[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50674-50675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20643]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 17, 2012.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it

[[Page 50675]]

displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: CCC's Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102).
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0004.
    Summary of Collection: The Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-
102) is administered by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture. This program provides guarantees to 
exporters in order to maintain and increase overseas importers ability 
to purchase U.S. agricultural goods. The Export Credit Guarantee 
Program underwrites credit extended by U.S. private banks to approved 
foreign banks using dollar-denominated, irrevocable letters of credit. 
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) will collect information from 
the guarantee application submitted by the participants in writing (via 
fax or email) or mail.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information from 
participating U.S. exporters in order to determine the exporter's 
eligibility for program benefits. The information is also used in 
fulfilling CCC obligation under the issued payment guarantee. If the 
information were not collected CCC would be unable to determine if 
export sales under the program would be eligible for coverage or, if 
coverage conformed to program requirements.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 73.
    Frequency of Responses: Record keeping, Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,555.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program (FMD) and 
Market Access Program (MAP).
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0026.
    Summary of Collection: The basic authority for the Foreign Market 
Development Cooperator Program (FMD) is contained in Title VII of the 
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, 7 U.S.C. 5721, et seq. Program 
regulations appear at 7 CFR Part 1484. Title VII directs the Secretary 
of Agriculture to ``establish and, in cooperation with eligible trade 
organization, carry out a foreign market development cooperator program 
to maintain and develop foreign markets for United States agricultural 
commodities and products.'' The primary objective of the Market Access 
Program (MAP) is to encourage the development, maintenance, and 
expansion of commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products 
through cost-share assistance to eligible trade organizations that 
implement a foreign market development program. The programs are 
administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
    Need and Use of the Information: The collected information will be 
used by FAS to manage, plan, evaluate, and account for government 
resources. Specifically, data is used to assess the extent to which: 
Applicant organizations represent U.S. commodity interests; benefits 
derived from market development effort will translate back to the 
broadest possible range of beneficiaries; the market development 
efforts will lead to increases in consumption and imports of U.S. 
agricultural commodities; the applicant is able and willing to commit 
personnel and financial resources to assure adequate development, 
supervision and execution of project activities; and private 
organizations are able and willing to support the promotional program 
with aggressive marketing of the commodity in question. Without the 
collected information the program could not be implemented.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 71.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 93,746.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-20643 Filed 8-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P