Notice of Intent: To Request a Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Notice of Intent: To Request a Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) intention to request a revision to a currently approved information collection, Long Term Contracting.

DATES:

Comments will be received for a 60-day period commencing with the date of this publication.

Additional Information or Comments:

Contact

Phyllis I. Williams,

Agency OMB Clearance Officer, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5460, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-5000; (301) 504-2170;

phyllis.i.williams@usda.gov

.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title:

Application for Payment.

OMB Number:

0578-0013.

Expiration Date of Approval:

June 30, 2003.

Type of Request:

To continue with a change of a currently approved collection for which the approval will expire.

Abstract:

The primary objective of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is to work in partnership with the American people and the farming and ranching community to conserve and sustain our natural resources. The purpose of Long-Term Contracting information collection is to provide for programs to extend cost sharing and technical assistance through long-term contracts to landowners and others. These contracts provide for making land use changes and installing conservation measures and practices to conserve, develop, and use the soil, water, and related natural resources on private

lands. For cost-share programs, Federal financial and technical assistance is based on a conservation plan that is made a part of an agreement, contract or easement, for a period of time of no less than 1 year, no more than 15 years. Under the terms of the agreement, the participant agrees to apply, or arrange to apply, the conservation treatment specified in the conservation plan. In return for this agreement, Federal cost-share payments are made to the land user, or third party, upon successful application of the conservation treatment. NRCS purchases easement programs and provides for the protection and management for the life of the easement.

The information collected through this package is used by NRCS to ensure the proper use of program funds, including the application for participation, contract implementation, conservation planning, and application for payment. The table below lists the forms in this collection, the use of each document, and the applicable programs for the information collection. These forms constitute this information collection, and reflect the documents used by Department of Agriculture (USDA) program participants to indicate their desire to participate in one or more of the applicable programs. To obtain copies of forms referenced, access the Service Center Web site address at

http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov

. You may also e-mail your request and/or comments, including your address, phone number, and form number, to

terri.jackson@usda.gov

, or call the Forms Manager at (301) 504-2164.

OMB 0578-0013, Long-Term Contracting Information Collection Package—Forms Included—7 CFR 630

Form No.

Forms superceded

Form title and usage

Previous OMB No.

Program

1

AD-1153

NRCS-LTP-01 and CCC-1250

Application for Long-Term Contracted Assistance—(Used for the initial program application)

0578-0013

EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP, WHIP, GRP; FPP

AD-1154

NRCS-LTP-02 and CCC-1251

Long Term Contract/Agreement for NRCS Cost-Share Programs—(Used for contract obligation)

0578-0013

EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP, WHIP, GRP; FPP

AD-1154D

New Program

Appendix; Special Provisions for the Grassland Reserve Incentives Programs

New Program

GRP

AD-1154E

Appendix; Special Provisions for the Farmland Protection Program

0578-0013

FPP

AD-1155

NRCS-LTP-11; CCC-1252

Conservation Plan/Schedule of Operations—(Used to develop and list the applicable conservation practices/measures to be applied, the amounts to be applied, and the estimated financial assistance obligation)

0578-0013

EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP, WHIP, EQIP, AMA, CSP, GRP, SWCA, CRP, RCWP, RAMP, GPCP, CRSCP, WQIP; IEQIP, FIP, ECP

AD-1155A

NRCS-LTP-11B; CCC-1252B

Conservation Plan/Schedule of Operations—Acceptance Page—(Used by the agency and participant to accept the Conservation Plan, summarize the obligations, and finalize the contract)

0578-0013

EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP, WHIP, EQIP, AMA, CSP, GRP, SWCA, CRP, RCWP, RAMP, GPCP, CRSCP, WQIP; IEQIP, FIP, ECP

AD-1156

NRCS-LTP-12; CCC-1253

Revision of Plan or Schedule of Operations or Modifications of Contract—(Used to make any modifications to the practices and/or measures to be applied during the contract period)

0578-0013

EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP, WHIP, EQIP, AMA, CSP, GRP, SWCA, CRP, RCWP, RAMP, GPCP, CRSCP, WQIP; IEQIP, FIP, ECP

AD-1157

NRCS-LTP-20A; CCC-1255A

Option Agreement to Purchase—(Used by the participant to indicate his/her desire to continue in the program after an initial acceptance of eligibility has been provided)

