[Federal Register: February 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 32)]
[Notices]
[Page 7125-7126]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15fe02-36]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Farm Service Agency; Request for Approval of a New Information
Collection
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), Farm Service Agency (FSA),
USDA.
ACTION: Proposed information collection and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) and Commodity Credit
Corporation's (CCC) intention to request a new information collection.
The first information collection will be used in support of the Debt
Collection Improvement Act of 1996, which
[[Page 7126]]
requires disbursements to be made via an electronic funds transfer
(EFT) mechanism unless the payment recipient has a waiver from the
Secretary of Treasury. The Secretary of Treasury has granted a waiver
for any individual for whom payment by an EFT mechanism would create a
hardship. CCC and FSA have developed a waiver form that may be filed by
a payment recipient for whom payment by an EFT mechanism would create a
hardship. The second information collection will be used when necessary
to request a replacement check for a check that was not received by the
intended recipient. The information collection provides an undertaking
of indemnity as required by Government Accounting Office standards.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before April 16,
2002 to be assured consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Simmons, Financial Specialist,
USDA, FSA, FMD, STOP 0581, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20250-0581; telephone (703) 305-1309; e-mail
Debbie_Barker@wdc.fsa.usda.gov; or facsimile (703) 305-1144.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Hardship Waiver Request.
OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
Abstract: The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 requires that
all Federal payments other than payments under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, must be made by an EFT mechanism effective January 1,
1999. In 31 CFR 208, the Secretary of Treasury granted a waiver of the
EFT requirement to any individual for whom payment by an EFT mechanism
would create a hardship. A Federal agency is required to send a
disclosure letter regarding the EFT requirement to any individual that
continues to receive payment by paper check, unless the individual has
invoked a self-certified hardship waiver.
Individuals that wish to invoke a self-certified hardship waiver of
the EFT requirement must provide specific data related to the
individual. The form included in this information collection package
would require the full name and address of the requestor, a signature,
and the date signed. The completed form must be returned to an FSA
office. Without collection of this information, FSA must continue to
mail a disclosure letter regarding the EFT requirement with every paper
check issued to the individual.
Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per
response.
Respondents: Individuals requesting a self-certified hardship
waiver of the EFT requirement.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20 minutes.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Undertaking of Indemnity.
OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
Abstract: CCC disburses funds using a CCC check or a commodity
certificate when payment is not disbursed through an EFT mechanism.
When an issued CCC check or commodity certificate is not received by
the intended recipient, or is received and later becomes lost, stolen
or destroyed, the intended recipient may sign an undertaking of
indemnity to request that the CCC check or commodity check be replaced.
Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per
response.
Respondents: Individuals, partnerships or corporations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 45 minutes.
Comments are sought on these requirements including: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of
burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of the 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 may be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture,
Office in Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Washington, DC 20503, and to Deborah Simmons, Financial
Specialist, USDA-FSA-FMD, STOP 0581, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-0581; telephone (703) 305-1309; e-mail
Debbie_Barker@wdc.fsa.usda.gov; or facsimile (703) 305-1144. Copies of
the information collection may be obtained from Ms. Simmons at the
above address.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Signed at Washington, DC, on February 1, 2002.
Larry Walker,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency and Acting Executive Vice
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 02-3708 Filed 2-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P