[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43965-43968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16778]


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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. 141 / Friday, July 23, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43965]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 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 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), Pamela--Beverly-- [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.

Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Add Yucatan Peninsula to List of Regions Considered Free of 
END.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0228.
    Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. authorizes sections 111, 
114, 114a, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a, 134c, 134f, and 134g. These 
authorities permit the Secretary to prevent, control and eliminate 
domestic diseases such as brucellosis, as well as to take actions to 
prevent and manage exotic diseases such as classical swine fever and 
other foreign animal diseases. Disease prevention is the most effective 
method for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ability to compete 
in the world market of animal and animal product trade. Veterinary 
Services, a program with APHIS, is responsible for carrying out this 
disease prevention mission. The agency regulates the importation of 
animals and animal products into the United States to guard against the 
introduction of exotic animal diseases such as exotic Newcastle disease 
(END). The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 allow the importation of 
poultry meat and products and live poultry from the Mexican States of 
Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan under conditions designed to ensure 
that the poultry meat and products and live poultry will not transmit 
END.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
through the use of a certification statement that must be completed by 
Mexican veterinary authorities prior to export. The information 
collected from the certificate will provide APHIS with critical 
information concerning the origin and history of the items destined for 
importation in the United States. Without the information APHIS' 
ability to ensure that poultry, poultry meat, or other poultry products 
from certain States within Mexico pose a minimal risk of introducing 
exotic Newcastle disease and other exotic animal diseases in the United 
States.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 5.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 50.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: West Indian Fruit Fly.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0170.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for 
preventing plant pests disease or insect pests from entering the United 
States, preventing the spread of noxious weeds not widely distributed 
in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests when 
eradication is feasible. Under the Plant Protection Act (PPA) (7 U.S.C. 
7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or 
restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plant, and plant pests 
to prevent the introduction of plant pests in the United States or 
their dissemination within the United States. The West Indian fruit 
fly, is a very destructive pest of fruits and vegetables, including 
carambola, grapefruit, guava, limes, mangoes, oranges, passion fruit, 
peaches, and pears. This pest can cause serious economic losses by 
lowering the yield and quality of fruits and vegetables and, in some 
cases, by damaging seedlings and young plants.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using forms PPQ 540, to certify bulk shipments of regulated articles. 
If the information were not collected, APHIS would be unable to provide 
for the interstate movement of certain articles from the quarantined 
area.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 37.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 37.

Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: TB Payments to El Paso, Texas.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0193.
    Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. authorizes sections 111, 
114, 114a, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a, 134c, 134f, and 134g. These 
authorities permit the Secretary to prevent, control and eliminate 
domestic diseases such as tuberculosis, as well as to take actions to 
prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, 
rinderpest, and other foreign animal diseases. More specifically, 21

[[Page 43966]]