0578-0013

WRP, EWP-FPE; GRP

AD-1157A

CCC-1255A; NRCS-LTP-20

Option Agreement to Purchase, Amendment 1

0578-0013

WRP; EWP-FPE; GRP

AD-1158

NRCS-LTP21; CCC-1256

Subordination Agreement and Limited Lien Waiver “ (Used to remove encumbrances of the title for USDA to acquire an easement)

0578-0013

WRP; EWP-FPE; GRP

AD-1159

NRCS-LTP-24; CCC-1257

Notification of Intent to Continue—(Used by the participant to indicate his/her desire to continue in the program after an initial acceptance of eligibility has been provided)

0578-0013

WRP; EWP-FPE; GRP

AD-1160

NRCS-LTP-25; CCC-1258

Compatible Use Authorization—(Used by the agency to authorize uses compatible with the program purposes as requested by the program participant on easement acquisitions)

0578-0013

EWP-FP; WRP; GRP

AD-1161

NRCS-FNM-141; CCC-1202

Application for Payment—(Used by the program participant to apply for payment in exchange for implementing one or more conservation practices or measures)

0578-0018

CRSCP; EWP; FIP; GPCP; IEQIP; RC&D; RAMP; FPP; WPFPP; WRP (direct appropriated funds); WHIP

CCC-1200

Conservation Program Contract—(Used to make initial application, and serve as the contractual document upon acceptance into the program)

0560-0174 (Pkg transferred from FSA) and 0578-0028

EQIP, AMA, CSP, GRP, FPP, SWCA

CCC-1200A

Appendix; Special Provisions for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program

0560-0174 (Pkg transferred from FSA) and 0578-0028

EQIP

CCC-1200 AMA

Appendix; Special Provisions for the Agricultural Management Assistance Program

0560-0174 (Pkg transferred from FSA) and 0578-0028

AMA

CCC-1200C

New Program

Appendix; Special Provisions for the Conservation Security Program

New Program

CSP

CCC-1201

New

Application Evaluation Worksheet—(Used by the agency to evaluate the environmental benefits of a participants proposed conservation plan of operations and for ranking the applications)

0560-0174

EQIP

CCC-1245

Practice Approval and Payment Application (Used by the program participant to apply for payment in exchange for implementing one or more conservation practices or measures)

0560-01740174 (Package transferred from FSA) and 0578-0028

EQIP, AMA, CSP, GRP, FPP; SWCA

CCC-1255

Warranty Easement Deed (Permanent)—(Used to encumber the easement acreage and transfer easement to USDA)

0578-0013

WRP

CCC-1255A

New

Option to Purchase Agreement (30-year)—(Used by the participant to indicate his/her desire to continue in the program after an initial acceptance of eligibility has been provided)

Form No. Previously used for another purpose

WRP

CCC-1255B

New

Warranty Easement Deed (30-year)—(Used to encumber the easement acreage and transfer easement to USDA)

Form No. Previously used for another purpose

WRP

NRCS-CPA-38

Request for a Certified Wetland Determination—(Used by USDA participants to request a certified wetland determination)

0578-0013

WC; WRP; EWP-FPEP; WHIP; CRP

NRCS-LTP-13

Conservation Program Status Review—(Used by the agency and the participant to review the status of contract or agreement implementation)

0578-0013

EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP, WHIP, EQIP, AMA, CSP, GRP, SWCA, CRP, RCWP, RAMP, GPCP, CRSCP, WQIP; IEQIP, FIP, ECP, CTA; HELC/WC

NRCS-LTP-20

Warranty Easement Deed (Permanent)—(Used to encumber the easement acreage and transfer easement to USDA)

0578-0013

EWP-FPE

NRCS-LTP-151

Notice of Agreement or Contract Violation—(Used by the agency to notify contract holders of contract violations)

0578-0013

CRSCP; GPCP; IEQIP; RAMP; RCWP; WBP; WHIP

NRCS-LTP-152

Transfer Agreement—(Used by the agency and the program participant to transfer the program contract or agreement to another entity)

0578-0013

CRSCP; GPCP; IEQIP; RAMP; RCWP; WBP; WHIP

NRCS-LTP-153

Agreement Covering Non-Compliance with Contract Provisions—(Used by the agency to notify program participants of non-compliance with program contracts or agreements)

0578-0013

CRSCP; GPCP; IEQIP; RAMP; RCWP; WBP; WHIP

1

Conservation Programs and Authorities are as follows:

