[Federal Register: December 16, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 241)]
[Notices]
[Page 77030-77034]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16de02-24]
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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.
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[[Page 77030]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
December 10, 2002.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments
regarding (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 to be collected; (d) ways to
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 should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20503 and to
Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington,
DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by
calling (202) 720-6746.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
Agricultural Research Service
Title: Meeting the Information Requirements of the Animal Welfare
Act Workshop Registration Form.
OMB Control Number: 0158-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, National
Agricultural Library (NAL), Animal Welfare Information Center conducts
a workshop titled ``Meeting the Information Requirements of the Animal
Welfare Act''. The proposed registration from collects information from
interested parties necessary to register them for the workshop. The
information includes: workshop data preferences, signature, name,
title, organization name, mailing address, phone and fax numbers and
email address. The information will be collected using online and
printed versions of the form. Also forms can be fax or mailed.
Need and Use of the Information: NAL will collect information to
register participants, contact them regarding schedule changes, control
the number of participants due to limited resources and training space,
and compile and customize class materials to meet the needs of the
participants. Failure to collect the information would prohibit the
delivery of the workshop and significantly inhibit NAL's ability to
provide up-to-date information on the requirements of the Animal
Welfare Act.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-Profit Institutions; Business
or Other for-profit; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 100.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 8.
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Title: Application Kit for Research and Extension Programs.
OMB Control Number: 0524-0039.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
(CSREES) administers several competitive, peer-previewed research and
extension programs, under which awards of a high-priority nature are
made. These programs are authorized pursuant to the authorities
contained in the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101), the Smith-
Lever Act, and a variety of other legislative authorities. Before
grants can be awarded, certain information is required from applicants
as part of an overall package. Because the proposals submitted are
competitive in nature and necessitate review by peer panelists, it is
particularly important that applicants provide the information in a
standardized fashion to ensure equitable treatment for all. CSREES will
collect information using forms CSREES 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, and 2008 and 2010.
Need and Use of the Information: CSREES will collect the following
information: Program Summary and Narrative, Credentials, Budget,
Identification of Conflicts of Interest, and Collect of Environmental
Impact Information. The information will reduce the potential for
errors or omissions of important data essential in the proposal review
and award process. The information will be used to respond to inquiries
from Congress, other governmental agencies, and the grantee community.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit; Individuals or households; Federal Government;
State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 9,450.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 156,813.
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Title: Questionnaire for Potential Reviewers.
OMB Control Number: 0524-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
(CSREES) administers several competitive, peer-reviewed research and
extension programs, under which awards of a high-priority nature are
made. These programs are authorized pursuant to the authorities
contained in the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101), the Smith-
Lever Act, and a variety of other legislative authorities. CSREES
receives approximately 6,000 research, education, and extension
proposals per year, of which approximately 2,000 are
[[Page 77031]]
awarded. The majority of these; proposals are subject to a rigorous
peer-review process involving technical experts located worldwide.
Given the highly technical nature of many of the proposals, the quality
of the peer-review greatly depends on the appropriate matching of the
proposal subject matter with the technical expertise of the reviewer.
As a result, a single database of technical experts is an invaluable
tool for CSREES in accomplishing a suitable marriage of proposal
content with reviewer experts. CSREES is seeking clearance to conduct a
survey in the form of a questionnaire sent to individuals who have the
technical expertise. The survey will be done by email, hard copy or
other appropriate mechanism.
Need and Use of the Information: CSREES will collect information to
enable a program officer to perform searches for specific technical
expertise and the expressed willingness to be a reviewer and will also
allow a program officer to consider, for example, conflict-of-interest
issues and a balanced composition of reviewers. This process enables
the program officer to identify, in an expeditious and efficient
manner, the most appropriate reviewers.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 75,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 12,500.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Title: CCC's Export Credit Guarantee program (GSA-102),
Intermediate Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-103) Supplier Credit
Guarantee Program (SCGP).
OMB Control Number: 0551-004.
Summary of Collection: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture administers under 7 CFR Part 1493,
the Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102), the intermediate Export
Credit program (GSM-103), and Supplier Credit Guarantee Program (SCGP).
These programs provide guarantees to exporters in order to maintain and
increase overseas importers ability to purchase U.S. agricultural
goods. The Export Credit Guarantee Programs are designed to stimulate
U.S. private sector financing of foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural
commodities on credit terms. Since the Export Credit Guarantee Programs
operate off commercial sales, the majority of the information required
for program participation, including the guarantee application,
evidence of export report, assignment notice, and filing of notices of
default. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) will collect
information from the guarantee applications submitted by the
participants by telephone, mail, or fax.
Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information from
participating U.S. exporters in order to determine the exporters
eligibility for program benefits. The information is also used in
fulfilling CCC obligation under the issued payment guarantee. If the
information were not collected CC would be unable to determine if
export sales under the programs would be eligible for coverage or, if
coverage conformed to program requirements.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 857.
Frequency of Responses: Record keeping, Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 11,415.
Foreign Agricultural Agency
Title: Emergency Relief from Duty-Free Imports of Perishable
Products Under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act
(ATPDEA).
OMB Control Number: 0551-0033.
Summary of Collection: The Andean Trade Preference Act (the Act)
(19 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.) was signed into law on December 4, 1991 and
expired December 4, 2001. Section 3104 of H.R. 3009, the ``Trade Act of
2002'' amended section 208(b) of the Act to extend the termination date
to December 31, 2006, retroactive to December 4, 2001. The Act
authorizes the President to provide duty-free treatment to imports from
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, except for specifically excluded
products. Section 204(d) provides, in part, that a petition for
emergency import relief maybe filed with the Secretary of Agriculture
at the same time a petition for import relief is filed with the United
States International Trade Commission (ITC). Emergency import relief is
limited to restoration of general tariffs during the period of the
ITC's investigation.
Need and Use of the Information: The Foreign Agricultural Service
will collect the following information to be included in a petition: a
description of the imported perishable product concerned; country of
origin of imports data indicating increased imports are a substantial
cause of serious injury to the domestic industry producing a like or
directly competitive product; evidence of serious injury; and a
statement indicating why emergency action would be warranted. The
information collected provides essential data for the Secretary
regarding specific market conditions with respect to the industry
requesting emergency relief.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms;
Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 2.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 46.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Request for Direct Loan Assistance.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0167.
Summary of Collection: Section 302 (7 U.S.C. 1922) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) provides that the
Secretary is authorized to make and insure loans under this title to
farmers and ranchers. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued
regulations through the Federal Register process to implement the
making and servicing of direct loans in chapter 18 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. These regulations establish the information
collection necessary for FSA to make and service direct loans. The
loans include Operating, Farm Ownership. Soil and Water, Softwood
Timber Production, Emergency, Economic Emergency, Economic Opportunity,
Recreation, and Rural Housing loans for farm service building. FSA will
collect information using form FSA 410-1.
Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to
determine if the applicant/borrower meets the eligibility requirements
established in the CONACT. FSA will also collect the following
information: name, address, telephone number; social security number;
type of farming operation; information relating to the applicant's
credit history; the source and amount of nonfarm income, and a
financial statement. If the information were not collected FSA would
not be able to make an accurate eligibility and financial feasibility
determination on respondents' request for new loans and loan servicing
actions.
Description of Respondents: Farm; Federal Government; Business or
other-for-profit; Individuals or household.
Number of Respondents: 48,321.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (when applying for
benefits).
Total Burden Hours: 96,642.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: Use of Consultants Funded by Borrowers, 7 CFR 1789.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0115.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a
credit agency of the Department of Agriculture that makes mortgage
loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, telecommunications, and
water and waste facilities in rural areas. The loan
[[Page 77032]]
programs are managed in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act
(RE Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, and as prescribed
by Office of Management and Budget Circular A-129, Policies for Federal
Credit programs and Non-Tax Receivable, which states that agencies
must, based on a review of a loan application, determine that an
applicant complies with statutory, regulatory, and administrative
eligibility requirements for loan assistance. RUS has the authority to
use consultants voluntarily funded by borrowers for financial, legal,
engineering, and other technical services. However, all RUS borrowers
are eligible to fund consultant services but are not required to fund
consultants.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
determine whether it is appropriate to use a consultant voluntarily
funded by the borrower to expedite a particular borrower application.
If the information were not submitted, RUS would be unable to determine
if using a consultant would accelerate the specific application
process.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profits.
Number of Respondents: 6.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On Occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 12.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: Broadband pilot grant program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0127.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service has the
responsibility to deploy a Broadband Pilot Grant Program to provide
broadband infrastructure to rural, lower income communities on a
``community-oriented connectivity'' basis. This service is intended to
promote economic development and provide enhanced educational and
health care opportunities.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS' will provide financial
assistance in the form of grants to eligible entities to provide
broadband transmission service in rural communities where such service
does not currently exist. RUS will use the information to determine
that funds needed to complete the project are adequate based on the
amount requested.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 300.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 48,010.
Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR 3550--Direct Single Family Housing Loan and Grant
Program, HB-1-3550, HB-2-3550.
OMB Control Number: 0575-0172.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is a credit
agency for rural housing and community development within the Rural
Development mission area of the Department of Agriculture. Section 501
of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, authorizes the
Secretary of Agriculture to administer such programs and to prescribe
regulations to ensure that these loans and grants provided with Federal
funds are made to eligible applicants for authorized purposes, and that
subsequent servicing an benefits provided to borrowers are consistent
with the authorizing statute. RHS offers a supervised credit program to
extend financial assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair,
replace or rehabilitate dwellings, which will provide modest, decent,
safe, and sanitary housing to eligible individuals living in rural
areas. To assist individuals in obtaining affordable housing, a
borrower's house payment may be subsidized to an interest rate as low
as 1%. The information requested by RHS is vital to be able to process
applications for RHS assistance and make prudent credit and program
decisions. RHS will collect information using several forms.
Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information to
verify program eligibility requirements; continued eligibility
requirements for borrower assistance; servicing of loans; eligibility
for special servicing assistance such as: payment subsidies, moratorium
(stop) on payments, delinquency workout agreements; liquidation of
loans; and, debt settlement. The information is used to ensure that the
direct Single Family Housing Programs are administered in a manner
consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. Without
the information RHS would be unable to determine if a borrower would
qualify for services or if assistance has been granted to which the
customer would not be eligible under current regulations and statutes.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 500,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 513,872.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Animal Welfare Licensing and inspection Requirements for
Dealers of Dogs Intended for Hunting, Breeding, or Security Purpose.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0169.
Summary of Collection: The Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (AWA) P.L.
890544 enacted August 24, 1966, requires the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) to regulate the humane care and handling of dogs,
cats, guinea pigs, hamster, rabbits, and nonhuman primates.
The legislation was the result of extensive demand by organized
animal welfare groups and private citizens requesting a Federal law
covering the transportation, care, and handling of laboratory animals.
As part of these standards, the Animal and Plant health Inspection
Service (APHIS) must regulate dealers of dogs used for hunting,
security, or breeding purposes. APHIS will collect information using
several forms.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information (1)
to insure that animals intended for use in research facilities or
exhibition purposes or for use as pets are provided humane care and
treatment; (2) to assure the humane treatment of animals during
transportation in commerce; and (3) to protect the owners of animals
from the theft of their animals by preventing the sale or use of
animals which have been stolen. The information collected will help
determine whether a reporting facility is following professionally
acceptable standards governing care, treatment, and use of animals.
Without the information it would be impossible to enforce the AWA
program, perform compliance investigations, or initiate proceedings
against violators.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 12.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 16.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Program: Rules and
Regulations.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0203.
Summary of Collection: The agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has
the responsibility for the national commodity research and promotion
programs. The authority for the Lamb Promotion, Research, and
Information Order is established under the Commodity Promotion,
Research, and Information Act of 1996. These
[[Page 77033]]
programs carry out projects relating to research, consumer information
advertising, producer information, market development, and product
research with the goal of maintaining and expanding their existing
markets and uses and strengthening their position in the marketplace.
Need and Use of the Information: The Certification of Non-Producer
status Form is used by market agencies to certify that certain
transactions are exempt from assessments and were resold not later than
10 days from the date on which the agency acquired ownership and no
additional assessment was due. The information required by this form is
not available from any other source because it relates specifically to
individual lamb producers, feeders, seedstock producers, first handlers
and exporters.
Description of Respondents: Farms; individuals or households;
Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 3,318.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; Monthly.
Total Burden Hours: 1,195.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Title: Survey of Egg, Meat, and Poultry Plants: Current Practices
and Technologies for Controlling Pathogens in Manufacturing Processes.
OMB Control Number: 0583-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of
the Secretary as provided in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21
U.S.C. 601 et. seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21
U.S.C. 451, et. seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21
U.S.C. 1031-1056). These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public
by ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome,
unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. FSIS will conduct
surveys of egg, meat, and poultry plants. The survey will provide
accurate and up-to-date information about current practices and
technologies used in the egg, meat, and poultry industries to control
and reduce pathogens in their manufacturing processes.
Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information to
establish an accurate, quantitative baseline for pathogen control,
sanitation, testing, training, and other practices used by egg, meat,
and poultry plants. FSIS will also use the information collected to
determine whether specific regulatory actions are needed, and if so,
the types of regulatory actions that will achieve desired objectives in
the most efficient and effective manner. Without the information FSIS
would have insufficient quantitative information about practices and
technologies used in the eggs, meat, and poultry industries to control
or reduce pathogens in manufacturing processes.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 1,309.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 741.7.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: 7 CFR Part 215--Special Milk Program for Children.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0005.
Summary of Collection: Section 3 of the Child Nutrition Act (CNA)
of 1966 (P.L. 89-642, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 1772) authorizes the
Special Milk Program (SMP) for Children. The SMP is a food assistance
program whose objective is to encourage children to consume milk. The
program provides the availability of federally subsidized milk, which
is delivered through nonprofit milk service operations run by schools
and institutions. Such organizations may operate the SMP in either a
pricing or nonpricing mode. Needy children in organizations that
operate the SMP in its pricing mode may receive their milk free if the
sponsoring organization elects to serve free milk. Although the
responsibility for administering the SMP at the Federal level has been
assigned to USDA, the enabling legislation requires that SMP operations
within the states be administered by State Agencies (SAs).
Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) will collect information to compute the amount of Federal SMP
funds due the SA under the performance-funding formula; analyze and
evaluate the results of program operation within each state and
nationwide; respond to data requests from the Congress, OMB, and
advocacy groups and the general public; develop budget projections of
the amount of Federal funds needed to pay SMP program benefits; and
regulate the flow of Federal funds to SA. Without this information FNS
would not be able to evaluate program operations.
Description of Respondents: State, Local, and Tribal Government;
Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 15,199.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly;
Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 702,767.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Food Stamp Forms: Applications, Periodic Reporting, Notices.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0064.
Summary of Collection: The Food Stamp Act of 1977 (the Act)
establishes a program whereby needy households may apply for and
receive food stamp benefits. The Act requires certain reporting and
recordkeeping requirements in administering the program. The Act
specifies national eligibility standards and impose certain
administrative requirements on State agencies in administering the
program. Information must be collected from households to assure that
they are eligible for the program and that they receive the correct
amount of food stamp benefits. Information collected is limited to that
necessary for the administration and enforcement of the Food Stamp
Program. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will use an application
to collect information. Fours laws modify or add additional information
collected, reporting, and recordkeeping requirement associated with the
application and certification of households for the Food Stamps
Program: The four laws are: Public Law 104-193, the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), dated
8/22/96; Public Law 104-208, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations
Act (OCAA), dated 9/30/96; Public Law 105-33, the Balanced Budget Act
(BBA), dated August 5, 1997; and Public Law 105-185, the Agricultural
Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA), dated
June 23, 1998. The various provisions of these laws are implemented at
7 CFR Part 272, 273, and 274.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to
determine the eligibility of households for the food stamp program and
to determine the correct benefit levels for eligible households. The
social security number will be used to check the identity of household
members, to prevent duplicate participation, to make mass food stamp
changes, and to verify information. If information is not collected to
certify households in accordance with the Act or changing the frequency
of information or reporting requirements as they relate to the
application, certification, and continue eligibility of households
would result in a direct violation of the Act and its implementing
regulations. Further, benefits could be overissued or underissued for a
long period of time if
[[Page 77034]]
necessary information is not collected or actions are not taken timely.
Description of Respondents: State, Local, and Tribal Government;
Individuals or household.
Number of Respondents: 18,131,799.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
Monthly; Quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 28,333,895.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Brokerage Agreement for the Transportation of USDA
Commodities.
OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
Summary of Collection: 49 U.S.C. 13102(2), 13712, and 49 CFR
Chapter 10, Part 1090-1099, authorizes the Export Operations Division
(EOD) to collect information to determine Broker compliance with KCCO
requirements and to determine the eligibility of Brokers to haul
agricultural products for the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA). Brokers must complete the Brokerage Agreement for the
transportation of USDA commodities. The Brokerage Agreement is used to
establish the transportation service needs of the USDA, Farm Service
Agency (FSA), Kansas City Commodity Office (KCCO), operating as
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), for the brokered movement of its
freight.
Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to
ensure that the applicant has both the willingness and the capability
to meet the needs of KCCO and to establish the rules for which the
broker can expect corporation. Without the information, KCCO could not
meet program requirements.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 113.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (Once).
Total Burden Hours: 113.
Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-31570 Filed 12-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M