[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50817-50818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20866]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 20, 2019.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding: whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
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.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by October 
28, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: 
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office 
Building, 725--17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are 
encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information

[[Page 50818]]

displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs 
potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information 
that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

    Title: Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP).
    OMB Control Number: 0524-0050.
    Summary of Collection: In January 2003, the National Veterinary 
Medical Service Act (NVMSA) was passed into law adding section 1415A to 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1997. This law established a new Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment 
Program (VMLRP) (7 U.S.C. 3151a) authorizing the Secretary of 
Agriculture to carry out a program of entering into agreements with 
veterinarians under which they agree to provide veterinary services in 
veterinarian shortage situations. The purpose of the program is to 
assure an adequate supply of trained food animal veterinarians in 
shortage situations and provide USDA with a pool of veterinary 
specialists to assist in the control and eradication of animal disease 
outbreaks. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will 
designate geographic and practice areas that have a shortage of food 
supply veterinarians in order to carry out the VMLRP goals of 
strengthening the nation's animal health infrastructure and 
supplementing the Federal response during animal health emergencies. 
NIFA will carry out NVMSA by entering into educational loan repayment 
agreements with veterinarians who agree to provide veterinary services 
in veterinarian shortage situation for a determined period of time. 
NIFA will collect information using the Shortage Situation Nomination 
Form, Application Form, Records and Reports, and Surveys
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected allows 
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to request from VMLRP 
applicants' information related to eligibility, qualification, career 
interests, and recommendations necessary to evaluate their applications 
for repayment of educational indebtedness in return for agreeing to 
provide veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. The 
information will also be used to determine an applicant's eligibility 
for participation in the program. The information also allows the VMLRP 
to assess program processes and impact, make program improvements based 
on process feedback, and provide feedback to State Animal Health 
Officials on veterinarian shortage situations, which can aide them 
during the nomination process.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,090.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Biennially.
    Total Burden Hours: 11,658.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-20866 Filed 9-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-09-P