[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 113 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32969-32972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13294]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 7, 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, Pub. L. 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 Department 
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.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Food Aid Request Entry System (FARES).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0225.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Trade Development and 
Assistant Act of 1954, as amended (Title II, P.L. 480), Section 416(b) 
of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, (Section 416(b)), Food for 
Progress Act of 1985, as amended (Food for Progress), and the 
International School Lunch Program, known as the Global Food for 
Education and Child Nutrition Act, authorizes Commodity Credit 
Corporation Export Operations Division and Bulk Commodities Division to 
procure, sell, transport agricultural commodities and obtain discharge/
delivery survey information. Commodities are delivered to foreign 
countries through voluntary agencies, United Nations World Food 
Program, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Agency for 
International Development. The program information will be 
electronically captured, requirements validated, and improved commodity 
request visibility will be provided via FARES a web-based application 
technology tool for the customers to submit online to process the 
commodity request electronically and to access the information.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Farm Service Agency will 
collect the following information from FARES: The name of the Private 
Voluntary Organization, the program, the types of commodities being 
requested for export, quantities of commodities, destinations of 
commodities, special requirements for packaging. Without this 
information collection process, Kansas City Commodity Office would not 
be able to meet program requirements.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other-for-profit, Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (bi-weekly/bi-monthly).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,813.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Karnal Bunt; Compensation for the 1999-2000 Crop Season.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0182.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
7701-7772), 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. The Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine have 
regulations in place to prevent the interstate spread of Karnal bunt, a 
fungal disease of wheat. These regulations, contained in 7 CFR 301.89 
through 301.89-16, authorize the Administrator, APHIS, to regulate each 
State, or portion of a State that is infected with Karnal bunt. APHIS 
has offered compensation as part of its Karnal bunt regulatory program 
since the 1995-1996-crop season. APHIS pays compensation in order to 
reduce the economic impact of its Karnal bunt quarantine on wheat 
producers and other individuals, and to help obtain their cooperation 
in its Karnal bunt eradication efforts.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS' Karnal bunt compensation 
program requires program participants to engage in information 
collection activities (including the completion of a Karnal bunt 
compensation worksheet

[[Page 32970]]

and compensation claim form) that are necessary for APHIS to run an 
effective compensation program. Growers, seed companies, and owners of 
grain storage facilities, flour millers, strew producers and handlers 
complete the worksheet with assistance from the Farm Service 
Administration personnel. The worksheet contains information concerning 
how much wheat the applicant produced during the growing season and the 
amount of money, if any, the applicant received for the products. The 
information on the worksheet enables APHIS to determine how much 
compensation the applicant is entitled to receive. The compensation 
claim form is the applicant's formal request for compensation and is 
the counterpart to the worksheet.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; 
Individuals or households; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 170.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 86.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

    Title: Specified Risk Materials.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0127.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS) has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of 
the Secretary as provided in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 
U.S.C. 451 et seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EIPA) (21 
U.S.C. 1031 et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the 
public by ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, 
unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. FSIS established new, 
flexible procedures to actively encourage the development and use of 
new technologies in meat and poultry establishments and egg products 
plants. The new procedures will facilitate notification to the Agency 
of any new technology that is intended for use in meat and poultry 
establishments and egg products plants so that the agency can decide 
whether the new technology requires a pre-use review. A pre-use review 
often includes an in-plant trial.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information to 
determine if an in-plant trial is necessary. FSIS will request that the 
firm submit a protocol that is designed to collect relevant data to 
support the use of the new technology. To not collect this information 
would reduce the effectiveness of the meat, poultry, and egg products 
inspection program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 250.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 8,400.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

