[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76961-76962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9830]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Commodity Credit Corporation Information Collection; Noninsured 
Crop Disaster Assistance Program

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency and the Commodity Credit Corporation are seeking 
comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the

[[Page 76962]]

extension of a currently approved information collection used in 
support of the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The 
information collected is needed to determine eligibility to obtain NAP 
assistance.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 20, 2007 to be 
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Clay 
Lagasse, Section Head; Common Disaster Provisions Section, Disaster 
Branch; Production, Emergencies and Compliance Division, Farm Service 
Agency, USDA, Mail Stop 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0522 and to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Comments also may be submitted by e-mail 
to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clay Lagasse, Section Head, Common 
Disaster Provisions Section, Disaster Assistance Branch, (202) 205-
9893.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
    OMB Number: 0560-0175.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2007.
    Type of Request: Extension with revision.
    Abstract: The Noninsured Crop Assistance Program is authorized 
under 7 U.S.C. 7333 and implemented under regulations issued at 7 CFR 
Part 1437. The NAP is administered under the general supervision of the 
Executive Vice-President of CCC (who also serves as Administrator, 
FSA), and is carried out by FSA State and County committees. The 
information collected allows CCC to provide assistance under NAP for 
losses of commercial crops or other agricultural commodities (except 
livestock) for which catastrophic risk protection under 7 U.S.C. 1508 
is not available, and that is produced for food or fiber. Additionally, 
NAP provides assistance for losses of floriculture, ornamental nursery, 
Christmas tree crops, turf grass sod, seed crops, aquaculture 
(including ornamental fish), sea oats and sea grass, industrial crops, 
and tropical agricultural crops. The information collected is necessary 
to determine whether a producer and crop or commodity meet applicable 
conditions for assistance and to determine compliance with existing 
rules. Producers must annually: (1) Request NAP coverage by completing 
an application for coverage and paying a service fee by the CCC-
established application closing date; (2) file a current crop-year 
report of acreage for the covered crop or commodity; and (3) certify 
production of each covered crop or commodity. When damage to a covered 
crop or commodity occurs, producers must file a notice of loss with the 
local FSA administrative county office within 15 calendar days of 
occurrence or 15 calendar days of the date damage to the crop or 
commodity becomes apparent. Producers must also file an application for 
payment and certification of income with the local FSA administrative 
county office.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is estimated to average 0.6 hours per response.
    Type of Respondents: Producers of commercial crops or other 
agricultural commodities (except livestock).
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 291,500.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,143,562.
    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized, and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on December 15, 2006.
Teresa Lasseter,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice-President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 06-9830 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P