AMA—Agricultural Management Assistance; Pub. L. 106-224, Section 133(b); Pub. L. 107-171, Section 2501

EWP-FPEC—Emergency Watershed Program, Floodplain Easement Component; 16 U.S.C. 2203; 7 CFR 624

CRP—Conservation Reserve Program; 16 U.S.C. 3831-3836; 7 CFR 1410

CRSCP—Colorado River Salinity Control Program; 7 CFR 702

CSP—Conservation Security Program; Pub. L. 107-171, Sections 2001-2006

CTA—Conservation Technical Assistance; 16 U.S.C. 590 a-f

ECP—Emergency Conservation Program; 7 CFR 701

EQIP—Environmental Quality Incentives Program; 16 U.S.C. 3839aa; 3839aa(1-8); 7 CFR 1466

HELC/WC—Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Compliance; 7 CFR 12

FIP—Forestry Incentives Program; Pub. L. 95-313, Sec. 4, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 367; Pub. L. 101-624, title XII, Secs. 1214, 1224(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3525, 3542; 7 CFR 701

FPP—Farmland Protection Program; 16 U.S.C. 3830 note; 7 CFR 1469; Pub. L. 107-171, Section 2503

GPCP—Great Plains Conservation Program; 16 U.S.C. 590p(b); 7 CFR 631

GRP—Grassland Reserve Program; Pub. L. 107-171, Section 2401

IEQIP—Interim Environmental Quality Incentives Program; 7 CFR 631 and 7 CFR 702

RAMP—Rural Abandoned Mine Program; 30 U.S.C. 1236

et seq.

; 7 CFR 632

RC&D—Resource Conservation & Development Program; Pub. L. 107-171, Section 2504

RCWP—Rural Clean Water Program; 33 U.S.C. 1288

et seq.

; Pub. L. 7 CFR 634

SWCA—Soil and Water Conservation Assistance Program; Pub. L. 106-244, Section 211(b)

WBP—Water Bank Program; 16 U.S.C. 1301-1311; 7 CFR 752

WC—Wetland Conservation Compliance; 16 U.S.C. 3801-3824; 7 CFR 12

WHIP—Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program; 16 U.S.C. 3836a; 7 CFR 636

WPFPP—Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program; Pub. L. 83-566; 7 CFR 622

WQIP—Water Quality Incentives Program: 7 CFR 701

WRP—Wetlands Reserve Program; 16 U.S.C. 3837; 3837(a-f); 7 CFR 1467

This request represents a combination of four Information Collection Packages, as follows: OMB Number: 0578-0013, Long Term Contracting; OMB Number: 0578-0018, Application for Payment; OMB Number 0578-0028, Risk Protection Programs; and OMB Number 0560-0174, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, (transferred from the Farm Service Agency). The above table represents all of the forms incorporated into this one information collection, OMB Number 0578-0013. The table below shows a summary of the changes in the package since the previous authorization:

Previous Burden Hours

162,351.3

Burden Transferred from OMB Number 0560-0174

444,609

(+) Adjustment

Burden Transferred from OMB Number 0578-0018

20,731

(+) Adjustment

Burden Transferred from OMB Number 0578-0028

2,917

(+) Adjustment

Burden Hour Reduction for Electronic Submission, OMB Number 0578-0013

1,909.2

(−) Adjustment

Burden Hour Reduction for Electronic Submission, OMB Number 0578-0018

2,961.6

(−) Adjustment

Burden Hour Reduction for Electronic Submission, OMB Number 0578-0028

416.5

(−) Adjustment

Burden Hour Reduction for Electronic Submission, OMB Number 0560-0174

66,691.4

(−) Adjustment

Proposed Burden Hours

558,930

NRCS will ask for 3-year OMB approval within 60 days of submitting the request.

Estimate of Burden:

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.41 hours or 84.7 minutes per response.

Respondents:

Farms, individuals, or households, or State, local, or Tribal governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

396,077.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:

558,930.

Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from Phyllis Williams, the Agency OMB Clearance Officer, at 5602 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5460, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-5000; (301) 504-2170;

phyllis.i.williams@usda.gov.

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 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 technologic collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Phyllis Williams, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5602 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5460, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-5000; (301) 504-2170;

phyllis.williams@usda.gov.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request

for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of public record.

Signed in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2003.

Bruce I. Knight,

Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

[FR Doc. 03-3569 Filed 2-12-03; 8:45 am]

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