Agency information collection activities: Submission for OMB review; comment request,
[Federal Register: September 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 175)]
[Notices]
[Page 49142-49145]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10se99-46]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
September 3, 1999.
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, D.C. 20503 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, D.C. 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification.
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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.
The Assistant Secretary for Administration, Office of Outreach
Title: Small Farmer Outreach, Training and Technical Assistance.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0163.
Summary of Collection: The Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, title XXV, section 2501 and the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Acts provides funding for the Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program, and the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program. These Acts provide the Office of Outreach with the authority to make grants and enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements with entities to provide outreach, training, and technical assistance; to encourage and assist small limited resource and economically/socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches; and to increase their participation and accessibility to agricultural programs. Information is collected from organizations who wish to apply for grants. After a grant is awarded, additional information regarding the status of each project must be supplied to the Office of Outreach.
Need and Use of the Information: Information is collected from organizations applying for training and assistance grants to determine eligibility and experience and to evaluate the proposed projects against the goals of the outreach program. Once a grant is awarded, the Office of Outreach uses project reports and other information to ensure that the projects are performing well and achieving the desired goals.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 150.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly; Monthly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 5,888.
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Title: Survey for Local Cooperatives' Role in the Emerging Grain and Feed Industries.
OMB Control Number: 0570-0032.
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 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 Burdenhours: 800.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Peanut Quota for 1996 through 2002 Crops--7 CFR 729 & 1446.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0006.
Summary of Collection: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 amended the Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, and the Agriculture Act of 1949, as amended which authorized the peanut program. The 1996 Act changed the peanut poundage quota program by reducing the national quota, providing temporary seed quota allocation, removing the carryover of undermarked quota, allowing for the transfer of peanut poundage quota to any other farm within the same State and providing for increasing marketing assessments under certain conditions to cover losses in area marketing pools. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using various forms to determine peanut marketing activity and process quota allocations.
Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to monitor and control compliance with the peanut program as outlined in CFR parts 729 and 1446. If the information is not monitored and data not required, the peanut program could not operate and the Act would not be implemented as required by Congress.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Individuals or households; Federal Government.
Number of Respondents: 50,000.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Weekly; Monthly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 301,690.
Forest Service
Title: Meeting National Forest Recreationists' Needs through a Customer Service Paradigm.
OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended: 16 U.S.C. 1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective use. Users of urban proximate National Forest wildland areas come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, educational, and other socio- demograpic categories. Forest Service (FS) personnel will conduct a study to gain a better understanding of how residents living in an urban environment close to National Forest Systems lands, get or receive information about the recreational opportunities on these land. FS will collect information using mail-in questionnaries, telephone interviews, and face-to-face interviews.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The information will be used to assist resource managers in their
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effective management of recreation activities in the region studied. In addition, the Wildlife Recreation and Urban Cultures Project will used the data to further analyze scientific issues involved, and expand its information base on visitor characteristics, customer service, and management of high quality recreation opportunities. If the information is not collected resource managers will have to make visitor based decisions on very limited, potentially biased, or non-existent information.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 365.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 103.
Forest Service
Title: Communication and Interpretation For Urban Proximate Forest Visitors
OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended: 16 U.S.C. 1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective use. Users of urban proximate National Forest wildland areas come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, educational, and other socio- demograpic categories. Forest Service (FS) personnel will conduct a study to further their understanding of recreationists' needs by applying and improving on existing interpretation and communication practices. A direct benefit to the affected public is anticipated through improvements in communications and interpretative services, more informed recreation management decisions, and increased attention to the diverse customers served by the National Forests. FS will collect information using mail-in questionnaries, telephone interviews, and face-to-face interviews.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The information will be used to assist resource managers in expanding their information base on communication with visitors, and promote the management of high quality recreation. If the information is not collected resource managers will have to make visitor based decisions on very limited, potentially biased, or non-existent information.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 515.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 145.
