[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28884-28886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11680]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Commodity Credit Corporation

[Docket No. NRCS-2014-0004]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Commodity 
Credit Corporation (CCC), United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces NRCS' intention to request an 
extension for, and a revision to, a currently approved information 
collection for Long-Term Contracting.

DATES: Effective Date: This is effective May 20, 2014.
    Comment Date: Submit comments on or before July 21, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted, identified by Docket Number 
NRCS-2014-0004, using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attention: Docket No. 
NRCS-2014-0004, Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, Strategic Planning 
and Accountability, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1-1112D, 
Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
    NRCS will post comments on http://www.regulations.gov. In general, 
personal information provided with comments will be posted. If your 
comment includes your address, phone number, email, or other personal 
identifying information, your entire comments, including personal 
information, may be available to the public. You may ask in your 
comment that your personal identifying information be withheld from 
public view, but this cannot be guaranteed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Decunda Duke-Bozeman, Room 6817

[[Page 28885]]

South Building, Easement Program Division, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250; telephone: (202) 260-9099.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Long-Term Contracting.
    OMB Number: 0578-0013.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of approval.
    Type of Request: To revise a currently approved information 
collection to update and clarify information in the information 
collection.
    Abstract: The primary objective of NRCS is to work in partnership 
with the American people and the farming and ranching community to 
conserve and sustain our natural resources on privately owned land. The 
purpose of the Long-Term Contracting information collection is to allow 
for programs to provide Federal technical and financial cost-sharing 
assistance through long-term contracts to eligible producers, 
landowners, and entities. These contracts provide for making land use 
changes and installing conservation measures and practices to conserve, 
develop, and use the soil, water, and related natural resources on 
private lands. Under the terms of the agreement, the participant agrees 
to apply, or arrange to apply, the conservation treatment specified in 
the conservation plan. In return for this agreement, Federal financial 
assistance payments are made to the land user, or third party, upon 
successful application of the conservation treatment. Additionally, 
NRCS purchases easements for the long-term protection of the property 
and provides for the protection and management of the property for the 
life of the easement.
    The information collected through this package is used by NRCS to 
ensure the proper use of program funds.
    The programs in this information collection that continue to be 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act are listed 
in Table A. This request will clarify the programs in this information 
collection. Table B shows only the burden for those programs that are 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The two new 
forms added to this information collection are the Agreements for the 
Purchase of Conservation Easements NRCS-LTP-70 for the Healthy Forests 
Reserve Program and the NRCS-LTP-80 for the Emergency Watershed Program 
Floodplain Easement.

