[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 235 (Friday, December 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 63149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26505]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection Request; Request for Special Priorities 
Assistance

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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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 an extension of a currently approved 
information collection request associated with the Request for Special 
Priorities Assistance. The information collection established by the 
Agriculture Priorities and Allocations System (APAS) regulation is 
necessary for the program applicant (person) to request prioritizing of 
a contract above all other contracts. The purpose of the priority 
rating is to obtain item(s) in support of national defense programs 
that they are not able to obtain in time through normal market 
channels.

DATES:  We will consider comments that we receive by February 5, 2019.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on the notice. In your 
comments, include date, volume, 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://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: David Weschsler, USDA/FPAC/HS, 1400 Independence 
Ave. SW, Room 0092-S, Mail Stop 0560, Washington, DC 20250-0567.
    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 Lesa A. Johnson at the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Wechsler, (202) 720-2929.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Request for Special Priorities Assistance for APAS.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0280.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: APAS would efficiently place priority ratings on 
contracts or orders of agriculture commodities up through the wholesale 
levels, agriculture production equipment, allocate resources, and 
handle food claims within its authority as specified in the Defense 
Production Act (DPA) of 1950, as amended, when necessary to promote 
national defense. It was determined that food is a scarce and critical 
commodity essential to the national defense (including civil emergency 
preparedness and response). Unless its production, processing, storage, 
and wholesale distribution are regulated during times of emergencies, 
the national defense requirement for food and food production may not 
be met without creating hardship in the civilian marketplace. 
Applicants (Government agencies or private individuals with a role in 
emergency preparedness, response, and recovery functions) will request 
authorization from USDA to place a rating on a contract for items to 
support national defense activities. Priority rating request procedures 
and forms can be found on USDA's website. Applicants must supply, at 
time of request, their name, location, contact information, items for 
which the applicant is requesting assistance on, quantity, and delivery 
date. Applicants can submit the request by mail or fax. There are no 
changes to the burden hours since the last OMB approval.
    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the 
formula used to calculate the total burden hour is the estimated 
average time per responses hours multiplied by the estimated total 
annual responses.
    Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for the 
information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes (0.50) per 
response.
    Respondents: Individuals, businesses, and agencies with 
responsibilities for emergency preparedness and response.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Reponses per Respondent: 0.95.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 95.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 50 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, including whether 
the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the FSA's estimate of burden including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including 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 when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

Steven Peterson,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2018-26505 Filed 12-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P