[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 137 (Monday, July 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 35158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17130]



[[Page 35158]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection Request: Highly Erodible Land Conservation 
and Wetland Conservation

AGENCIES: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is seeking comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved 
information collection associated with Highly Erodible Land 
Conservation and Wetland Conservation certification requirements. This 
information is collected in support of the conservation compliance 
provisions of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (the 1985 Farm 
Bill), as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
(the 2008 Farm Bill).

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by September 18, 2009.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include date, volume, and page number of this issue of the 
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Mail: Jan Jamrog, Program Manager, Production, 
Emergencies, and Compliance Division, Farm Service Agency, United 
States Department of Agriculture, Room 4752-S, STOP 0517, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (202) 690-2130.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jan Jamrog, Program Manager, (202) 
690-0926.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Highly Erodible land Conservation and Wetland Conservation 
Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0185.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2010.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The collection of this information is necessary to 
determine payment eligibility of individuals and entities for various 
programs administered by the USDA including Conservation Programs, 
Price Support Programs, Direct and Counter Cyclical Programs, including 
the Average Crop Revenue Election Program, Aquaculture and Livestock 
Grant Programs, Crop and Livestock Energy Programs, USDA Revenue 
Programs, Wildlife Programs, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance 
Program, Disaster Programs and Farm Loan Programs. Regulations 
governing the requirements under Title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801-3862), as amended by the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008, relating to highly erodible lands and wetlands are 
in 7 CFR part 12. In order to ensure that persons who request program 
benefits subject to conservation restrictions obtain the necessary 
technical assistance and are informed regarding the compliance 
requirements on their land, information is collected with regard to 
their intended activities on their land which could affect their 
eligibility for requested USDA benefits. Once technical determinations 
are made, producers are required to certify that they will comply with 
the conservation requirements on their land to maintain their 
eligibility for certain programs. Persons may request that certain 
activities be exempt according to provisions of the 1985 Farm Bill. 
Information is collected from those individuals who seek these 
exemptions for the purpose of evaluating whether the exempted 
conditions will be met. Forms AD-1026, AD-1026B, AD-1026-C, AD-1026D, 
AD-1068, AD-1069, CCC-21, and FSA-492 are being used for making 
determinations in this information collection. The forms are not 
required to be completed on an annual basis.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response. The 
average travel time, which is included in the total annual burden, is 
estimated to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Individuals and entities.
    Estimated Number Respondents: 262,788.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 262, 346.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection, including the following, to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (4) 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.
    All responses to this Notice will be summarized and included in the 
information collection request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on July 13, 2009.
Jonathan Coppess,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. E9-17130 Filed 7-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P