[Federal Register: May 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 95)]
[Notices]
[Page 26559-26563]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16my03-31]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
May 9, 2003.
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.
[[Page 26560]]
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.
Economic Research Service
Title: Estimating Consumer Benefits of Improving Food Safety.
OMB Control Number: 0536-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has the
responsibility to ensure that meat and poultry products are safe for
human consumption. The Economic Research Service (ERS) has the
responsibility to conduct economic research on the economic benefits
and costs of policies and program designed to reduce and prevent
illnesses caused by microbial pathogens. ERS has estimated the cost of
medical treatment and lost productivity and premature death from
diseases caused by five microbial pathogens at $6.9 billion annually.
These costs understate the true social costs of these illnesses since
they do not measure the consumer's willingness to pay to prevent food
borne disease. ERS will collect information using two surveys.
Need and Use of the Information: ERS will collect information to
determine (1) the extent to which a willingness to pay approach would
boost assessments of the economic value of reductions in foodborne
illnesses, and (2) to identify factors that influence consumers'
valuation of these reductions, including personal and household
characteristics, and information the consumer receives about foodborne
illness.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 2,900.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting; Other (once and 3 times).
Total Burden Hours: 1,950.
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).
OMB Control Number: 0579-0007.
Summary of Collection: The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)
is a voluntary Federal-State-industry mechanism for controlling certain
poultry diseases and for improving poultry flocks and products through
disease control techniques. The National Turkey Improvement Plan was
combined with the NPIP in 1970 to create the NPIP, as it now exists.
Emu, rhea, ostrich, and cassowary breeding flocks are also allowed
participation in the plan. The effective implementation of the NPIP
necessitates the use of several information collection activities,
including sentinel bird identification, as well as the creation and
submission of flock testing reports, sales reports, breeding flock
participation summaries, hatchery participation summaries, salmonella
investigation reports, salmonella serotyping requests, and small chick
order printouts. Authority for this program is contained in the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944, as amended (7 U.S.C.
429). The cooperative work is carried out through a Memorandum of
Understanding with the participating States.
Need and Use of the Information: Information is collected from
various types of poultry breeders and flock owners to determine the
number of eggs hatched and sold as well as to report outbreaks of
diseases. This information allows APHIS officials to track, control,
and prevent many types of poultry diseases.
Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government;
Federal Government; Farms.
Number of Respondents: 19,086.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 37,899.
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Animal Welfare.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0036.
Summary of Collection: The Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
(Pub. L. 89-544) enacted August 24, 1966, required the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, to regulate the humane care and handling of dog, 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. The Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Regulatory Enforcement and
Animal Care (AC) has the responsibility to enforce the Animal Welfare
Act (7 U.S.C. 2131-2156) and the provisions of 9 CFR, Subchapter A,
which implements the Animal Welfare Act. The purpose of the AWA is to
insure that animal use in research facilities or exhibition purposes
are provided humane care and treatment. APHIS will collect information
using several forms.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect health
certificates, program of veterinary care, application for license and
record of acquisition, disposition and transportation of animals. The
information is used to ensure those dealers, exhibitors, research
facilities, carriers, etc., are in compliance with the Animal Welfare
Act and regulations and standards promulgated under this authority of
the Act.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 7,288.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 98,501.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Title: Exportation, Transportation, and Importation of Meat and
Poultry Products.
OMB Control Number: 0583-0094.
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.) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21
U.S.C. 451 et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the
public by ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome,
unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. FSIS requires that
meat and poultry establishments exporting products to foreign countries
complete an export certificate. Meat and poultry products not marked
with the mark of inspection and shipped from one official establishment
to another for further processing must be transported under FSIS seal
to prevent such unmarked product from entering into commerce. To track
product shipped under seal, FSIS requires shipping establishments to
complete a form that identifies the type, amount, and weight of the
product. Foreign countries exporting meat and poultry products to the
U.S. must establish eligibility for importation of product into the
U.S., and annually certify that their inspection systems are
``equivalent to'' the U.S. inspection system. Meat and poultry products
intended for import into the U.S. must be accompanied by a health
certificate, signed by an official of the foreign government, stating
that the products have been produced by certified foreign
establishments.
Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information to
identify the type, amount, weight, destination, and originating country
of the meat and poultry. FSIS will use the information to
[[Page 26561]]
verify that a meat or poultry product intended for import has been
prepared in a plant certified to prepare product for export to the U.S.
