[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 45600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19045]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection: Emergency Conservation Program

AGENCY: 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 with revision of 
currently approved information collection associated with the Emergency 
Conservation Program (ECP). To assist with the modernization of ECP, 
new forms, which allow for multiple practices and multiple farms and 
tracts, will be used in lieu of the AD-245 for application processed 
through the new web-based software.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by October 4, 2010. We 
will consider comments submitted after this date to extent possible.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this Notice. In your 
comment, include the volume, date, and page number of this issue of the 
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
    E-Mail: Send comments to: [email protected].
    Fax: (202) 720-4619.
    Mail: Katina Hanson, ECP Program Manager, Conservation and 
Environmental Programs Division, Farm Service Agency, United States 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 0513, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0513.
    Comments also should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katina Hanson, ECP Program Manager, 
(202) 720-0062.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Emergency Conservation Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0082.
    Expiration Date: January 31, 2011.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is to allow FSA to 
effectively administer the regulations under the ECP. The regulations 
at 7 CFR part 701 set forth basic policies, program provisions, and 
eligibility requirements for owners and operators to enter into 
agreement with, to apply for financial and technical assistance and for 
receiving cost-share payments under the ECP. The revision to the 
currently approved information collection is in response to the need to 
continue to service ECP customers and more efficiently collect 
information on cost-share requests, agreements, and performance by 
modernizing the ECP forms and software processes.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .3 hours (19 minutes) per response. 
The average travel time, which is included in the total annual burden, 
is estimated to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Owners, operators and other eligible agricultural 
producers on eligible farmland.
    Number of Respondents: 40,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 40,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 51,263.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection, and 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 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 July 27, 2010.
Jonathan W. Coppess,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2010-19045 Filed 8-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P