[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 88 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25363-25365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10280]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 88 / Thursday, May 6, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 25363]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 29, 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.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Commodity Credit Corporation's Facility Guarantee Program 
(FGP).
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0032.
    Summary of Collection: Under the authority of 7 CFR Part 1493, 
Subpart C, the Facility Guarantee Program (FGP) offers credit 
guarantees to facilitate the financing of U.S. manufactured goods and 
services to improve or establish agriculture infrastructure in emerging 
markets. Sales under FGP are considered normal commercial sales. The 
FGP makes available export credit guarantees to encourage U.S. private 
sector financing of foreign purchase of U.S. goods and services on 
credit terms.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Foreign Agricultural Service 
(FAS) will collect information to determine eligibility for FGP 
benefits, the impact on U.S. agricultural trade and to ensure Commodity 
Credit Corporation (CCC) that all participants have a business office 
in the U.S. and are not debarred or suspended from participating in 
government programs. The information requested will provide CCC with 
adequate information to meet statutory requirements. If the information 
were not collected, CCC would be unable to determine if export sales 
under the FGP would be eligible for coverage or, if coverage conformed 
to program requirements.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 5.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 329.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: The Integrity Program (TIP) Data Collection.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0401.
    Summary of Collection: The basis for this data collection and 
reporting system is Part 246.5 of the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) 
Program regulations, which requires State agencies to report annually 
on their vendor monitoring efforts. The data collected from the States 
serves as a management tool to provide Congress, OIG senior program 
managers, as well as the general public, assurances that program funds 
are spent appropriately and that every reasonable effort is made to 
prevent, detect and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected by FNS 
is used to analyze trends, to identify possible vendor management 
deficiencies, to formulate program policy and regulations. At the State 
level, the information is used to provide assurances to the Governor's 
office, and other interested parties, that WIC issues are being 
addressed.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 88.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,725.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Summary Food Service Program Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food 
and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers food programs that provide 
nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for eligible children who are 6 
through 18 years of age. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which 
is administered by FNS, was designed to meet the summer food needs of 
eligible children who qualify for free or reduced-price breakfasts and 
lunches during the regular school year. During the summer months, 
federally funded meals are available through the SFSP at state-approved 
sites. Of the 15 million eligible children, only about 1.9 million 
(14%) participated in the SFSP in July 2002. Another 1.4 million of the 
15 million eligible students (9%) who attended summer school or year-
round schools in July 2002 were served free or reduced-price meals 
through NSLP. FNS is committed to ensuring adequate nutrition in the 
summer for children who are eligible for the free or reduced-price 
breakfast and lunch programs during the regular school year. FNS is 
interested in determining why children who are eligible for SFSP do not 
participate in the program.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
understand the reasons for the discrepancies in participation rates 
between the breakfast and lunch programs during the regular school year 
and the SFSP. The results will enable policy-makers in and out of 
government to better understand what program initiatives might be 
effective in

[[Page 25364]]

increasing participation rates in SFSP. Without the data collection, 
FNS does not have the necessary information for developing strategies 
to increase SFSP participation and to ensure that NLSP and SBP eligible 
school age children have nutritious meals during the summer months. 
Also, the research will contribute to an understanding of how the food 
needs of the non-participants in SFSP are being met in the summer.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 546.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time).
    Total Burden Hours: 147.

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: 0524-0036.
    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 multi-state 
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.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications 
for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI).
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0180.
    Summary of Collection: Congress created the Rural Community 
Development Initiative (RCDI) in fiscal year 2000 and funds were 
appropriated under the Rural Community Advancement Program. The intent 
of the RCDI grant program is to develop the capacity and ability of 
rural area recipients to undertake projects through a program of 
financial and technical assistance provided by qualified intermediary 
organizations. Intermediaries are required to provide matching funds in 
an amount equal to the RCDI grant. Eligible recipients are private, 
nonprofit community-based housing and community development 
organizations and low-income rural communities.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Rural Housing Service will 
collect information to determine applicant/grantee eligibility, project 
feasibility, and to ensure that grantees operate on a sound basis and 
use grant funds for authorized purposes. Failure to collect this 
information could result in improper use of Federal funds.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 146.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly; 
Annually, Third party disclosure.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,026.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Poultry Market News report.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0033.
    Summary of Collection: 7 U.S.C. provides authorization to collect 
and disseminate marketing information and to provide adequate outlook 
information on a market-area basis for the purpose of anticipating and 
meeting consumer requirements, to aid in the maintenance of farm income 
and bring about a balance between production and utilization of 
agricultural products. In 1951, Congress approved a program for the 
development of Federal-State Market News Services. The Market News 
Branch headquarters in Washington, DC, is responsible for coordinating 
the market news program. The mission of market news is to provide 
current, unbiased, factual information to all members of the nation's 
agricultural industry, from farmers to retailers.
    Need and Use of the Information: Industry participants are provided 
with up-to-date information on the movement of product and the amount 
of product in storage on a current basis, so that necessary adjustment 
in product flow can be made. If this information were collected less 
frequently, it would result in ``stale'' data that would be of little 
to no use to industry and public concerns.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; Individuals or households; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 1,710.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly; Weekly.
    Total Burden Hours: 17,647.

