[Federal Register: October 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 204)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57030]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22oc99-28]                         

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of Outreach

 
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Conduct an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Office of Outreach, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 
CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
Office of Outreach's intention to request approval for a new 
information collection, the USDA Minority Farm Register.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 27, 1999 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact Charles Whitaker, Office of Outreach, 542-A Jamie Whitten 
Federal Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-6350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: USDA Minority Farm Register.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to conduct an information 
collection.
    Abstact: The purpose of this information collection is to create a 
Minority Farm Register which is a voluntary register of minority land 
owners that documents the amount of farmland owned by minorities. The 
Minority Farm Register will establish a baseline for the amount of 
farmland owned by minority land owners in order to help the USDA set 
goals to halt the reduction in minority-owned farm land, monitor the 
loss of minority-owned farms, and locate minority farmers for the 
purpose of informing them of USDA and other programs that may benefit 
them. The concept was generated by Recommendation #28 of the Report of 
the Civil Rights Action Team to the Secretary of Agriculture entitled 
Civil Rights at the United States Department of Agriculture, dated 
February 1997. The Minority Farm Register will be administered by the 
Office of Outreach. A specific register sign-up form will be issued in 
Spanish and English. Informational registration material will be 
distributed to Community Based Organizations, educational institutions, 
and government agencies assisting minorities with land retention and 
acquisition and will be distributed on the Internet to ensure the 
program is widely publicized and accessible to all. The Office of 
Outreach is requesting a 3 year approval.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 54,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,500 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Charles Whitaker at (202) 720-6350.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, such as through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Charles 
Whitaker, Office of Outreach, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 542-A 
Jamie Whitten Federal Building, Washington, DC 20250.
    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, September 15, 1999.
Sharron L. Harris,
Acting Director, Office of Outreach.
[FR Doc. 99-27658 Filed 10-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-M