[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 86 (Friday, May 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 25939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10553]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 86 / Friday, May 3, 2013 / Notices  

[[Page 25939]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 30, 2013.
    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.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by June 3, 
2013 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 
725-17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to 
submit their comments to OMB via email to: [email protected] 
or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. 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 displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation 
(7 CFR Part 12)
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0185.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Security Act of 1985 as amended by 
the Federal Agriculture Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 and the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act), 
and the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 (the 2003 Act) provides 
that any person who produces an agricultural commodity on a field which 
is highly erodible land (HEL) is predominate, or designate land on 
which HEL is predominated to be set aside, diverted, devoted to 
conservation uses, or otherwise not cultivated under a program 
administered by the Secretary to reduce production of an agricultural 
commodity, shall be ineligible for benefits under certain programs 
administered by USDA, unless the production of an agricultural 
commodity on HEL is in compliance with an approved conservation plan or 
system or an exempt applies. These provisions are an attempt to 
preserve the nation's wetland and to reduce the rate at which soil is 
lost from highly erodible land. In order to ensure that persons who 
request benefits subject to the conservation restrictions get technical 
assistance needed and are informed regarding the compliance 
requirements on their land, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) collects 
information using several forms from producers with regard to their 
financial activities on their land that could affect their eligibility 
for requested USDA benefits.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information must be collected from 
producers to certify that they intend to comply with the conservation 
requirements on their land to maintain their eligibility. Additional 
information may be collected if producers request that certain 
activities be exempt from provisions of the statute in order to 
evaluate whether the exempted conditions will be met. The collection of 
information allows the FSA county employees to perform the necessary 
compliance checks and fulfill USDA's objectives towards preserving 
wetlands and reducing erosion.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 259,288.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 261,471.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-10553 Filed 5-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P