Forest Service

    Title: Annual Wildfire Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0025.
    Summary of Collection: The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 
1978 (U.S.C. 2101) requires the Forest Service (FS) to collect 
information about wildfire suppression efforts by State and local fire 
fighting agencies in order to support specific congressional funding 
requests for the Forest Service State and Private Forestry Cooperative 
Fire Program. The program provides supplemental funding for State and 
local fire fighting agencies. The FS works cooperatively with State and 
local fire fighting agencies to support their fire suppression efforts. 
FS will collect information using form FS 3100-8, Annual Wildfire 
Summary Report.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to 
determine if the Cooperative Fire Program funds provided to the State 
and local fire fighting agencies have been used by State and local 
agencies to improve their fire suppression capabilities. The 
information collected will be shared with the public about the 
importance of the State and Private Cooperative Fire Program. FS would 
be unable to assess the effectiveness of the State and Private Forestry 
Cooperative Fire Program, if the information provided on FS-3100-8 were 
not collected.
    Description of Respondents: Federal Government; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 55.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 55.

Rural Business Service

    Title: 7 CFR 4279-B, Guaranteed Loan Making--Business and Industry 
Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0017.
    Summary of Collection: The Business and Industry (B&I) program was

[[Page 25365]]

legislated in 1972 under Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act, as amended. The purpose of the program is to 
improve, develop, or finance businesses, industries, and employment and 
improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities. 
This purpose is achieved through bolstering the existing private credit 
structure through the guaranteeing of quality loans made by lending 
institutions, thereby providing lasting community benefits. The B&I 
program is administered by the Rural Business Service (RBS) through 
Rural Development State and sub-State offices serving each State.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect information to 
determine eligibility and creditworthiness for lenders and borrowers. 
The information is used by RBS loan officers and approval officials to 
determine program eligibility and for program monitoring.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 8,544.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 19,761.

Forest Service

    Title: Timber Purchasers' Cost and Sales Date.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0017.
    Summary of Collection: The Multi-Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960, 
the Forest Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, and the 
National Forest Management Act of 1976, authorizes the Forest Service 
(FS) to sell forest products and National Forest System timber. FS 
timber and product appraisers develop advertised timber and product 
sale prices using residual and transaction evidence method of 
appraisal. Residual appraisals begin through the collection of 
production cost data. Transaction evidence appraisals begin with an 
average of past successful bids by timber purchasers for timber for 
which the stumpage rate has been adjusted for the timber sale and 
market conditions at the time. FS collects the data from timber sales 
and product purchases through submissions by contractors both locally 
and nationally. There are no forms required for the collection of costs 
data.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to 
verify that the minimum rates returned a fair value to the Government 
and that the residual and transaction system are a reliable approach to 
valuing timber and products. The information is also used to assure the 
accuracy of the residual and transaction system and to develop minimum 
stumpage rates for small sales or for areas where there is no current 
sale activity to use for transaction evidence. If the information is 
not collected, FS would have difficulties in determining if the value 
received from products really reflects the true market value.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 35.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 70.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part, 70. Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Poultry 
Products and Rabbit Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0127.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 
Stat. 1087-1091, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA) directs and 
authorizes the Department to develop standards of quality, grades, 
grading programs, and services to enable a more orderly marketing of 
agricultural products so trading may be facilitated and consumers may 
be able to obtain products graded and identified under USDA programs. 
Regulations in 7 CFR Part 70 provide for a voluntary program for 
grading poultry and rabbits on the basis of U.S. classes, standards and 
grades. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) carries out the 
regulations, which provide a voluntary program for grading poultry and 
rabbit products. This program is voluntary where respondents would need 
to request or apply for the specific service they wish.
    Need and Use of the Information: Since the AMA requires that the 
cost of the service be assessed and collected, there is no alternative 
but to provide voluntary programs on a fee for service basis and to 
collect the information needed to establish the costs. Only authorized 
representatives of the USDA use the information collected to administer 
the grading services requested by the respondents.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; Federal 
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 361.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Semi-annually; 
Monthly; Annually; Other (Daily).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,753.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1927-B, ``Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan 
Closing.''
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0147.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Development and the Farm Service 
Agency are the credit agencies for the Department of Agriculture. They 
offer a supervised credit program to build family farms, modest 
housing, sanitary water and sewer systems, essential community 
facilities, businesses and industries in rural areas. Section 306 of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONTACT), 7 U.S.C. 
1926, authorizes RUS to make loans to public agencies, American Indian 
tribes, and non-profit corporations. The loans fund the development of 
drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities in 
rural areas with populations of up to 10,000 residents. Section 501 of 
Title V of the Housing Act provides authorization to extend financial 
assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace or 
rehabilitate dwellings and to provide decent, safe and sanitary living 
conditions in rural areas. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized 
to prescribe regulations to ensure that these loans made with federal 
funds are legally secured.
    Need and Use of the Information: The approved attorney/title 
company (closing agent) and the field office staff collect the required 
information. Forms and or guidelines are provided to assist in the 
collection, certification and submission of this information. Most of 
these forms collect information that is standard in the industry. If 
the information is collected less frequently, the agency would to 
obtain the proper security position on the properties being taken as 
security and would have no evidence that the closing agents and agency 
met the requirements of this regulation.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 41,642.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 28,578.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-10280 Filed 5-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M