[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
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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
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Program Description
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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.
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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.............................. 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.
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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.
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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]
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