[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 106 (Friday, May 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47126-47127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12001]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Farm Service Agency

[Docket ID: FSA-2024-0006]


Information Collection Request; Assignment of Payment; Joint 
Payment Authorization; and Request for Waiver

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement, 
the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
are requesting comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on a revision and an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by July 30, 2024.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments electronically through Federal eRulemaking portal, 
identified by Docket ID: fsa02024-0006: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    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 
Yanira Sanabria by calling her.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, Yanira Sanabria, (202) 772-6032; email: 
[email protected]. Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative mean for communication should contact the USDA's TARGET 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Assignment and Joint Payment Elections.
    Forms: CCC-36, ``Assignment of Payment;'' CCC-37, ``Joint Payment 
Authorization;'' and-FPAC-FMD-12 Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) 
Hardship Waiver Request.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0183.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection request.
    Abstract: FSA and CCC are requesting an extension with a revision 
of the currently approved information. Section 8(g) of the Soil 
Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(g)) authorizes 
producers to assign FSA conservation program payments in accordance 
with regulations issued by the Secretary. The Assignment of Payments 
regulation as specified in 7 CFR part 1404 requires that any such 
assignment be signed by both the assignor and the assignee. The 
Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, extends that authority to CCC 
programs, including rice, feed grains, cotton, and wheat. The Natural 
Conservation Service (NRCS) is also using the forms, but most NRCS 
programs are exempt from the PRA.
    Producers (Assignors) use form CCC-36-Assignment of Payment to 
assign payments under various CCC, FSA, or NRCS programs. Customers may 
submit a completed CCC-36 to any FSA and NRCS County Office to be 
entered into the Financial Services application or the NRCS ProTracts 
web application. County Office data entry requires a second user for 
verification. The second user may be located in the same County Office 
or another Office. When there is no second user available, an employee 
from another County Office may perform this action by submitting a 
faxed copy of the form.
    Producers use form CCC-37-Joint Payment Authorization to make 
program payments from the CCC or FSA jointly payable to multiple 
entities. They must submit the form in hard copy or electronically to 
the FSA County office that retains copies for the producer and joint 
payee. No fax is allowed for this form. There are no regulations 
governing joint payments (CCC-37-Joint Payment Authorization), but this 
service is offered as a result of public requests for the type of 
payment option.
    Customers may use the form FPAC FMD-12, Electronic Funds Transfer 
(EFT) Hardship Waiver Request for FSA. Payments of Federal Benefits by 
Check to invoke a hardship waiver payment. In accordance with Treasury 
Regulation 31 CFR 208, Payments by electronic funds transfer (EFT) are 
not required for anyone over the age of 90 born prior to May 1, 1921. 
The hardship waiver request can currently be submitted either in person 
or by phone call to the local county FSA office by entering the waiver 
request in the Financial Service application for the following reasons: 
Geographic Barrier or Mental Impairment.
    The differences in the forms are that FSA use a tax identification 
number instead of a social security number. Most NRCS programs and some 
FSA programs are exempt from the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    In the information collection request, the number of responses and 
respondents decreased by 262,107 and the burden hours also decreased by 
43,725 which were all due to fewer producers or farmers participating 
in several programs such as the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 
(CFAP), Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program, and other FSA 
programs. The forms of CCC-251 and CCC-252 were removed from the 
collection due to less than 10 respondents using each form.

[[Page 47127]]

    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the 
formula used to calculate the total burden hours is the estimated 
average time per response multiplied by the estimated total annual 
responses.
    Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for 
collecting information under this notice is estimated to average 0.1667 
hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data 
needed, and completing and reviewing the collections of information.
    Type of Respondents: Producers participating in FSA, CCC, and NRCS 
programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 202,612.
    Estimated Average Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.163.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 438,584.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.1664.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 72,962 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help FSA:
    (1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Evaluate the quality, ability and clarity of the information 
technology; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
respond 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 made a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

USDA Non-Discrimination Policy

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public 
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for 
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or 
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and 
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Individuals who require alternative means of communication for 
program information (for example, braille, large print, audiotape, 
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 
the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone 
(TTY)) or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and 
text telephone users can initiate this call from any telephone). 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy 
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form 
or letter to USDA by: (1) mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) 
email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Zach Ducheneaux,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. Administrator, 
Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2024-12001 Filed 5-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P