Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 5, 1998.

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, Pub. L. 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.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Title: Survey for Local Cooperatives' Role in the Emerging Grain

and Feed Industries.

OMB Control Number: 0570-NEW.

Summary of Collection: The mission of the Cooperative Services

Program (CS) of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is to

assist farmer-owned cooperatives in improving the economic well-being

of their farmer-members. This is accomplished through a comprehensive

program of research on structural, operational, and policy issues

affecting cooperatives; technical advisory assistance to individual

cooperatives and to groups of producers who wish to organize

cooperatives; and development of educational and informational

material. The interplay between market and agricultural policy has

shaped, and continues to shape the potential activities of grain

marketing cooperatives. The passage of the Capper-Volstead Act in 1922,

the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926, and the Agricultural Marketing

Act of 1929 were responses to the drastic declines in the prices for

most agricultural commodities after World War I. The alternative was

direct intervention by the federal government to limit supplies on the

domestic market in order to raise prices. Cooperatives are found at all

levels of the grain marketing industry, but their presence is strongest

at the origination stage (procuring grain from farmers), and weakest in

grain exporting. RBS will collect information about cooperatives

through telephone and personal interviews surveys.

Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect information

through a survey to establish a baseline of cooperative resources and

preferences. This information may ultimately provide a basis for

structuring the standardized production and marketing grain sector

desired by end-users. The information will be used by regional

cooperatives to facilitate strategic planning with member local

cooperatives.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 800.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 800.

Emergency approval has been requested by October 30, 1998.

Agricultural Research Service/National Agricultural Library

Title: Food and Nutrition Information Center Customer Satisfaction

Survey for Food and Nutrition Service Audiences.

OMB Control Number: 0518-NEW.

Summary of Collection: The Food and Nutrition Information Center,

National Agricultural Library (NAL), Agricultural Research Service

(ARS), USDA receives special funding to serve Food and Nutrition

Service (FNS), USDA funded programs. This is documented through two

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) agreements between the Food and

Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural Library and Food

and Nutrition Service and Economic Research, USDA. Because the Center

and the NAL are emphasizing electronic access, availability of

publications and other resources using only this method of

communication may be feasible for some audiences served as many do not

have access to the World Wide Web or even e-mail through the Internet.

Nutrition staff in various FNS-funded programs that the Food and

Nutrition Information Center is funded to serve do not have access to

World Wide Web and, in some cases, e-mail. ARS will collect information

using a survey.

Need and Use of the Information: ARS will collect information to

plan and manage services directed to the audiences that they provide

service to in order to establish how best to provide reference

materials and other resources and tools.

Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government;

Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 900.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (every 3 years).

Total Burden Hours: 450.

Rural Utilities Service

Title: Lien Accommodations and Subordinations, 7 CFR Part 1717,

Subparts R&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

[[Page 63018]]

and the furnishing of 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. RUS will collect information using forms RUS 178, Report of

Progress of Construction and Engineering Services, and RUS 457,

Engineer's Monthly Report of Substation Progress.

Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to

determine an applicant's eligibility for a lien accommodation or lien

subordination under the RE Act; facilitate an applicant's solicitation

and acquisition of non-RUS loans as to conserve available Government

funds; monitor the compliance of borrowers with debt covenants and

regulatory requirements in order to protect loan security; subsequent

to granting the lien accommodation or lien subordination, administer

each so as to minimize its cost to the Government.

Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business

or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 20.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 93.

Forest Service

Title: Forest Products Free Use Permit, Forest Products Removal

Permit and Cash Receipt, and Forest Products Sale Permit and Cash

Receipt.

OMB Control Number: 0596-0085.

Summary of Collection: 16 U.S.C. 551 requires the promulgation of

regulations to regulate forest use and prevent destruction of the

forests. Regulations at 36 CFR 223.1 and 223.2 govern the sale of

forest products such as Christmas trees, pine cones, moss, and

mushrooms. Regulations at 36 CFR 223.5-223.13 set forth conditions

under which free use of forest product may be obtained by individuals

or organizations. 15 U.S.C. 607 provides that a defense against

trespass is that the forest product be removed under the regulations.