U.S.C. 111, 115, and 118 authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to take 
such measures as she may deem proper to prevent the introduction or 
dissemination of any contagious or communicable disease of animals or 
live poultry from a foreign country into the United States or from one 
State to another. Disease prevention is the most effective method for 
maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) ability to compete in exporting animals 
and animal products. Since 1985, State Animal Health Officials in 
Texas, along with APHIS, have been taking measure to eliminate 
tuberculosis in dairy herds in the El Paso, Texas area. As result of 
these eradication efforts, dairy herds in the El Paso area have become 
free of tuberculosis, only to become reinfected again. Because of this 
situation, APHIS determined that it is necessary to remove all bovine 
dairy herds from El Paso to further the eradication of tuberculosis in 
the United States. If these owners agree to dispose of their dairy 
herds, close their existing dairy operations and refrain from 
establishing new cattle breeding operations in the area, APHIS would 
make payments to El Paso diary herd owners.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
provide payment to owners of dairy cattle and other property used in 
connection with dairy operations in the area of El Paso, Texas. To be 
eligible for payment under this program, all owners of dairy operations 
in the area of El Paso, Texas must sign and adhere to an agreement with 
APHIS.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
local or tribal government: farms.
    Number of Respondents: 95.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 875.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Karnal Bunt; Compensation for Custom Harvesters in Northern 
Texas.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0248.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for 
preventing plant pests disease or insect pests from entering the United 
States, preventing the spread of noxious weeds not widely distributed 
in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests when 
eradication is feasible. Under the Plant Protection Act (PPA) (7 U.S.C. 
7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or 
restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plant, and plant pests 
to prevent the introduction of plant pests in the United States or 
their dissemination within the United States. The regulations regarding 
Karnal Bunt are set forth in 7 CFR parts 301.89-1 through 301.89-16. 
APHIS amended the Karnal Bunt regulations to provide for the payment of 
compensation to custom harvesters for losses they incurred due to the 
requirement that their equipment be cleaned and disinfected after four 
counties in northern Texas were declared regulated areas for Karnal 
Bunt during the 2000-2001 crop season.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using PPQ 540, Certificate of Federal/State Domestic Plant Quarantines. 
The certificate is used for domestic movement of treated articles 
relating to quarantines. The information collected is critical to the 
mission of preventing the infestation of Karnal Bunt into non-infested 
areas of the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 40.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 8.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Export Assistance and Services.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0031.
    Summary of Collection: The Ag Export Services Division of the 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) facilitates trade contacts between 
U.S. exporters and foreign buyers seeking U.S. food and agricultural 
products. Authority for this program falls under 7 U.S.C. part 1761, 
part 5693 and part 1765B. All of the assistance and services offered by 
the division are designed to promote U.S. agricultural exports; help. 
U.S. firms make contact with export agents, trading companies, 
importers and foreign buyers and create an opportunity to sell their 
products in overseas markets. The specific programs covered by 
authority are Trade Shows and Missions, U.S. Suppliers List, Buyer 
Alert, Foreign Buyers List, Customer Matchmaking, Export Directory of 
U.S. Food Distribution Companies, Trade Leads, Export Promotion Events, 
Madigan Award and Newsletters. This service provides the U.S. firm an 
opportunity to have a data record providing basic information about the 
company and the products it exports put into a USDA maintained 
database. FAS will collect information using a combination of forms and 
telephone interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information on 
contact names, mailing addresses, telephones, fax, e-mail, and Web 
sites. The main purpose for collecting the information is to foster 
trade contacts in an effort to facilitate greater export of U.S. 
agriculture food, forestry, and fishery products. The databases are 
used to recruit U.S. exporters, importers, and buyers to participate in 
market development activities sponsored by USDA. These databases must 
be updated periodically to maintain the integrity and usefulness to the 
trade community.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 57,700.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: annually; on occasion; 
quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 8,463.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Export Sales of U.S. Agricultural Commodities.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0007.
    Summary of Collection: The export sales reporting system provides 
commodity market participants with information about commodity export 
commitments and is one means by which USDA seeks to insure fairness and 
soundness in commodity marketing. U.S. exports are required to report 
to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) information on: (1) The 
quantity of a reportable commodity to be sold to a foreign buyer; (2) 
the country of destination; and (3) the marketing year of shipment. The 
authority to collect this information is found at 7 CFR part 20 and the 
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5712).
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected provides 
up-to-date market data to FAS administrative officials for making 
rational export policy decisions to prevent market disruptions. FAS 
reports the information to the public so that all market participants 
can be aware of and evaluate the effects of exports on supply and 
demand estimates of production, prices, and sales.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 380.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping: reporting; quarterly; 
weekly.
    Total Burden Hours: 31,190.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

    Title: Application for Inspection, Sanitation, and Exemptions.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0082.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS) has been delegated the authority to exercise

[[Page 43967]]

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 (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031). These statutes mandate that 
FSIS protect the public by ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg 
products are not adulterated, wholesome, and properly labeled and 
packaged. FSIS requires meat, poultry, and import establishments to 
apply for a grant of inspection before they can receive Federal 
inspection. FSIS requires FSIS accredited non-Federal analytical 
laboratories to maintain certain paperwork and records.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information 
using several FSIS forms to ensure that all meat and poultry 
establishments produce safe, wholesome, and unadulterated product, and 
that non-federal laboratories accord with FSIS regulations. In 
addition, FSIS will use the information to ensure that meat and poultry 
establishments exempted from FSIS's inspection do not commingle 
inspected and non-inspected meat and poultry products; that retail 
firms qualifying for a retail store exemption and who have violated the 
provision of the exemption are no longer in violation.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 16,755.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 114,583.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Collection of Market Prices.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (2002 Act) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter 
Act gives authority in establishing market values for wheat, feed 
grains, soybeans, minor oilseeds, and pulses. The market values for 
these agricultural commodities are used to establish posted county 
prices (PCP) which the Farm Service Agency (FSA) uses under it 
marketing assistance loan program. The 2002 Act and CCC Charter Act 
authorizes CCC to determine and announce alternative repayment rates 
based upon the market prices at appropriate U.S. markets to minimize 
loan forfeitures, minimize the Federal Government-owned inventory of 
the commodities, minimize the storage costs incurred by the Federal 
Government, and minimize discrepancies in marketing loan benefits 
across State and county boundaries.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Kansas City Commodity Office 
(KCCO) merchandisers will make daily market calls or collect electronic 
market prices from warehouse operators, as well as examine values from 
future closes from the Board of Trade, information from the Commodity 
News Service, and Agricultural Marketing Service. FSA uses the market 
prices collected to establish PCPs, which provide an estimate of 
current prices at the county level and which become the alternative 
repayment rate, or market price, producers may redeem their marketing 
assistance loans from county FSA offices.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other-for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 30.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: weekly; other (daily).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,800.

