[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15481-15482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06143]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection Request; Disaster Assistance (General)

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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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 with a revision of a 
currently approved information collection in support of Disaster 
Assistance programs. The information collection is needed to identify 
disaster areas and establish eligibility for both primary and 
contiguous counties for assistance from FSA. This assistance includes 
FSA emergency loans which are available to eligible and qualified 
farmers and ranchers. The total burden hours have been revised to 
reflect the number of

[[Page 15482]]

Secretarial requests for natural disaster assistance during the 2016 
crop year.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by May 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comment, include the date 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://regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Steve Peterson, Director, Production, Emergencies 
and Compliance Division, to Farm Service Agency, USDA, Mail Stop 0517, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0517.
    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 Steve Peterson at the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tona Huggins, (202) 205-9847.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Disaster Assistance Program (General).
    OMB Number: 0560-0170.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 07/31/2017.
    Type of Request: Extension with a revision.
    Abstract: The information collection is necessary for FSA to 
effectively administer the regulations related to identifying disaster 
areas for the purpose of making emergency loans. This program is 
available to qualified and eligible farmers and ranchers who have 
suffered weather-related physical or production losses or both in such 
areas. Before emergency loans can become available, the information 
needs to be collected to determine if the disaster areas meet the 
criteria of having a qualifying loss in order to be considered as an 
eligible County.
    The total burden hours have been revised to reflect the number of 
Secretarial requests for natural disaster assistance during the 2016 
crop year.
    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the 
formula used to calculate the total burden hours is the estimated 
average time per response multiplied by the estimated total annual 
responses.
    Estimate of Average Time To Respond: Public reporting burden for 
collecting information under this notice is estimated to average 0.435 
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data 
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
    Respondents: Farmers and ranchers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 401.
    Estimated Average Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.2.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 492.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.435.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 214 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Evaluate the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
technology; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
respond 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 where provided, will be made a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

Chris P. Beyerhelm,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2017-06143 Filed 3-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P