[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 218 (Friday, November 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 67329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27393]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 67329]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection: Agricultural Foreign Investment 
Disclosure Act

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 requesting comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved 
information collection associated with the Agricultural Foreign 
Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) of 1978.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by January 8, 2013.

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:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Lesa A. Johnson, Agricultural Foreign Investment 
Disclosure Act (AFIDA) Program Manager, Natural Resources Analysis 
Group, Economic and Policy Analysis Staff, USDA, FSA, STOP 0531, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0531.
     Email: [email protected].
    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. Copies of the information collection may 
be requested by contacting Lesa A. Johnson at the above ADDRESSES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lesa A. Johnson, Agricultural Foreign 
Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) Program Manager, (202) 720-9223.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0097.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2013.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: AFIDA requires foreign persons who hold, acquire, or 
dispose of any interest in U.S. agricultural land to report the 
transactions to FSA on an AFIDA report (FSA-153). The information 
collected is made available to States. Also, although not required by 
law, the information collected from the AFIDA reports is used to 
prepare an annual report to Congress and the President concerning the 
effect of foreign investment upon family farms and rural communities so 
that Congress may review the annual report and decide if further 
regulatory action is required.
    Estimate of Average Time to Respond: 0.476 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign investors, corporate employees, attorneys, or 
farm managers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,525.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 5,525.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,631.25 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Determine whether the continued collection of information is 
still necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Assess the accuracy of the FSA'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; and
    (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 the 
Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Signed on September 20, 2012.
Carolyn B. Cooksie,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-27393 Filed 11-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P