[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 228 (Monday, November 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62558-62559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28502]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Request for 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 a 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 January 29, 2010 to be 
assured consideration.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments to the Trade Adjustment Assistance 
for Farmers Staff, Import Policies and Export Reporting Division, 
Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, STOP 1021, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20250-1021, or telephone at (202) 720-0638.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Trade Adjustment Assistance for 
Farmers Staff, at the address above, or telephone at (202) 720-0638, or 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers.
    OMB Number: 0551-0040.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2010.
    Type of Request: Revision to currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
reauthorizes and modifies the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for 
Farmers program as established by Subtitle C of Title I of the Trade 
Act of 2002, which amended the Trade Act of 1974. Under this program, 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides technical assistance 
and cash benefits to eligible producers of raw agricultural commodities 
and fishermen when the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Administrator 
determines that increased imports of raw agricultural

[[Page 62559]]

commodities, aquaculture products, or wild-caught aquatic species 
(jointly referred to as ``agricultural commodities'') have contributed 
importantly to a greater than 15 percent decrease in the national 
average price, or quantity of production, or value of production, or 
cash receipts for the agricultural commodity specified in the certified 
petition compared to the average of the three preceding marketing 
years. The regulation 7 CFR part 1580 established the procedure by 
which producers of raw agricultural commodities and fishermen can 
petition (form FAS-930 or a reasonable substitute) for certification of 
eligibility and apply for technical assistance and cash payments. To 
receive consideration for TAA for Farmers certification, petitioners 
must supply the information required by 7 CFR 1580.201. Once a petition 
has been certified, individuals covered by the certification must apply 
for TAA for Farmers 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 
information collection procedure was filed in August 2003. The revision 
to this information collection is to decrease the total estimated 
burden hours from 14,000 to 8,750 hours based on changes to previous 
program eligibility requirements.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,250.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Burden of Hours per Response: 7 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,750 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tamoria 
Thompson-Hall, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 
690-1690.

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 the Office of 
Management and Budget (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: November 17, 2009.
Michael V. Michener,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. E9-28502 Filed 11-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P