[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5240-5242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02329]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2018-0001]


Notice of Request for an Extension of Existing Information 
Collection Package

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, this 
notice announces that NRCS will request an extension for a currently 
approved information collection for long-term contracting forms.

DATES: Comments must be received 60 days after publication in the 
Federal Register to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Berns, Easement Programs Division, 
Room 5241-S, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, 
Washington, DC 20250; telephone (202) 720-5074.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Long-Term Contracting.
    OMB Number: 0578-0013.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from approval date.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The primary objective of NRCS is to work in partnership 
with the American people and the farming and ranching community to 
protect, conserve, and sustain our Nation's 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 long-
term contracts provide for making land use changes and installing 
conservation measures and practices to protect, conserve, develop, and 
use the soil, water, and

[[Page 5241]]

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 conservation programs in 
this information collection that are subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act are listed in Table A. No changes or 
adjustments are proposed at this time; this notice is limited to the 
request for an extension of the currently approved information 
collection package used by NRCS for long-term contracting for the 
programs listed in Table A. Table B shows the burden for those programs 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

    Table A--Conservation Programs Subject to the Requirements of the
                         Paperwork Reduction Act
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              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).         was administered by NRCS. Through
                                     this program, NRCS assisted multi-
                                     county areas in enhancing
                                     conservation, water quality,
                                     wildlife habitat, recreation, and
                                     rural development. The program
                                     provided 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                     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..............................  Application............  EWP, WPFPP, HFRP.......  750; Estimated time per
                                                                                          participant is .30 per
                                                                                          response.
AD-1154..............................  Contract or Agreement..  EWP, HFRP..............  150; Estimated time per
                                                                                          participant is .37 per
                                                                                          response.
AD-1155 AD-1155A.....................  Schedule of Practices/   EWP, WPFPP, HFRP.......  300; Estimated time per
                                        Costs and signature                               participant is .373
                                        sheet.                                            per response.
AD-1156..............................  Schedule Modification..  EWP, WPFPP, HFRP.......  25; Estimated time per
                                                                                          participant is .375
                                                                                          per response.
AD-1157..............................  Option Agreement to      EWP, HFRP..............  170; Estimated time per
                                        Purchase.                                         participant is .40 per
                                                                                          response.
AD-1157A.............................  Option Agreement to      EWP, HFRP..............  170; Estimated time per
                                        Purchase Amendment.                               participant is .40 per
                                                                                          response.
AD-1158..............................  Subordination Agreement  EWP, HFRP..............  100; Estimated time per
                                        and Limited Lien                                  participant is .495
                                        Waiver.                                           per response.
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 .40 per
                                                                                          response.
AD-1161..............................  Application for Payment  CTA, WPFPP, HFRP.......  200; Estimated time per
                                                                                          participant is .30 per
                                                                                          response.
NRCS-CPA-68..........................  Conservation Plan......  EWP, WPFPP, HFRP.......  2,700; Estimated time
                                                                                          per participant is .75
                                                                                          per response.
NRCS-LTP-13..........................  Status/Contract Review.  EWP, HFRP..............  250; Estimated time per
                                                                                          participant is .375
                                                                                          per response.
NRCS-LTP-20, NRCS-CPA-260............  Warranty Easement Deed,  HFRP...................  170; Estimated time per
                                        Conservation Easement                             participant is .40 per
                                        Deed.                                             response.
NRCS-LTP-70..........................  Agreement for the        EWP....................  50; Estimated time per
                                        Purchase of                                       participant is .69 per
                                        Conservation Easement.                            response.
NRCS-LTP-80..........................  Agreement for the        EWP, HFRP..............  120; Estimated time per
                                        Purchase of                                       participant is .69 per
                                        Conservation Easement..                           response.
NRCS-LTP-151.........................  Contract Violation       EWP, HFRP..............  20; Estimated time per
                                        Notification.                                     participant is .495
                                                                                          per response.

[[Page 5242]]

 
NRCS-LTP-152.........................  Transfer Agreement.....  EWP, HFRP..............  5; Estimated time per
                                                                                          participant is .495
                                                                                          per response.
NRCS-LTP-153.........................  Agreement Covering Non-  EWP, HFRP..............  10; Estimated time per
                                        Compliance With                                   participant is 1.5 per
                                        Provisions of the                                 response.
                                        Contract.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.30 to 1.5 hours per response.
    Type of Respondents: Program participants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,390.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 5,390.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,058.70 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. Comments may be sent to Kim Berns, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, Easement Programs Division, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW, Room 5241-S, Washington, DC 20250. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection during regular 
business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record.

    Signed this day of January 18, 2018, in Washington, DC.
Leonard Jordan,
Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Vice 
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2018-02329 Filed 2-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-16-P