These statutes and the regulations apply to 16 U.S.C. 477, 492, and

607a. Regulations at 36 CFR 261.6 require persons to obtain permits to

remove special forest products from National Forest Land. Forest

Service Regional Offices have been issuing Forest Product Removal

Permits for over 20 years. Each Region has developed its own Forest

Product Removal Permit and policies for implementation, but have not

obtained OMB authorization for the information collection. National

Headquarters is preparing a Forest Product Removal Permit to be

implemented in all Regions to ensure consistent implementation of

National policies for free use and special forest product programs.

Information is required to determine if the applicant meets the

criteria under which free use or sale of forest products is authorized

by the regulations and to ensure that the permittee complies with the

regulations and terms of the permit. This information is also needed to

allow Forest Service (FS) compliance personnel to identify permittees

in the field.

Need and Use of the Information: The FS will collect information

from the public in order to issue a permit, the information that is

needed is the name, address, tax identification number or other

identification number, this information is used by the FS to keep a

record of person buying forest products. The person requesting the

permit will provide the information orally and the Forest Officer will

enter the information into the permit computerized program or enter

onto a hard copy of a permit.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or

other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 618,750.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 41,366.

Farm Service Agency

Title: CCC Conservation Contract.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0174.

Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency (FSA), in

conjunction with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is

charged with administering the Environmental Quality Incentives Program

(EQIP), the Farmland Protection Program (FPP), and the Conservation

Farm Option (CFO) Program. These programs provide farmers and ranchers

with flexible opportunities to work with the federal government to

address natural resource concerns by implementing innovative and

environmentally-sound solutions. Information must be collected from

potential participants who wish to apply for these programs. Additional

information is required from individuals once they have been accepted

into the program to ensure compliance and to issue, as appropriate,

cost share and land retirement payments.

Need and Use of the Information: Information will be collected from

producers and ranchers who wish to voluntarily participate in either

the EQIP, FPP or CFO programs. The application information will allow

agency management to select program participants which will help best

achieve program objectives related to maximizing environmental

benefits, minimizing land retirement, and continuing agricultural

production levels. Ongoing recordkeeping and reporting requirements

will be necessary to ensure compliance with program provisions.

Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; Not-

for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 91,000.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Other (when

applying).

Total Burden Hours: 383,830.

Rural Housing Service

Title: 7 CFR 1951-R, Rural Development Loan Servicing.

OMB Control Number: 0575-0015.

Summary of Collection: The Rural Development (RD) Loan Servicing

was legislated in 1985 under Section 1323 of the Food and Security Act

of 1985. This action is needed to inplement the provision of Section

407 of the Health and Human Services Act of 1986, which amended Section

1323 of the Food Security Act of 1985. Subpart R of part 1951 contains

regulations for servicing and liquidating existing loans previously

approved and administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS) under 45 CFR Part 1076 and transferred from HHS to the

U.S. Department of Agriculture. This subpart contains regulations for

servicing and liquidating loans made by Rural Development, successor to

the Farmers Home Administration, under the Intermediary Relending

Program (IRP) to eligible intermediaries and applies to ultimate

recipients and other involved parties.

Need and Use of the Information: RD will collect information from

the intermediary, i.e. assets and liabilities, income statement and a

summary of the intermediary's lending and guarantee program. The

information is vital to RD for the Agency to make credit and financial

analysis decisions based on financial information provided by the

Intermediary.

Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business

or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 420.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly; Semi-

annually; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 12,675.

[[Page 63019]]

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Domestic Quarantines.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0088.

Summary of Collection: Chapter 8 of the Plant Quarantine Act

(U.S.C. 161) provides authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to

quarantine any State, Territory, or District of the United States to

prevent the spread of insect infestation and diseases new to or not

widely distributed throughout the United States. The Domestic

Quarantines regulations (7 CFR Part 301) are issued under this

authority. Implementing these quarantines often requires the Animal and

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to collect information from a

variety of individuals who are involved in growing, packing, handling,

transporting, and exporting plants and plant products. The information

collected from these individuals is vital to helping ensure that

injurious plant diseases and insect pests do not spread within the

United States. Information to be collected is necessary to determine

compliance with domestic quarantine laws. Federal/State domestic

quarantines are necessary to regulate the movement of articles from

infested areas to noninfested areas. Collecting information requires

the use of a number of forms and documents.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information by

interviewing growers and shippers at the time the inspections are being

conducted and by having growers and shippers of exported plants and

plant products complete an application for a transit permit.

