[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53100-53101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21573]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection Request; Organic Certification Cost Share 
Program

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 a revision and an extension of a 
current information collection request associated with the Organic 
Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). OCCSP provides cost share 
assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are 
obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic 
Program (NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 75 percent of 
their certification costs paid. Certain State agencies also submit 
applications to FSA to administer OCCSP in their States.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by December 3, 2019.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on the notice. In your 
comments, include date, OMB control number, 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://regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Farm Service Agency, USDA, Tona Huggins, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0517, 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 obtained from Tona Huggins at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tona Huggins, (202) 205-9847; email: 
[email protected]. Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Organic Certification Cost Share Program.
    OMB Number: 0560-0289.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 03/31/2020.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: FSA is requesting comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on a revision and an extension of a 
currently approved information collection request associated with 
OCCSP. Producers and handlers will apply for cost share payments, and 
State Agencies will establish agreements to get funds and to disburse 
payments to qualified producers or handlers.
    The burden hours increased by 21,290 hours since the last OMB 
approval. The reason for the increase is due to increased participation 
in the NOP. The travel times have been removed from the request. The 
respondents may submit applications by mail and many respondents go to 
the county offices to do regular and customary business with FSA for 
other FSA programs; this means no travel time is required specifically 
for the information collection and therefore, it is no longer included 
in the burden hour reporting.
    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the

[[Page 53101]]

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 Annual Burden: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 1.0015 hours per 
response.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals, and State.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,565.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.0455.
    Estimated Total Annual of Responses: 78,533.
    Estimated Average Time per Responses: 1.0015 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 78,650 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 FSA, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of 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 responses to this notice, including names and addresses when 
provided, will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

Richard Fordyce,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2019-21573 Filed 10-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P