates is the only Federal seed 
testing facility that 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 
employee 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.
    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

    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for 7 CFR, Part 29.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0056.
    Summary of Collection: The Tobacco Inspection Act (U.S.C. 511) 
requires: (1) That all tobacco sold at designated auction markets in 
the U.S. be inspected and graded; (2) for the establishment and 
maintenance of tobacco standards for U.S. grown types; (3) for the 
collection and dissemination of market news; and (4) for provisions to 
be made for interested parties to request inspection and grading 
services on an ``as needed'' basis. The Dairy and Tobacco Adjustment 
Act, 1983 (P.L. 98-198) gives authorization to the Secretary to inspect 
all tobacco offered for importation into the United states for grade 
and quality except cigar and oriental tobacco which must be certified 
by the importer as to kind and type and in the case of cigar tobacco 
which will be used solely in the manufacture or production of cigars. 
Also, the Secretary has the authority the to fix and collect fees from 
the importers to cover the cost of inspection.
    Need and Use of the Information: Various forms are use for 
inspection and certification process. The primary sources of data used 
to complete the forms are used in all business transaction. Only 
essential information that cannot be gathered from other sources is 
collected. If the information were collected less frequently, it would 
eliminate data needed to keep the tobacco industry and the Secretary 
abreast of changes.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 412.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting; on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,547.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-9023 Filed 4-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M