FSIS will use the information from the forms in its annual Report to
Congress.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 5,533.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 127,838.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: 7 CFR Part 245 Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced
Price Meals.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0026.
Summary of Collection: Under the National School Lunch Program
(NSLP), each school year food authorities distribute applications for
free and reduce price meals benefits to households of enrolled
children. Households who want to receive free and reduced price meal
benefits for their children complete the information required on the
application and return the application to the school food authority. As
specified in 7 CFR 245.6a, school food authorities must verify the
eligibility information on a sample of the free and reduced price meal
applications approved in any given school year. Several data sources
including the eligibility verification performed by school districts
indicate that a significant and increasing number of ineligible
children are being certified for free and reduced price meals benefits.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) amended the reporting and
recordkeeping requirements relating to the verification of applications
for free and reduced price meal benefits. School food authorities will
be required to report verification activity and results to their
respective State agencies. The State agencies will summarize and report
school food authority level data to FNS.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information using
various forms to evaluate the results in the context of State and
nationwide data. The data collection will result in improvement of FNS
understanding of the operations of the eligibility determination and
verification process in the targeting of monitoring and technical
assistance efforts and resources on areas of households with the
likelihood of problems. Without the information NSLP integrity is
compromised, Federal and State education funds are being mistreated,
and FNS Audit/Financial Statements are jeopardized.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or household; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 4,260,544.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Biennially;
Annually; Other (triennially).
Total Burden Hours: 1,048,769.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Report of School Program Operations.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0280.
Summary of Collection: The National School Lunch Act, as amended,
authorizes the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for Children, which
is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The purpose of
the SFSP is to provide nutrition meals to children from low-income
areas during periods when schools are not in session. Information is
gathered from state agencies and other organizations wishing to
participate in the program to determine eligibility. If selected,
additional reporting requirements apply to determine the amount of
meals served and other program volume information. FNS uses a variety
of forms to collect information.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS uses the information collected
to determine an organization's eligibility, to monitor program
performance for compliance and reimbursement purposes.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or household; Not-for-
profit institutions; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 76,737.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
Quarterly; Monthly.
Total Burden Hours: 328,068.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Title: Floriculture Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0535-0093.
Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National
Agricultural Statistics (NASS) is to prepare current official State and
national estimates of crop and livestock production. Since 1985
Congress has provided funds to conduct an annual Commercial
Floriculture Survey that provides basic data on this important and
growing industry. General authority for these data collection
activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. This
statute specifies that ``The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and
preserve all information concerning agriculture which can be obtain by
the collection of statistics * * * and shall distribute them among
agriculturists''. The floriculture industry accounts for about 7
percent of agricultural cash receipts at the U.S. level. A survey is
conducted in 36 states, which ensures 97 percent coverage of the U.S.
value of production.
Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information to
assess alternative agriculture opportunities. Data from the survey will
provide statistics for Federal and State agencies to monitor the use of
agricultural chemicals. If the information is not collected, data users
could not keep abreast of changes.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 13,700.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 6,587.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: Request for Approval to Sell Capital Assets.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0020.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It makes
mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric,
telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural areas. In
addition to providing loans and loan guarantees, one of RUS' main
objectives is to safeguard loan security until the loan is repaid. RUS
manages loan programs in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et. seq., as amended, (RE ACT) and as prescribed
by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-129, Policies for
Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax Receivables, 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.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS borrower will use form 369,
Request for Approval to sell capital assets, to seek agency permission
to sell some of its assets. The form is used to collect detailed
information regarding the proposed sale of a portion of the borrower's
systems. RUS will collect information to determine whether or not the
agency should approve a sale and to keep track of what property exists
to secure the loan. If the information in Form 369 is not collected
when capital assets are sold, the capital assets securing the
Government's loans could be liquidated and the Government's security
either eliminated entirely or diluted to an undesirable level.