Information is collected from the growers, packers, shippers, and

exporters of regulated articles to ensure that the articles, when moved

from a quarantined area, do not harbor injurious plant diseases and

insect pests. The information obtained will be used to determine

compliance with regulations and for issuance of forms, permits,

certificates, and other required documents.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms;

Individuals or households; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 174,072.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 60,126.

Rural Housing Service

Title: 7 CFR 1980-D, Rural Housing Loans.

OMB Control Number: 0575-0078.

Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) offers

supervised credit programs to build modest housing and essential

community facilities in rural areas. RHS regulations prescribe the

policy necessary to process Rural Housing loan guarantees to low- and

moderate-income applicants. RHS, formerly known as the Rural Housing

and Community Development Service (RHCDS), is a successor agency to the

Farmers Home Administration under the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and

Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, Public Law 103-

354. Section 517(d) of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 provides the

authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to issue loan guarantees for

the acquisition of new or existing dwellings and related facilities to

provide decent, safe, and sanitary living conditions and other

structures in rural areas. The purpose of the Guaranteed Rural Housing

(GRH) program is to assist low- and moderate-income individuals and

families in acquiring or constructing a single family residence in a

rural area with loans made by private lenders. RHS will collect

information using an application form from the customers for a mortgage

loan.

Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information from

potential borrowers such as household income, assets and liabilities,

and monthly expenses to determine if borrowers qualify for and assure

they receive all assistance for which they are eligible. All

information collected is used to determine eligibility for program

participation and to monitor the program efficiency and effectiveness.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or

other for-profit; State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 48,060.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion: Monthly.

Total Burden Hours: 153,931.

Forest Service

Title: 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart A--Locatable Minerals.

OMB Control Number: 0596-0022.

Summary of Collection: The United States Mining Law of 1872, as

amended, governs the prospecting for and appropriation of metallic and

most nonmetallic minerals on 192 million acres of National Forest set

up by proclamation from the public domain. It gives individuals the

right to search for and extract valuable mineral deposits of locatable

minerals. Recording that claim in the local courthouse and with the

appropriate Bureau of Land Management (BLM) State Office affords

protection from subsequent locators. A mining claimant is entitled to

reasonable access to claim for further prospecting, mining or necessary

related activities, subject to the other laws and applicable

regulations. The purpose of the regulations at 36 CFR part 228, subpart

A, is to set some specific rules and procedures through which use of

the surface of National Forest System lands in connection with mineral

operations authorized by the United States mining laws shall be

conducted so as to minimize adverse environmental impacts on surface

resources. The Forest Service (FS) will collect information using form

FS2800-5, Plan of Operations for Mining Activities on National Forest

System Lands.

Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information

requirements for a Notice of Intent to identify the area involved; the

nature of the proposed operations; the route to the area of operations;

the method of transport. The information requirements for a Plan of

Operations includes: the name and legal mailing address of the

operators; a description of the type of operations proposed; a

description of how it would be conducted; a description of the type and

standard of existing/proposed roads/access routes; a description of the

means of transportation to be used; a description of the period during

which the proposed activity will take place; and measures to meet the

environmental protection requirements. The information requirements for

a cessation of operations include: verification to maintain the

structures, equipment and other facilities; expected reopening date;

estimate of extended duration of operations; maintenance of the site,

structures, equipment and other facilities during nonoperating periods.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 5,924.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (approved till operations

change).

Total Burden Hours: 4,462.

Rural Housing Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Farm Service Agency

Title: 7 CFR 1955-B, Management of Property.

OMB Control Number: 0575-0110.

Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Rural

Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) programs are administered under the

provisions of the Consolidated and Rural Development Act (CONACT), as

amended. FSA Farm Loan Program (FLP) provides supervised credit in the

form of loans to family farmers and ranchers to purchase land and

finance

[[Page 63020]]

agricultural production. The Rural Housing Service (RHS) provides

credit in the form of Multi-Family Housing loan and Community Facility

loans. The RBS program is designed to improve, develop or finance

business industry and employment and improve the economic and

environmental climate in rural communities. These agencies must collect

information on real property taken into custody and chattel property in

the agency's inventory.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA, RHS, and RBS collect

information to properly track and monitor real property and chattel

property used to secure loans.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or

other for-profit; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 1,637.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 1,245.

Farm Service Agency

Title: American Indian Livestock Feed Program.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0187.

Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Act of 1970 (7 U.S.C. 1427

(a)), section 813, gives the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to

relieve distress caused by a natural disaster by using funds from the

sale of commodities held in the disaster reserve. On December 17, 1997,

the Secretary announced there would be an American Indian Livestock

Feed Program (AILFP) and allocated $8 million from the sale of disaster

reserve stocks to fund the program. An additional $4.5 million was

subsequently added to the funds for a total of $12.5 million. The AILFP

will provide cash reimbursement to livestock owners who must purchase

feed to sustain their livestock as a result of a natural disaster.

Reimbursement will amount to either 30 percent of the Animal Unit Days

(AUD) times the AUD value for the crop year in which the disaster took

place, or the amount the owner spent to purchase the feed, whichever

amount is smaller. Livestock owners are required to provide receipts

substantiating their purchases. When the loss of livestock feed first

becomes noticeable in a region a tribal government representative will

contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Area Office and the Farm

Service Agency (FSA) State Office to get the names of representatives

from those agencies who will serve as members of a Survey Team. The

Survey Team will consist of a BIA representative, an FSA

representative, and at least one tribal representative. The Survey Team

will examine the conditions in the region and determine if a natural

disaster has had a detrimental effect on the availability of livestock

feed in the region, and if so, the team will estimate the loss. FSA

will collect information using several forms.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to

determine if the disaster region commended by the tribal government

meets the requirements of the regulations.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; State, Local

or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 45,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Other (when losses

occur).

Total Burden Hours: 22,563.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Livestock Indemnity Program (7 CFR 1439).

OMB Control Number: 0560-0179.

Summary of Collection: Under Pub. L. 105-18, the Secretary of

Agriculture is authorized to use up to $50 million from proceeds earned

from the sale of grain in the disaster reserve established in the

Agricultural Act of 1970 to implement a Livestock Indemnity Program.

The program will provide payments to producers with livestock and

poultry losses between October 1, 1996 and June 12, 1997, from natural

disasters which occurred between October 1, 1996 and June 12, 1997, for

which a Presidential or Secretarial Declaration was requested by June

12, 1997, and subsequently approved. Pub. L. 105-119 authorized an

additional $6 million to implement a Livestock Indemnity Program for

livestock and poultry losses beginning March 1, 1997, through November

26, 1997, from natural disasters which occurred beginning March 1,

through November 26, 1997, for which a Presidential or Secretarial

Declaration was requested between June 12, 1997, and December 1, 1997,

and subsequently approved. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will collect

information using form CCC-661 to establish eligibility for the

program.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information from

persons who suffered livestock or poultry losses to support their

reported pre-disaster inventory such as receipts for purchase of

livestock, poultry, or feed and loan documents, or any information that

may be available to verify their livestock or poultry possessions prior

to the reported loss. Evidence to support the number of losses such as

rendering receipts and a certification by the producer on CCC-661

regarding the accuracy of the information submitted. The information

collected will be used by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to

determine the eligibility and amount of assistance in accordance with

published regulations. Failure to make sound decisions in providing

livestock indemnity program payments, would result in inequitable

treatment of the livestock and poultry owners.

Description of Respondents: Farms.

Number of Respondents: 60,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 120,000.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Upland Cotton Domestic User/Exporter Agreement and Payment

Program.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0136.

Summary of Collection: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and

Reform Act of 1996 (the FAIR Act) provided that, during the period

beginning August 1, 1991, and ending July 31, 2003, if for any

consecutive 4-week period, the Friday through Thursday average price

quotation for the lowest price U.S. growth, as quoted for Middling (M)

one and three-thirty seconds inch cotton, delivered C.I.F. northern

Europe exceeds the Northern Europe price by more than 1.25 cents per

pound, the Secretary of Agriculture issue cash or commodity

certificates to domestic users for cotton consumed or for exporters for

exports made in the week following such consecutive 4-week period.

