[Federal Register: November 15, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 219)] [Notices] [Page 61814] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15no99-28] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== [[Page 61814]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation Notice of Request for Reinstatement and Revision of a Previously Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice announces the intentions of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to request reinstatement and revision to an information collection previously approved in support of the Production Flexibility Contract (PFC) program. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, provided owners and producers on farms the opportunity to enter into the production flexibility contracts with the CCC for fiscal years 1996 through 2002. Owners and producers who participate and fully comply with the terms of the production flexibility contracts and regulations will receive payments. PFCs, revisions to the PFCs and permanent reductions of all or a portion of the production flexibility contract acreage must be documented. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before January 14, 2000, to be assured consideration. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Lynn H. Tjeerdsma, Branch Chief, Emergency Preparedness and Programs Branch, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D. C. 20250-0517, (202) 720-6602. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Production Flexibility Contracts for Wheat, Feed Grains, Rice and Upland Cotton, 7 CFR part 1412. OMB Control Number: 0560-0092. Type of Request: Reinstatement and revision of a previously approved information collection. Abstract: Eligible owners or producers signed a Production Flexibility Contract (PFC) to participate in the program authorized by Title I of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The 1996 Act provides that farms having a history of participating in government programs could be enrolled in a PFC. The production flexibility contract worksheet is provided to the owner or producer to confirm the acreage that will be enrolled for participation, designate each producer's share request an advance payment, and provide for undesignated shares for any fiscal year where payment shares are unknown. In addition, the worksheet allows for producers to adjust the level of participation and projects payments for the contract period. The owner is provided the ability to make voluntary requests to reduce the contract acreage for a crop on the farm in order to remain eligible for the PFC. As a condition of eligibility for contract payments, the operator or owner must timely submit a report of fruit and vegetable acreage. The county Farm Service Agency (FSA) committee determines whether requests are properly completed, whether payment shares are proper and whether program requirements are met for payment approval. Information collected for the PFC program is required for participation and is not available from any other source. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response. Respondents: Individual Producers. Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,592,500. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,296,250 hours. Proposed topics for comment include: (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: or (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 should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503 and to Lynn H. Tjeerdsma, Branch Chief, USDA, Farm Service Agency, Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division, Stop 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0517, (202) 720- 6602. 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 November 5, 1999. Keith Kelly, Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation [FR Doc. 99-29724 Filed 11-12-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-05-P