[[Page 26562]]
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 5.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 15.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: Lien Accommodations and Subordinations 7 CFR Part 1717,
Subpart R and S.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0100.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of
1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et. seq., as amended, authorizes and empowers the
Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans in the
several States and territories of the United States for rural
electrification and the furnishing electric energy to persons in rural
areas who are not receiving central station service. The RE Act also
authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to provide financial
assistance to borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act by
accommodating or subordinating loans made by the National Rural
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank,
and other lending agencies.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will used the information to
determine an applicant's eligibility for a lien accommodation or lien
subordination under the RE Act; monitor the compliance of borrowers
with debt covenants and regulatory requirements in order to protect
loan security; and subsequently to granting the lien accommodation of
lien subordination, administer each so as to minimize its cost to the
Government. If the information were not collected, RUS would not be
able to accomplish their statutory goals.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 6.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 19.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR 1717 Subpart D, Mergers and Consolidations of Electric
Borrowers.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0114.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It makes mortgage
loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, telecommunications,
water and waste and water facilities in rural areas. Loan 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 the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-129, Policies for Federal
Credit Programs and Non-tax Receivable, states that agencies must base
on a review of a loan application determine that an applicant complies
with statutory, regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements
for loan assistance.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
streamline procedures and allow borrowers the flexibility to meet new
business challenges and opportunities. The information is necessary for
RUS to conduct business with successor entity while protecting the
security of Government loans and avoiding defaults and to grant merger
approval when required.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 18.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 184.
Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR 1944-N, ``Housing Preservation GrantProgram''.
OMB Control Number: 0575-0115.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is
authorized to make grants to eligible applicants to provide repair and
rehabilitation assistance so that very low and low-income rural
residents can obtain adequate housing. Such assistance is made by
grantees to very low and low-income persons, and to co-ops. Grant funds
are used by grantees to make loans, grants, or other comparable
assistance to eligible homeowners, rental unit owners, and co-ops for
repair and rehabilitation of dwellings to bring them up to code or
minimum property standards. These grants were established by Public Law
98-181, the Housing Urban Rural Recovery Act of 1983, which amended the
Housing Act of 1949 (Pub. L. 93-383).
Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information to
determine eligibility for a grant to justify its selection of the
applicant for funding; to report program accomplishments and to justify
and support expenditure of grant funds. RHS uses the information to
determine if the grantee is complying with its grant agreement and to
make decisions regarding continuing with modifying, or terminating
grant assistance. If the information is not collected and presented to
RHS, the Agency could not monitor the program or justify disbursement
of grant funds.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit; Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal
Government
Number of Respondents: 2,050.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
Quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 10,814.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Customer Service Survey for USDA--Donated FoodProducts.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0193.
Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide consumers with
voluntary Federal meat grading and certification services that
facilitate the marketing of meat and meat products. These services are
provided under the authority of 7 CFR part 54--Meats, Prepared Meats,
and Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and Standards). An annual
customer service survey is used to gather information from its
customers to determine the quality of service provided. Once an
applicant request services, there is no way to determine the quality of
service that is provided.
Need and Use of the Information: Agricultural Marketing Service
will collect information to evaluate services and assist in planning
and managing the program. The information from the survey is strictly
voluntary and will be used to continually improve the services.
Description of Respondents: Business or other-for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 450.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 32.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Food Stamp Program--Store Applications.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0008.
Summary of Collection: Section 9(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
as amended, (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) requires retail food stores to
submit applications to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for
approval prior to participating in the Food Stamp Program. FNS field
offices review retailer applications to ensure that the store is
eligible and then authorize or deny a store to accept and redeem Food
Stamp Program benefits. The need to collect information is established
under the Act to determine the eligibility of retail food stores,
wholesale food concerns, and food service organizations applying for
authorization to accept and
[[Page 26563]]
redeem food stamp benefits, to monitor these firms for continued
eligibility, to sanction stores for non-compliance with the Act, and
for program management. FNS will collect information using forms FNS-
252, Food Stamp Program Application for Store, and FNS 252-2, Meal
Service Application.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to
determine a firm's eligibility for participation in the Food Stamp
Program, program administration, compliance monitoring, investigations,
and for sanctioning stores found to be violating the program. FNS is
also responsible for requiring updates to application information and
reviewing that information to determine whether or not the retail food
store, wholesale food concern, or food service organization continues
to meet eligibility requirements. Owners Employer Identification
Numbers (EIN) and Social Security Numbers (SSN) may be disclosed to and
used by Federal agencies or instrumentalities that otherwise gave
access to EINs and SSNs. FNS and other Federal Government agencies
examine such information during compliance reviews, audit review,
special studies or evaluation efforts.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; Farms; Federal Government.
Number of Respondents: 34,888.
Frequency of Responses: Third party disclosure; Reporting: On
occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 7,309.
Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-12067 Filed 5-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-P