Participating exporters must submit form CCC-1045-1, Exporter

Application for Payment, or provide the same information in their own

format whenever they export cotton during a week in which a payment

rate is in effect. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will collect

information using form CCC-1045-1.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information from

form CCC-1045, Upland Cotton Domestic User/Exporter Agreement. The

agreement contains the terms and conditions for receiving payments and

outlines the responsibilities of the participants. Data collected on

the agreement documents are limited to the name of exporter, address of

recordkeeping office, and taxpayer ID. The agreement establishes basic

eligibility to participate in the program.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 230.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Weekly.

Total Burden Hours: 3,145.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Request for Aerial Photography.

[[Page 63021]]

OMB Control Number: 0560-0176.

Summary of Collection: The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Aerial

Photography Field Office (AFPO) has the authority to coordinate aerial

photography work in USDA, develop and carry out aerial photography and

remote sensing programs and the Agency's aerial photography flying

contract programs. Section 387 of the Agriculture Adjustment Act of

February 16, 1938, states ``The Secretary may furnish reproductions of

such aerial or other photographs, mosaics, and maps as have been

obtained in connection with the authorized work of the Department to

farmers and governmental agencies at the estimated cost of furnishing

such reproductions, and to persons other than farmers at such prices

(not less than estimated cost of furnishing such reproductions) and the

Secretary may determine, the money received from such sales to be

deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the appropriation charged

with the cost of making such reproductions.'' FSA will collect

information using FSA-441 form to determine the necessary customer and

photography information needed for the USDA FSA Aerial Photography

Field Office to produce and ship the various products ordered from our

office.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information on

the name, address, contact name, telephone, fax, e-mail, customer code,

agency code, purchase order number, credit card number/exp. date and

amount remitted/po amount. Customers have the option of placing orders

by mail, fax, telephone, walk-in or floppy disk. Furnishing this

information requires the customer to research and prepare their request

before submitting it to APFO.

Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households;

Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal

Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 12,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (when ordering).

Total Burden Hours: 8,000.

Rural Housing Service

Title: Form RD 1910-11, Application Certification, Federal

Collection Policies for Consumer or Commercial Debts.

OMB Control Number: 0575-0127.

Summary of Collection: The Rural Development (RD) implements the

requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-

129. OMB Circular A-129, ``Policies for Federal Credit programs and

Non-Tax Receivables provides direction as to how agencies should inform

its loan applicants of the Federal Government's debt collection

policies and procedures prior to extending credit. At the time an

application for a loan program is completed, the agency will ask the

applicant to sign a debt collection certification statement to certify

knowledge of the Government's policies. This statement details the

consequences of delinquency. Form RD 1910-11 uniformly advises

applicants of the debt collection methods that will and can be used in

recovering on delinquent or defaulted loans. RD will collect

information using Form RD 1910-11.

Need and Use of the Information: RD will collect information using

Form RD 1910-11 to advise applicants of the debt collection methods

that will and can be used in recovering on delinquent or defaulted

loans. The information will be obtained from loan applicants for

consumer and commercial debt at the time of loan application. If the

application results in a loan, the information will be maintained in

the borrower's case file or loan docket and used as documentation

should the borrower become delinquent or default.

Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government;

Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit

institutions; Farms; Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 1,565.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 392.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Power of Attorney.

OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.

Summary of Collection: The FSA-211, Power of Attorney and FSA-211-

1, Power of Attorney for Husband and Wife have been revised to provide

for authority for programs provided by the Federal Agriculture

Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The power of attorney

grants said attorney authority to act with respect to actions involving

Farm Service Agency (FSA), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and

Federal Crop Insurance (FCIC) insured crops. These forms provide a

service to producers who are not always able to be present to sign

documents. They save the producers the legal fees associated with

obtaining a power of attorney. FSA will collect information using form

FSA-211 and FSA-211-1.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information using

FSA-211, Power of Attorney to delegate authority to another person to

act for the producer with respect to actions under a variety of

programs administered by FSA and FSA-211-1, Power of Attorney for

Husband and Wife used by one spouse to grant signing authority for

another. Without a power of attorney a husband or wife may not be able

to sign documents on behalf of a spouse. These forms provide a service

to producers who are not always able to be present to sign documents.

