[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 130 (Friday, July 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38599-38600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6028]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


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

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
(CCC) to request an extension and revision of currently approved 
information collections in support of the Regulations--Financing 
Commercial Sales of Agricultural Commodities under Title I of Public 
Law 83-480; Request for Vessel Approval, Form CCC-105 and Request for 
Vessel Approval, Form CCC-105 (cotton); and Declaration of Sale, Form 
FAS-359.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 5, 2006.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact William Hawkins, 
Director, Program Administration Division, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1031, Washington, DC 
20250-1031, telephone (202) 720-3241.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Regulations--Financing Commercial Sales of Agricultural 
Commodities under Title I, Public law 480; Request for Vessel Approval, 
Form CCC-105 and Request for Vessel Approval, Form CCC-105 (cotton); 
and Declaration of Sale, Form FAS-359.
    OMB Number: 0551-0005 (Records and Rule Keeping), 0551-0008 
(request for Vessel Approval Form), and 0551-0009 (Declaration of Sale 
Form) were combined into OMB Number 0551-0005 in 2003.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of currently approved 
information collections.
    Abstract: Title I of The Agricultural Trade Development and 
Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, (Pub. L. 83-480) authorizes the CCC 
to finance the sale and exportation of agricultural commodities on 
concessional credit terms. Suppliers of commodities and ocean 
transportation must retain records for 3 years. Prospective commodity 
suppliers must provide information for the Department to determine 
eligibility. Commodity suppliers must report details of sales for price 
approval and submit to USDA, for approval, information on any 
amendments to the sales. Form FAS-359, ``Declaration of Sale,'' is the 
written record, signed by the commodity supplier, of the terms of sale 
as reported by telephone. When signed by the General Sales Manager, it 
provides evidence of the USDA price approval required for CCC 
financing. Shipping agents nominated by importing countries must submit 
information to allow identification of possible conflicts of interest. 
Shipping agents or embassies submit pertinent shipping information on 
Form CCC-105 to facilities approval by CCC of shipping arrangements. 
This approval is necessary to assure compliance with cargo preference 
requirements at the lowest cost to CCC. Agents submit this document in 
order that USDA can generate the CCC-106, a necessary payment document. 
Ocean carriers then receive payment for ocean freight.

[[Page 38600]]

    The information collected is used by CCC to manage, plan, evaluate 
the use of, and account for government resources. The reports and 
records are required to ensure the proper and judicious use of public 
funds.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for these 
collections is estimated to average 8 hours per Recordkeeping, 30 
minutes per Vessel Approval and 15 minutes per Declaration of Sale 
response.
    Respondents: Suppliers of commodities and ocean transportation; 
prospective commodity suppliers; shipping agents; and businesses or 
other for-profit entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25 per annum.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 88.75 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tamoria 
Thompson-Hall, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 
690-1690.
    Requests for Comments: Send comments regarding (a) whether the 
proposed 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 the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent to William Hawkins, Director, Program 
Administration Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Stop 1031, Washington, DC 20250-1031, or to the Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Persons with 
disabilities who require an alternative means for communication of 
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact 
USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 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.

    Signed at Washington, DC on June 19, 2006.
Michael W. Yost,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6028 Filed 7-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M