    Title: Specified Risk Materials.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0129.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS) has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of 
the Secretary as provided in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). This statute mandates that FSIS protect the public 
by ensuring that meat products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and 
properly labeled and packaged. FSIS requires that official 
establishments that slaughter cattle and or process carcasses or parts 
of cattle develop written procedures for the removal, segregation, and 
disposition of specified risk materials (SRMs). FSIS is requiring that 
these establishments maintain daily records sufficient to document the 
implementation and monitoring of their procedures for the removal, 
segregation, and disposition of SRMs, and any corrective actions taken 
to ensure that such procedures are effective.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information from 
establishments to ensure that cattle slaughtered for meat product are 
free from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 2,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Other (Daily).
    Total Burden Hours: 107,500.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 210 National School Lunch Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0006.
    Summary of Collection: The National School Lunch Act of 1946, as 
amended, authorizes the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The NSLP 
is a food assistance program. The Department of Agriculture provides 
States with general and special cash assistance and donations of foods 
to assist schools in serving nutritious lunches to children each school 
day. Participating schools must serve lunches that are nutritionally 
adequate and to the extent practicable ensuring that participating 
children gain a full understanding of the relationship between proper 
eating and good health. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will 
collect information using form FNS-640, Data Report Coordinated Review 
Effort.
    Need and Use of the Information: The states will use form FNS-640 
to report on an annual basis the results of comprehensive on-site 
administrative evaluations they conduct of school food authorities and 
schools operating the school lunch program. Data from the report is 
compiled and evaluated by FNS and used in responding to inquiries 
regarding program operations at the local level.
    Description of Respondents: State, local or tribal government; 
Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 121,165.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly; Monthly; Annually; Semi-annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 10,448,411.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 220, School Breakfast Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0012.
    Summary of Collection: Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act (CNA) 
of 1966, as amended, authorizes the School Breakfast Program (SBP). It 
provides for the appropriation of ``such sums as are necessary to 
enable the Secretary to carry out a program to assist the States and 
the Department of Defense through grants-in-aid and other means to 
initiate, maintain, or expand nonprofit breakfast programs in all 
schools which make application for assistance and agree to carry out a 
nonprofit breakfast program in accordance with the Act.'' The Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the School Breakfast Program on 
behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture so that needy children may 
receive their breakfasts free or at a reduced price.
    Need and Use of the Information: School food authorities provide 
information to State agencies. The State agencies report to FNS. FNS 
use the information submitted to determine the amount of funds to be 
reimbursed, evaluate and adjust program operations, and to develop 
projections for future program operations.
    Description of Respondents: State, local or tribal government; 
Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 81,747.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly; Monthly; Semi-annually; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,564,772.

[[Page 32971]]

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Civil Rights Title VI--Collection Reports--FNS-191 and FNS-
101.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0025.
    Summary of Collection: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national 
origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance. Title 28 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 42.107(b), require all 
Federal Departments to provide for the collection of racial/ethnic data 
and information from applicants for and recipients of Federal 
assistance sufficient to permit effective enforcement of Title VI. In 
order to comply with the Civil Rights Act, Department of Justice 
regulations and the Department's nondiscrimination policy and 
regulations (7 CFR Part 15), the Department's Food and Nutrition 
Service (FNS) requires State agencies to submit data on the racial/
ethnic categories of person receiving benefits from FNS food assistance 
programs. FNS will collect information using forms FNS 191 and FNS 101.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect the names, 
address, telephone number, and number of clinics to compile a local 
agency directory which serves as the primary source of data on number 
and location for local agencies and number of clinics operating 
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSF). FNS will also collect 
information on the number of CFSP individuals (women, infant, children, 
and elderly) in each racial/ethnic category for one month of he year. 
The information will be used in the Department's annual USDA Equal 
Opportunity Report. If the information is not collected, FNS could not 
track racial/ethnic data for program evaluation.
    Description of Respondents: State, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,973.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 6,662.

Forest Service

    Title: 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart C--Disposal of Mineral Materials.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0081.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for 
overseeing the management of National Forest System land. The Multiple-
Use Mining Act of 1955 (30 U.S.C. 601, 603, 611-615) gives the FS 
specific authority to manage the disposal of mineral materials mined 
from National Forest land. FS uses form FS-2800-9, ``Contract for the 
Sale of Mineral Materials,'' to collect detailed information on the 
planned mining and disposal operations as well as a contract for the 
sale of mineral materials.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will use information collected 
from the public to ensure that environmental impacts of mineral 
material disposal are minimized. A review of the operating plan 
provides the authorized officer the opportunity to determine if the 
proposed operation is appropriate and consistent with all applicable 
land management laws and regulations. The information also provides the 
means of documenting planned operations and the terms and conditions 
that the FS deems necessary to protect surface resources. If FS did not 
collect this information, a self-policing situation would exist.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 15,000.

Forest Service

    Title: Predecisional Objection Process for Hazardous Fuel Reduction 
Projects Authorized by Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0172.
    Summary of Collection: On December 3, 2003, President Bush signed 
into law the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to reduce the 
threat of destructive wildfires while upholding environmental standards 
and encouraging early public input during review and planning 
processes. One of the provisions of the Act, in Section 105 requires 
that not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate interim final 
regulations to establish a predecisional administrative review process. 
This process services as the sole means by which a person can seek 
administrative review regarding an authorized hazardous fuel reduction 
project on Forest Service (FS) land. Those choosing to participate in 
the pre-decisional administrative review process must provide 
information the FS needs to respond to their concern. This written 
information needs to include the objector's name, address, phone 
number; the name of the project; name and title of the Responsible 
Official; the project location; and sufficient narrative description of 
those parts of the project that are objected to; specific issues 
related to the proposed decision, and suggested remedies which would 
resolve the objection.
    Need and use of the Information: The collected information will be 
used by the Reviewing Officer in responding to those who participate in 
the objection process prior to a decision by the Responsible Official. 
FS could not meet the intent of Congress without collecting this 
information.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; State, Local 
or Tribal Government; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 121.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 968.