Description of Respondents: Farms.

Number of Respondents: 500,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 150,000.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Title: Revolving Loan Funds Capitalized by USDA Rural Development.

OMB Control Number: 0570-0030.

Summary of Collection: The information to be collected under this

action involves three programs. The Intermediary Relending Program

(IRP) was authorized by Section 1323 of the Food Security Act of 1985

(7 U.S.C. 1932 note). The Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program is

authorized by section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural

Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932). The Rural Economic Development Grant

Program is authorized by Section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act

of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 940c). The Rural Business-Cooperative

Service (RBS), an agency within the Rural Development mission area of

the U.S. Department of Agriculture, operates several programs that

provide funds to organizations to be used for loans to third-party

recipients. The Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) provides long

term, low interest loans to nonprofit corporations, public agencies,

Indian tribes, and cooperatives to establish revolving loan funds to

finance businesses and community development projects in rural areas.

The Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program provides grant funds to

nonprofit and emerging private business enterprises in rural areas. The

Rural Economic Development Grant Program provides grants to electric

and telephone program borrowers of the Rural Utilities Service, for the

purpose of promoting rural economic development and job creation

projects. In each of these programs there is an organization, referred

to herein as an intermediary, that receives the Federal loan or grant

assistance, and uses that assistance to establish revolving funds to

make loan and grant assistance, to third parties, referred to herein as

ultimate recipients. RBS will collect information using an automated

data base of information created by Virginia Polytechnical University

on ultimate recipient loans.

[[Page 63022]]

Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect information to

analyze the feasibility of secondary market sales of the promissory

notes held by the intermediaries and to provide better measures and

more accurate and complete information for measuring program impact, in

accordance with the National Performance and Results Act.

Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business

or other for-profit; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 550.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 2,750.

Rural Housing Service

Title: 7 CFR 1901-E, Civil Rights Compliance Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 0575-0018.

Summary of Collection: Rural Development (RD) is required to

provide Federal financial assistance through its farmer, housing, and

community and business programs on an equal opportunity basis. The laws

implemented in 7 CFR 1901-E, require the recipients of Rural

Development's Federal financial assistance to collect various types of

information by race, color, and national origin. RD will collect

information using various RD forms.

Need and Use of the Information: RD will collect information on

race, color and national origin. RD will use this information to

monitor a recipient's compliance with the civil rights laws, and to

determine whether or not service and benefits are being provided to

beneficiaries on an equal opportunity basis. Without the required

information, RD and its recipient will lack the necessary documentation

to demonstrate that their programs are being administered in a

nondiscriminatory manner and in full compliance with the civil rights

laws.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or

other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; State, Local or

Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 19,565.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 533,017.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR 792 and 1403.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0146.

Summary of Collection: The Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966,

as revised by the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (DCIA) (31 U.S.C., 3711,

et seq.) requires each Federal agency to make aggressive action to

collect debts owed it, and to cooperate with other Federal agencies in

their debt collection activities. The DCIA of 1996 has increased the

aggressiveness required through the addition of mandated provisions to

ensure that all agencies are employing the most efficient and cost

effective procedures and methods to identify, report and collect

outstanding debts. In order for Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the

Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to carryout their responsibilities

under this statute, information must be obtained to ensure that the

Government will be able to collect, or otherwise settle, debts owed it

by any person, organization, corporation, or other legal entity. The

Federal Claims Collection Standards and the DCIA provided that if the

debtor is financially unable to pay the debt in one lump sum, payment

may be accepted in regular installments, that agencies should obtain

financial statements from debtors who represent that they are unable to

pay the debt in one lump sum, and that agencies which agree to accept

payment in regular installments should obtain a legally enforceable

written agreement from the debtor which specifies all of the terms of

the agreement. FSA and CCC will collect financial information and the

completion of a settlement agreement or promissory note from debtors

who are unable to pay their debts in one lump sum.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information on

the debtors assets, liabilities, income and expenses when a debtor

requests to enter into an installment agreement to settle their debt.