    Table A--Conservation Programs Subject to the Requirements of the
                         Paperwork Reduction Act
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              Program                            Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emergency Conservation Program      USDA Farm Service Agency's ECP
 (ECP) (7 CFR part 701).             provides emergency funding and
                                     technical assistance for farmers
                                     and ranchers to rehabilitate
                                     farmland damaged by natural
                                     disasters and for carrying out
                                     emergency water conservation
                                     measures in periods of severe
                                     drought. Funding for ECP is
                                     appropriated by Congress.
Emergency Watershed Program (EWP)   The EWP was initiated in 1950 and is
 (7 CFR part 624).                   administered by NRCS. It provides
                                     technical and financial assistance
                                     to local institutions for the
                                     removal of storm and flood debris
                                     from stream channels and for the
                                     restoration of stream channels and
                                     levees to reduce the threat to life
                                     and property. The program also
                                     provides for establishing permanent
                                     easements in floodplains with
                                     private landowners.
Healthy Forests Reserve Program     HFRP is a voluntary program
 (HFRP) (7 CFR part 625).            established for the purpose of
                                     restoring and enhancing forest
                                     ecosystems to: 1) Promote the
                                     recovery of threatened and
                                     endangered species; 2) improve
                                     biodiversity; and 3) enhance carbon
                                     sequestration. The HFRP was signed
                                     into law as part of the Healthy
                                     Forests Restoration Act of 2003 and
                                     amended by the 2008 Act. The
                                     Agricultural Act of 2014 made minor
                                     changes to HFRP land eligibility
                                     and funding.
Resource Conservation and           The RC&D was initiated in 1962 and
 Development Program (RC&D).         is administered by NRCS. Through
                                     this program, NRCS assists multi-
                                     county areas in enhancing
                                     conservation, water quality,
                                     wildlife habitat, recreation, and
                                     rural development. The program
                                     provides technical and limited
                                     financial assistance for the
                                     planning and installation of
                                     approved projects.
Watershed Protection and Flood      The WPFPP, otherwise known as P.L.
 Prevention Program (WRFPP) (7 CFR   566, was initiated in 1954 and is
 part 622).                          administered by NRCS. It assists
                                     State and local units of government
                                     in flood prevention, watershed
                                     protection, and water management.
                                     Part of this effort involves the
                                     establishment of conservation
                                     practices on private lands to
                                     reduce erosion, sedimentation, and
                                     runoff.
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                     Table B--Burden for Required Programs Under the Paperwork Reduction Act
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                                                                                           * Number submitted
               Form                         Purpose                  Program(s)                 annually
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AD-1153, NRCS-CPA-1200...........  Application..............  EWP, WPFPP, HFRP........  750; Estimated time per
                                                                                         participant is .69 per
                                                                                         response.
AD-1154, NRCS-CPA-1202...........  Contract or Agreement....  EWP, HFRP...............  150; Estimated time per
                                                                                         participant is .69 per
                                                                                         response.
AD-1155, NRCS-CPA-1155...........  Schedule of Practices/     EWP, WPFPP, HFRP........  300; Estimated time per
                                    Costs and signature                                  participant is .75 per
                                    sheet.                                               response.
AD-1156, NRCS-CPA-1156...........  Schedule Modification....  EWP, WPFPP, HFRP........  25; Estimated time per
                                                                                         participant is .60 per
                                                                                         response.
AD-1157..........................  Option Agreement to        EWP, HFRP...............  165; Estimated time per
                                    Purchase.                                            participant is .69 per
                                                                                         response.
AD-1157A.........................  Option Agreement to        EWP, HFRP...............  120; Estimated time per
                                    Purchase Amendment.                                  participant is .69 per
                                                                                         response.
AD-1158..........................  Subordination Agreement    EWP, HFRP...............  100; Estimated time per
                                    and Limited Lien Waiver.                             participant is .69 per
                                                                                         response.

[[Page 28886]]

 
AD-1159..........................  Notice of Intent to        Not used by any non-      ........................
                                    Continue.                  exempt programs
AD-1160..........................  Compatible Use             EWP, HFRP...............  200; Estimated time per
                                    Authorization.                                       participant is .66 per
                                                                                         response.
AD-1161..........................  Application for Payment..  EWP, HFRP...............  200; Estimated time per
                                                                                         participant is .58 per
                                                                                         response.
NRCS-CPA-68......................  Conservation Plan........  CTA, EWP, HFRP..........  2,700; Estimated time
                                                                                         per participant is .69
                                                                                         per response.
NRCS-LTP-13, NRCS-CPA-013........  Status/Contract Review...  EWP, WPFPP, HFRP........  250; Estimated time per
                                                                                         participant is .69 per
                                                                                         response.
NRCS-LTP-20, NRCS-CPA-260........  Warranty Easement Deed,    EWP, HFRP...............  150; Estimated time per
                                    Conservation Easement                                participant is .69 per
                                    Deed.                                                response.
NRCS-LTP-70......................  Agreement for the          HFRP....................  50; Estimated time per
                                    Purchase of Conservation                             participant is .69 per
                                    Easement.                                            response.
NRCS-LTP-80......................  Agreement for the          EWP.....................  120; Estimated time per
                                    Purchase of Conservation                             participant is .69 per
                                    Easement.                                            response.
NRCS-LTP-151.....................  Contract Violation         EWP, HFRP...............  20; Estimated time per
                                    Notification.                                        participant is .69 per
                                                                                         response.
NRCS-LTP-152.....................  Transfer Agreement.......  EWP, HFRP...............  5; Estimated time per
                                                                                         participant is 1.0 per
                                                                                         response.
NRCS-LTP-153.....................  Agreement Covering Non-    EWP, HFRP...............  10; Estimated time per
                                    Compliance With                                      participant is .69 per
                                    Provisions of the                                    response.
                                    Contract.
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* The number submitted annually provides the number of forms completed by respondents and the approximate number
  of hours to complete each form. The response time is taken from the forms themselves as identified in the OMB
  Disclosure Statement where available.

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is as identified by Form in Table B and ranges from .58 
hour to 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Program Participants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,315.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,656.65 hours.
    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 notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Signed this May 2, 2014, in Washington, DC.
Jason A. Weller,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2014-11680 Filed 5-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P