Forest Service

    Title: Understanding the Relationship Between People, Local Land 
Use, and the Francis Marion National Forest.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-New.
    Summary of Collection: The National Forest-Dependent rural 
Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-624) 
provides the Forest Service (FS) with an opportunity to help eligible 
rural communities located in or near national forests to organize, 
plan, and implement rural development efforts. FS is seeking to conduct 
a proposed study that includes a survey of rural residents in an area 
adjacent to a national forest. The study seeks to gain information on 
1) resident perceptions of urban advancement and 2) resident 
recreational use of the Francis Marion National Forest.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to 
examine rural residents knowledge and opinions regarding commercial and 
residential development in rural, upper Charleston County, South 
Carolina. Also, FS will collect information to learn more about the 
kinds of recreational activities in which local residents participate 
while visiting the Francis Marion National Forest. If the information 
is not collected, data concerning rural resident reactions to 
encroaching development will not be available to local, State, or 
governmental agencies.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 400.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On Occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 132.

Rural Development Services

    Title: 7 CFR 1956-B, Debt Settlement--Farm Programs and Multiple 
Family Housing.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0118.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency's Farm Loan Program 
provides supervised credit in the form of loans to family farmers and 
ranchers

[[Page 32972]]

to purchase land and finance agricultural production. The Rural Housing 
Service (RHS) provides supervised credit in the form of Multi-Family 
Housing loans to provide eligible persons with economically designed 
and constructed rental or cooperative housing and related facilities 
suited to the living requirements. This regulation defines the 
requirements for debt settlement and the factors the agency considers 
in approving or rejecting the offer submitted by the borrowers.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information submitted by the 
borrowers is used to determine, if acceptance of the settlement offers 
on debts owed is in the best interest of the Government. If the 
information were not collected, outdated and inaccurate information 
would cause increased losses to the government.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households, 
Business or other for profit; State, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,400.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 20,400.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: Apiculture Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Risk Management Agency is responsible 
for promoting, supporting, and regulating a broad array of market-
based, risk management programs for agricultural producers. In 
legislation enacted in 2000 and 2002, Congress authorized and directed 
the agency to ``increase participation by producers of underserved 
agricultural commodities, including specialty crops'' and to ``enter 
into contracts to carry out research and development'' to achieve this 
end.
    Need and Use of the Information: RMA and its contractors will 
evaluate use the information to assess the feasibility of providing a 
risk management program to apiculture producers. RMA will collect 
information on levels of production, yields, costs and revenues that 
cross several years as the basis for constructing an actuarial profile. 
If this information were not collected, it would not be possible to 
prepare an actuarially sound profile of the industry.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; State, local or tribal government
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,477.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Export Fruit Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0143.
    Summary of Collection: Fresh apples and grapes grown in the United 
States shipped to any foreign destination must meet minimum quality and 
other requirements established by regulations issued under the Export 
Apple Act (7 CFR Part 33) and the Export Grape and Plum Act (7 CFR Part 
35). These Acts were designed to promote the foreign trade of the 
United States in apples and grapes; to protect the reputation of these 
American-grown commodities; and to prevent deception or 
misrepresentation of the quality of such products moving in foreign 
commerce. Currently, plum and pear provisions are not covered under the 
Export Grape and Plum Act. The regulation issued under the Export Grape 
and Plum Act (7 CFR Part 35) cover fresh grapes grown in the United 
States and shipped to foreign destinations, except Canada and Mexico.
    Need and Use of the Information: Person who ship fresh apples and 
grapes grown in the U.S. to foreign destinations must have such 
shipment inspected and certified by Federal or Federal-State Inspection 
Service (FSIS) inspectors. Agriculture Marketing Service administers 
the FSIS. Official FSIS inspection certificates and phytosanitary 
certificates issued by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service provide the needed information for USDA. Export carriers are 
required to keep on file for three years copies of inspection 
certificates for apples and grapes.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; On occasion, 
Monthly, Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 25.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-13294 Filed 6-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M