[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19047-19048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07616]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation

[Docket No. FCIC-14-0003]


Notice of Request for Renewal and Revision of the Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA

ACTION: Renewal and Revision of the Currently Approved Information 
Collection.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces a public comment period on the information collection 
requests (ICRs) associated with the Standard Reinsurance Agreement and 
Appendices I, II and IV administered by Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation (FCIC). Appendix III is excluded because it contains the 
Data Acceptance System requirements.

DATES: Written comments on this notice will be accepted until close of 
business June 6, 2014.

ADDRESSES: FCIC prefers that comments be submitted electronically 
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. You may submit comments, 
identified by Docket ID No. FCIC-14-0003, by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     By Mail to: David L. Miller, Director, Reinsurance 
Services Division, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 
0801, Washington, DC 20250.

All comments received, including those received by mail, will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided, and can be accessed by the public. All comments 
must include the agency name and docket number or Regulatory 
Information Number (RIN) for this rule. For detailed instructions on 
submitting comments and additional information, see http://www.regulations.gov. If you are submitting comments electronically 
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal and want to attach a document, 
we ask that it be in a text-based format. If you want to attach a 
document that is a scanned Adobe PDF file, it must be scanned as text 
and not as an image, thus allowing FCIC to search and copy certain 
portions of your submissions. For questions regarding attaching a 
document that is a scanned Adobe PDF file, please contact the RMA Web 
Content Team at (816) 823-4694 or by email at 
[email protected].

    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received for any dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the 
complete User Notice and Privacy Notice for Regulations.gov at http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Miller, Director, Risk 
Management Agency, at the address listed above, telephone (202) 720-
9830.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Standard Reinsurance Agreement; Appendices I, II and IV.
    OMB Number: 0563-0069.
    Type of Request: Renewal of current Information Collection.
    Abstract: The Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act), Title 7 U.S.C. 
Chapter 36, Section 1508(k), authorizes the FCIC to provide reinsurance 
to insurers approved by FCIC that insure producers of any agricultural 
commodity under one or more plans acceptable to FCIC. The Act also 
states that the reinsurance shall be provided on such terms and 
conditions as the Board may determine to be consistent with subsections 
(b) and (c) of this section and sound reinsurance principles.
    FCIC executes the same form of reinsurance agreement, called the 
Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA), with nineteen participating 
insurers approved for the 2014 reinsurance year. Appendix I of the SRA, 
Regulatory Duties and Responsibilities, sets forth the company's 
responsibilities as required by statute. Appendix II of the SRA, the 
Plan of Operations (Plan), sets forth the information the insurer is 
required to file with RMA for each reinsurance year they wish to 
participate. The Plan's information enables RMA to evaluate the 
insurer's financial and operational capability to deliver the crop 
insurance program in accordance with the Act. Estimated premiums by 
fund by state, and retained percentages along with current 
policyholders surplus are used in calculations to determine whether to 
approve the insurer's requested maximum reinsurable premium volume for 
the reinsurance year per 7 CFR 400 Subpart L. This information has a 
direct effect upon the insurer's amount of retained premium and 
associated liability and is required to calculate the insurer's 
underwriting gain or loss.
    Appendix IV of the SRA, Quality Control and Program Integrity, 
establishes the minimum annual agent and loss adjuster training 
requirements, and quality control review procedures and performance 
standards required of the insurance companies. FCIC requires each 
insurer to submit, for each reinsurance year, a Quality Control Report 
to FCIC containing details of the results of their completed reviews. 
The insurance companies must also provide an annual Training and 
Performance Evaluation Report which details the evaluation of each 
agent and loss adjuster and reports of any remedial actions taken by 
the Company to correct any error or omission or ensure compliance with 
the SRA. The submission of these reports is included in Appendix II.
    FCIC is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 
extend the approval of this information collection for an additional 3 
years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
concerning the continuation of the current information collection 
activity as associated with the SRA in effect for the 2014 and 
subsequent reinsurance years. These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the current collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the current collection of information;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
being collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.

[[Page 19048]]

    Appendix I of the SRA includes Conflict of Interest data 
collection, which in addition to the insurance companies reinsured by 
FCIC, encompasses the insurance companies' employees and their 
contracted agents and loss adjusters. Appendix I also includes a 
Controlled Business data collection from all employed or contracted 
agents. The estimate below shows the burden that will be placed upon 
the following affected entities.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for the collection 
of Appendix II information is estimated to average 173 hours per 
response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance companies reinsured by 
FCIC.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 19.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 19.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 3,287.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for the Appendix I 
collection of Conflict of Interest information is estimated to average 
1 hour per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Approved Insurance Provider's 
employees and their contracted agents and loss adjusters.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 20,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 20,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 20,000.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for the Appendix I 
collection of Controlled Business information is estimated to average 1 
hour per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Approved Insurance Provider's 
employed and contracted agents.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 12,500.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 12,500.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 12,500.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on March 28, 2014.
Brandon Willis,
Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2014-07616 Filed 4-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-08-P