Meetings: Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
[Federal Register: July 10, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 132)]
[Notices]
[Page 37315-37316]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jy98-28]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection for the Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP)
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comments.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service announces its intent to seek extension of the approval of an existing information collection authorized under Office of Management and Budget number 0596-0120. Several Forest Service information collection forms are approved under this authorization number: SIP 36, Assignment of Payment; SIP 211, Power of Attorney; SIP 211-1, Power of Attorney for Husband and Wife; and SIP 502, Payment Limitation Review. Non-industrial private forest owners complete these forms to participate in the Forest Service State and Private Forestry Stewardship Incentive Program.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 8, 1998.
ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Stewardship Coordinator, Cooperative Forestry Staff, mail stop 1123, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, D.C. 20090-6090.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Stein, Cooperative Forestry Staff, at (202) 205-0837.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service is seeking extension of the approval of an existing information collection authorized under Office of Management and Budget number 0596-0120. Several Forest Service information collection forms are approved under this authorization number: SIP 36, Assignment of Payment; SIP 211, Power of Attorney; SIP 211-1, Power of Attorney for Husband and Wife; and SIP 502, Payment Limitation Review. An additional form, AD-245, SIP Request for Cost-Shares, formerly named SIP 245, SIP Request for Cost-Shares, also must be completed by non-industrial private forest owners. A separate request for extension of approval of form AD-245 is being processed by the Farm Service Agency departmental request for extensions of information collections authorized under Office of Management and Budget approval number 0560-0082. The Forest Service and the Farm Service Agency cooperatively administer the Forest Service State and Private Forestry Stewardship Incentive Program.
Non-industrial private forest owners complete these forms to participate in the Forest Service State and Private Forestry Stewardship Incentive Program. The collected information identifies 1) the Stewardship Incentive Program assignment of payment, 2) Internal Revenue Service income
[[Page 37316]]
reporting requirements for participants; and 3) the participants' delegated Power of Attorney.
All collected information is used by the Forest Service and the Farm Service Agency to facilitate non-industrial private forest owner participation in the Forest Service State and Private Forestry Stewardship Incentive Program.
Data gathered in this information collection is not available from other sources.
Description of Information Collection
The following describes the information collection to be extended:
Title: SIP 36, Assignment of Payment.
OMB Number: 0596-0120.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1998.
Type of request: Extension of a previously approved information collection.
Abstract: Non-industrial private forest owners complete SIP 36, Assignment of Payment, when they want to assign a cost-share payment to a third party. The information requested includes the payment amount assigned and the names, addresses, and signatures of the assignor and the assignee.
Estimate of burden. 10 minutes.
Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
Estimated number of respondents: 20,000.
Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,333 hours.
Description of Information Collection
The following describes the information collection to be extended:
Title: SIP 211, Power of Attorney.
OMB Number: 0596-0120.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1998.
Type of request: Extension of a previously approved information collection.
Abstract: The non-industrial private forest landowner completes SIP 211, Power of Attorney, to grant a power of attorney. The landowner indicates on this form whether the Power of Attorney is being granted for (1) all actions, (2) the signing of an application, (3) the receiving of payments, (4) the pledge of agreements, (5) the making of reports, or (6) ``other.'' It is signed by the landowner and witnesses.
Estimate of burden: 5 minutes.
Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
Estimated number of respondents: 20,000.
Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,667 hours.
Description of Information Collection
The following describes the information collection to be extended:
Title: SIP 211-1, Power of Attorney for Husband and Wife.
OMB Number: 0596-0120.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1998.
Type of request: Extension of a previously approved information collection.
Abstract: Participants, who are husband and wife and who wish to grant each other a Power of Attorney, must complete SIP 211-1, Power of Attorney for Husband and Wife. Both the husband and wife print and sign their names on the form.
Estimate of burden: 5 minutes.
Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
Estimated number of respondents: 20,000.
Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,667 hours.
Description of Information Collection
The following describes the information collection to be extended:
Title: SIP 502, Payment Limitation Review.
OMB Number: 0596-0120.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1998.
Type of request: Extension of a previously approved information collection.
Abstract: To ensure they have not exceeded the cost-share payment limit for a fiscal year, non-industrial private forest owners complete SIP 502, Payment Limitation Review. A landowner is not allowed to receive more than $10,000 in Stewardship Incentive Program cost-share payments in a single fiscal year. Program participants provide their name and address, entity identification number, and the date the entity was formed. They also indicate whether they are an individual, an irrevocable trust, a revocable trust, a corporation, a limited partnership, a general partnership, a joint venture, an estate, or ``other.'' Participants also list all stockholders, members, heirs, or beneficiaries having an interest in the entity.
Estimate of burden: 25 minutes.
Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
Estimated number of respondents: 20,000.
Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1 per form.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 8,333 hours.
Comment is Invited
The agency invites comments on the following: (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 the 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 the respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Use of comments
All comments received in response to this notice, including name and address when provided, will become a matter of public record. Comments received in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: July 1, 1998. Robert Lewis, Jr., Acting Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 98-18431Filed7-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