Forest Service
Title: Recreation on the San Gabriel Canyon Study.
OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective use. Users of urban proximate San Gabriel Canyon come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, educational, and other socio-demographic categories. The activities pursued, information sources utilized, and site attributes preferred are just some of the items affected by these differences. There is no literature available about use along the entire watershed which includes other areas of the East and West Forks as well as use of the North Fork. Forest Service (FS) personnel will conduct a study to enable more effecive management of the watershed. A direct benefit to the affected public is anticipated through improvements in customer service, more informed recreation management decisions, and increased attention to the diverse customers served by the National Forests. FS will collect information using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The information will be used to assist resource managers in their effective management of recreation activities in the San Gabriel Canyon. If the information is not collected resource managers will have to make visitor based decisions on very limited, potentially biased, or non- existent information.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 400.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 100.
Forest Service
Title: Recreational and Management Preferences Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1600 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective use. Users of urban proximate National Forest wildland areas come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, education, and other socio-demographic categories. The activities pursued, opinions about threatened and endangered species, preferred management approaches, and degree of trust in the agency are just some of the items affected by these differences. Additional challenges include increases in the number of visitors to recreation areas, and an increasing need to protect species and develop effective interventions to address recreational impacts. Without this study the Forest Service (FS) personnel in the southern province will be ill-equipped to handle management changes required to address recreational impacts and protect plant and animals species. A direct benefit to the affected public is anticipated through improvements in customer service, more informed recreation management decisions, and increased attentiont o the diverse customers served by the National Forests. FS will collect information using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The information will be used to assist resource managers in their effective management of recreation activities in the region studied. Also, the information will provide further knowledge, from the perspective of the recreating public, on how species and their management are viewed. If the information is not collected resource managers will have to make species management decisions without the views of the recreating public, who will be impacted by many of those choices.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 1,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 250.
Forest Service
Title: The Day Use Study.
OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products,
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including recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective use. Users of urban proximate National Forests in Southern California come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, educational, and other socio-demographic categories. The activities pursued, sources utilized, and site attributes preferred are just some of the items affected by these differences. Additional information is needed for the managers of the National Forests in Southern California, in part to validate results and in part because of the continuously changing visitor population recreating on the National Forests of Southern California. Without this study the Forest Service (FS) personnel will be ill-equipped to handle management changes required in response to visitor needs and preferences. A direct benefit to the affected public is anticipated through improvements in customer service, more informed recreation management decisions, and increased attention to the diverse customers served by the National Forests. FS will collect information using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The information will be used to assist resource managers in their effective management of recreation activities in the region studied. The Wildland Recreation and Urban Cultures Project will use the information to further expand its information base on visitor characteristics, communication, and mitigation of depreciative behaviors, such as vandalism. If the information is not collected resource managers will have to make species management decisions without the views of the recreating public, who will be impacted by many of those choices.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 600.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 150.
Forest Service
Title: Recreational Participation and Environmental Activity Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective use. Users or urban proximate National Forest wildland, regional parks, and state recreation areas come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, educational, and other socio-demographic categories. The activities pursued, amount of recreational participation overall, environmentally focused activities, and preferred site features are just some of the items affected by these differences. Without this study the Forest Service (FS) personnel in the southern province will be less-equipped to address recreational impacts and to understand what role recreation plays in environmental activities. A direct benefit to the affected public is anticipated through improvements in customer service, more informed recreation management decisions, and increased attention to the diverse customers served by the National Forests. FS will collect information using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on socio-demographic characteristics of visitors including ethnic identity, visitation history and activities, annual recreational patterns, environmentally focused activities on-site and in the home, and preferred site features. The information will be used to further expand its information base on visitor characteristics, the role of ethnicity in environmental action and preferred site development, and the role of recreation in environmental. If the information is not collected resource managers will have to make species management decisions without the views of the recreating public, who will be impacted by many of those choices.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 500.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 125. Barbara LaCour, Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-23495Filed9-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