Risk Management Agency

     Title: Standard Reinsurance Agreement Plan of Operations.
     OMB Control Number: 0563-NEW.
     Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Act, title 7 
U.S.C. chapter 36 sec. 1508(k) authorizes the Federal Crop Insurance to 
provide reinsurance to approved insurance providers that insure 
producers of any agricultural commodity under one or more acceptable 
plans. The Standard Reinsurance Agreement is a financial agreement 
between FCIC and the company to provide subsidy and reinsurance on 
eligible crop insurance. The Plan of Operation provides the information 
the insurer is required to file for the initial and each subsequent 
reinsurance year.
     Need and Use of the Information FCIC uses the information as a 
basis for the approval of the insurer's financial and operational 
capability of delivering the crop insurance program and for evaluating 
the insurer's performance regarding implementation of procedures for 
training and quality control. If the information were not collected, 
FCIC would not be able to reinsure the crop business.
     Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms; 
Federal government.
     Number of Respondents: 14.
     Frequency of Responses: Reporting: annually.
     Total Burden Hours: 11,200.

Rural Housing Service

     Title: 7 CFR 1944-L, Tenant Grievance and Appeals Procedure.
     OMB Control Number: 0575-0046.
     Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is 
authorized, under sections 514, 515, and 521 of the Housing Act of 
1949, to provide loans and grants to eligible recipients of the 
development of rural rental/cooperative and labor housing. The agency 
is responsible for assuring the public that the housing projects 
financed are managed and operated as mandated by Congress. The multiple 
family housing projects are intended to meet the housing needs of 
persons or families who have moderate, low-and very-low incomes, senior 
citizens, the handicapped and domestic farm laborers. In 1980, RHS 
implemented a grievance and appeals procedure for tenants, members and 
applicants for occupancy in multiple family housing. The procedure 
requires certain information to be collected whenever a tenant wishes 
to appeal adverse actions by owners/managers of multi-family housing 
project financed by RHS.
     Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
to notify tenants of the reasons for the adverse actions, to ascertain 
the viewpoint of the tenant, and in the course of trying to resolve the 
grievance. The consequence of not collecting the information is that 
tenants, members or applicants would not be able to exercise their 
rights provided by the Tenant Grievance Appeals procedure.
     Description of Respondents: Business or for-profit.
     Number of Respondents: 200.
     Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
     Total Burden Hours: 82.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under Regulations 
(Other than Rules of Practice) Under the Perishable Agricultural 
Commodities act, 1930.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0031.
    Summary of Collection: The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act 
(PACA) establishes a code of fair trading practices covering the 
marketing of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables in interstate or 
foreign commerce. It protects growers, shippers and distributors by 
prohibiting unfair practices. PACA requires nearly all person who 
operates as commission merchants, dealers (of which now restaurants are 
a subset) and brokers buying or selling fruit and or vegetables in 
interstate or foreign commerce to be licensed. The license for 
retailers and grocery wholesalers is effective for three years and for 
all other licensees up to three years, unless withdrawn.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information from 
the applicant to administer licensing

[[Page 43968]]

provisions under the Act. If this information were unavailable, it 
would be impossible to identify and regulate those individuals or firms 
that are restricted due to sanctions imposed because of the reparation 
or administrative actions.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions; individuals or households; farms.
    Number of Respondents: 15,829.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 155,138.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Food Stamp Program Regulations, Part 275--Quality Control.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0303.
    Summary of Collection: Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
provides the legislative basis for the operation of the Food Stamp 
Program Quality Control system. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 
as administrator of the Food Stamp Program, requires each State agency 
to implement a quality control system to provide basis for determining 
each State agency's error rates through review of a sample of Food 
Stamp cases. Each State agency is responsible for the design and 
selection of the quality control samples and must submit a quality 
control sampling plan for approval to FNS. Additionally, State agencies 
are required to maintain case records for three years to ensure 
compliance with provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977.
    Need and Use of the Information: The quality control sampling plan 
is necessary for FNS to monitor State operations and is essential to 
the determination of a State agency's error rate and corresponding 
entitlement to increased Federal share of its administrative costs or 
liability for sanctions.
    Description of Respondents: State, local, or tribal government; 
Federal government.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion; 
annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,074.

Forest Service

    Title: Volunteer Application for Natural Resource Agencies.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0080.
    Summary of Collection: The Volunteer Act of 1972, (Pub. L. 92-300) 
as amended, authorizes the Forest Service (FS) to involve as many 
volunteers as is efficient, effective, and cost-beneficial to 
accomplish the FS mission. Volunteers build and maintain trails, 
construct campground facilities, improve wildlife habitat, and perform 
other useful and important conservation services. FS will collect 
information using the Volunteer Application OF 301.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect the names, 
addresses, and certain information of individuals who are interested in 
public service as volunteers. The information is used by FS Managers 
for the purpose of contacting applicants and interviewing and screening 
them for volunteer positions. There could be no program without the 
information from the application.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 58,100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: other (one time).
    Total Burden Hours: 14,525.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-16778 Filed 7-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-M