[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 470-471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33793]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 470]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-11-0084]


Specialty Crop Block Grant Program--Farm Bill Request for 
Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this document announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection under the Specialty Crop 
Block Grant Program--Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB).

DATES: Comments on this document must be received by March 5, 2012 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this information collection document. Comments should be submitted 
online at www.regulations.gov or sent to Docket Clerk, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 0235, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0243; or by facsimile to (202) 720-0016. All comments should 
reference the docket number (AMS-FV-11-0084), the date, and the page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments received 
will be posted without change, including any personal information 
provided, online at http://www.regulations.gov and will be made 
available for public inspection at the above physical address during 
regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trista Etzig at the above physical 
address, by telephone (202) 690-4942, or by email at mail to: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Specialty Crop Block Grant Program--Farm Bill.
    OMB Number: 0581-0248.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of OMB approval.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request 
are applied only to those State departments of agriculture who 
voluntarily participate in the SCBGP-FB. The information collected is 
needed to certify that grant participants are complying with applicable 
program regulations. Data collected is the minimum information 
necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the program, and 
to fulfill the intent of section 101 of the Competitiveness Act of 
2004, as amended by section 10109 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008, (2008 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 110-246).
    State departments of agriculture who wish to participate in the 
SCBGP-FB would have to submit the following:
    (a) SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' (approved under 
OMB collection number 4040-0004) is required to apply for Federal 
assistance.
    (b) SF-424A, ``Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs,'' 
(approved under OMB collection number 0348-0044) is required to show 
each project's budget breakdown.
    (c) Form SF-424B, ``Assurances-Non-Construction Programs,'' 
(approved under OMB collection number 0348-0040) to assure the Federal 
government of the applicant's legal authority to apply for Federal 
assistance.
    (d) State Plan Narrative. Completed applications must include a 
State Plan Narrative to show how grant funds will be utilized to 
enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 hours per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56 (All 50 States, the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands).
    Estimated Number of Responses: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 560 hours.
    Before funds are dispersed, State departments of agriculture must 
complete the following forms:
    (a) Grant Agreement. The Grant Agreement sets forth the agreed upon 
responsibilities of AMS project work. It also indicates the agreed upon 
grant funding dollar amounts and the beginning date and ending date of 
the project work and the Grant Agreement. One copy of this Grant 
Agreement is required to be returned to AMS with the grantee's 
signatures and dated for each grant.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2 hours per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 112 hours.
    (b) Form SF-270, ``Request for Advance and Reimbursement'' 
(approved under OMB collection number 0348-0004) is required whenever 
the grantees request an advance or reimbursement of Federal grant 
funds. AMS expects that at least three (3) SF-270 forms will be 
submitted during the grant agreement period.
    (c) Annual Performance Report. The Annual Performance Report is 
required if a grant period is more than one year in length. The Annual 
Performance Report is written documentation required to notify AMS 
about the work activities and progress towards completing the grantee's 
and subgrantee's established project activities, goals and outcomes. 
AMS expects that at least two (2) Annual Performance Reports will be 
submitted during the grant agreement period.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.

[[Page 471]]

    Respondents: State departments of agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 112.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 336 hours.
    (d) Final Performance Report. The Final Performance Report is 
written information required by AMS within 90 days after the ending 
date of the Grant Agreement. This information is utilized as final 
documentation of completion of the project activities, goals and 
outcomes.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 hours per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 336 hours.
    (e) Request for Grant Amendment. A State department of agriculture 
participating in the SCBGP-FB would have to submit a Request for Grant 
Amendment to AMS if there is a change in key personnel, scope or 
objectives of the grant, budget changes that exceed more than 20% of a 
project's total budget, and/or or an extension of the grant period not 
to exceed three calendar years.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 112 hours.
    (f) SF-425 ``Federal Financial Report (approved under OMB 
collection number 0348-0061) is to be completed 90 days after the 
expiration date of the grant period to comply with various legal and 
regulatory requirements as described within the form.
    (g) Audit Report. A State is required to conduct an audit of SCBGP-
FB expenditures and an audit report is required to be submitted to AMS 
no later than 30 days after completion of the audit.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 56.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 168 hours.
    Finally, State departments of agriculture are required to retain 
records pertaining to the SCBGP-FB for 3 years after completion of the 
grant period or until final resolution of any audit findings or 
litigation claims relating to the SCBGP-FB. This is a part of normal 
business practice.
    This program would not be maintained by any other agency, 
therefore, the requested information will not be available from any 
other existing records.
    AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA) (44 U.S.C. 3540 note), which requires Government 
agencies in general to provide the public the option of submitting 
information or transacting business electronically to the maximum 
extent possible. The SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms and State Plan 
(Narrative) can be completed electronically and are required to be 
submitted electronically through www.grants.gov.
    The SF-425 and SF-270 forms can be filled out electronically and 
submitted electronically.
    The Annual Performance Report, Final Performance Report, Audit 
Report, and Request for Grant Amendment can be submitted 
electronically. The Grant Agreement requires an original signature and 
can be submitted by mail.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed 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 those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    All responses to this document will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: December 22, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-33793 Filed 1-4-12; 8:45 am]
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