[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13945-13946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3982]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 16, 2006.

    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

[[Page 13946]]

persons are not required to respond to the collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Agriculture Innovation Centers.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0045.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171, signed May 13, 2000) authorized the Secretary 
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to award grant funds for 
agriculture innovation centers, a demonstration program under which 
agricultural producers are to be provided with technical and business 
development assistance enabling them to establish businesses producing 
and marketing value-added products. This program is administered by 
Cooperative Programs within USDA's Rural Development. Grants were 
awarded, on a competitive basis, only in fiscal year 2003. The 
authorization for this program expired on September 30, 2004; however, 
centers are required to provide progress reports for the duration of 
the grant agreement to monitor compliance and measure the success of 
the program.
    Need and Use of the Information: Performance report information is 
collected semi-annually from the ten agriculture innovation centers 
funded during the 2003 grant cycle. USDA uses performance reports to 
confirm that progress is being made toward achieving the stated goals 
of the project. A final report is submitted at the completion of the 
grant agreement. Centers may be non-profit corporations, for-profit 
corporations, institutions of higher learning, and consortia of the 
aforementioned entities.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit Institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Semi-annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 110.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-3982 Filed 3-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XT-P