[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13808-13809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2547]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) intends to 
request an extension and revision to a currently approved information 
collection procedure for the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers 
program as described in 7 CFR Part 1580.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before May 16, 2006 to be 
assured consideration.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments to Robert H. Curtis, Director, 
Import Policies and Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1021, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-1021, (202) 720-2916.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert H. Curtis, at the address 
above, or telephone at (202) 720-2916, or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers.
    OMB Number: 0551-0040.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Trade Act of 2002 established the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance for Farmers (TAA) program. Under this program, the 
Department of Agriculture provides technical assistance and cash 
benefits to eligible producers of raw agricultural commodities when the 
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), determines that 
increased imports have contributed importantly to a specific price 
decline over 5 preceding marketing years. The regulation 7 CFR Part 
1580 established the procedure by which producers of raw agricultural 
commodities can petition (form FAS-930 or a reasonable substitute) for 
certification of eligibility and apply for technical assistance and 
adjustment payments. To receive consideration for TAA certification, 
petitioners must

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supply the information required by 7 CFR 1580.201. Once a petition has 
been certified, individuals covered by the certification must apply for 
TAA benefits in accordance with 7 CFR 1580.301. The specific 
information required on an application (form FSA-229) must be collected 
from those who wish to receive program benefits. The number of 
respondents has doubled since the original Paperwork Reduction Act was 
filed in August 2003. The doubling of respondents is a result of a 
higher number of applications being processed for program benefits than 
was anticipated during initial program development. In addition, a new 
Part D was added to form FSA-229.
    Estimate Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimate Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Burden of Hours per Response: 14 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 14,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimberly 
Chisley, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 720-
2568.

Request for Comments

    The public is invited to submit comments and suggestions to the 
above address regarding the accuracy of the burden, estimate, ways to 
minimize the burden, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, or any other 
aspect of this collection of information. Comments on the issues 
covered by the Paperwork Reduction Act are most useful to OMB if 
received within 30 days of publication of the Notice and Request for 
Comments, but must be submitted no later than 60 days from the date of 
publication to be assured of consideration. All responses to this 
notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. 
All comments will also become a matter of public record. Persons with 
disabilities who require an alternative means for communication of 
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the 
USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Dated: February 27, 2006.
Lyle Sebranek,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 06-2547 Filed 3-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M