Based on that information a determination can be made on whether the

debtor can pay the debt in one lump sum or an installment is necessary.

Without this financial information FSA/CCC would have no method of

allowing debtor's to pay their debts in installments while still

ensuring that the government's financial interests are protected. Once

an installment request has been approved, a legally enforceable written

agreement incorporating the terms of payment is necessary to evidence

the agreement and allow for judicial enforcement if the debtor defaults

on the agreement. Form CCC-279 is executed as a promissory note in

these situations.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Farm;

Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 250.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 125.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Conservation and Environmental Programs--7 CFR 701.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0082.

Summary of Collection: The Conservation and Environmental Programs

Regulations at 7 CFR Part 701 set forth the basic policies, program

provisions, and eligibility requirements, as determined by the

Secretary, under which cost-sharing assistance will be made available

to eligible agricultural producers/landowners for carrying out approved

long-term conservation, forestry and emergency conservation measures.

The regulations include: (1) individual program goals and objectives;

(2) applicable program definitions; (3) procedures for program

development and implementation; (4) conditions for approvals, payments,

and completion of practices; and (5) general provisions to each

program. The Farm Service Agency (FSA), in cooperation with the Natural

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Forest (FS) and other

agencies and organizations, provides eligible producers and landowners,

cost-share incentives and technical assistance through several

interrelated conservation and environmental programs to help farmers,

ranchers and other eligible landowners and operators conserve soil,

improve water quality, maintain the fertility of the land, develop the

forests, and rehabilitate land damaged by natural disasters. The

programs included are Emergency Conservation Program (ECP),

Conservation Reserve Program (CFP), Forestry Incentives Program, and

Rural Clean Water Program (RCWP). Various forms are used to collect

information on the type of assistance required and to certify

completions so that cost-share payments can be received.

Need and Use of the Information: Information collected is used by

FSA offices to determine eligibility, calculate cost-share payments

earned by participants based on the information reported by the

applicant that is substantiated by the receipts or sales documents to

monitor compliance.

Description of Respondents: Farm.

Number of Respondents: 450,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting.

Total Burden Hours: 205,000.

Farm Service Agency

Title: General Regulations Governing Sugar Loans for 1996 and

Subsequent Crops--7 CFR part 1435.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0093.

Summary of Collection: Sugar loans are authorized by the Federal

Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996 FAIR Act),

[[Page 63023]]

Section 156 and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act

(Pub. L. 80-806). The loans to processors are made available through

CCC and implemented by regulations at 7 CFR 1435. The 1996 Act provides

the Secretary shall make available recourse or nonrecourse marketing

assistance loans on 1996 through 2002 crops of sugar beets and

sugarcane. The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of CCC, administers

recourse and nonrecourse loans for sugar. The type of loan, recourse or

nonrecourse, is determined by the level of tariff rate quotas for sugar

imports. CCC makes loans available to processors on eligible sugar

pledged as loan collateral. The sugar may be stored in approved farm

storage. Processors obtain loans on sugar processed from sugar beets

and sugar cane grown by eligible producers in the United States and

Puerto Rico. An eligible producer on a farm must have: (1) complied

with the highly erodible land requirements; (2) reported planted acres

for commodities applicable to loan requests; (3) met the applicable

crop insurance requirements; and (4) share in the risk of producing the

commodity. Eligible sugar must be processed and owned by the eligible

processor and stored in suitable storage. May not have been processed

from imported sugarcane, sugar beets, or molasses, and must have been

processed in the United States or Puerto Rico and must have processor

certification in the loan application that the sugar is eligible and

available to be pledged as collateral. FSA will collect information

using form SU-2, Application for Sugar Loan.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information on

the total capacity, storage location, crop years, commodity

lienholders, quantity, lot number and where the sugar was produced. The

information is used to determine the eligibility of the sugar and is

used to establish the quantity to be pledged as collateral for the

certified loan. Furnishing the data is voluntary, however, without it,

assistance under the CCC loan program cannot be provided.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 43.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly.

Total Burden Hours: 15.

Nancy Sternberg,

Departmental Information Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-30122 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-01-M