Agency information collection activities: Submission for OMB review; comment request,
[Federal Register: August 21, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 162)]
[Notices]
[Page 44828-44830]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au98-21]
Notices Federal Register
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
August 14, 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, 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. 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.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Title: 1998 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (FRIS) is an integral part of the 1997 Census of Agriculture and is conducted under the Authority of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-113). This law requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to conduct a Census of Agriculture in 1998 and every fifth year following 1998. Agricultural irrigation is the largest single use of available U.S. water supplies, accounting for more than two-thirds of all ground-water withdrawals and more than 84 percent of all consumptive uses. Therefore, high quality data on agricultural water use are needed to help public and private sector officials understand and manage this important national resource. NASS collects information using the FRIS.
Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information from the FRIS on acres irrigated by land use category, acres and yields of irrigated and nonirrigated crops, quantity of water applied and method of application to selected crops, acres irrigated and quantity of water used by source, acres irrigated by type of water distribution systems, and number of irrigation wells and pumps. The primary purpose of FRIS is to provide detailed data relating to on-farm irrigation activities for use in preparing a wide variety of water-related programs, economic models, legislative initiatives, market analyses, and feasibility studies. The absence of FRIS data would certainly affect irrigation policy decision.
Description of Respondents: Farms.
Number of Respondents: 20,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One time).
Total Burden Hours: 14,333.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Title: 1998 Census of Horticultural Specialties.
OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The census of horticultural specialties is one of a series of census special studies for the Census of Agriculture which provides more detailed statistics relating to a specific subject. The census of horticultural specialties is an integral part of the 1997 Census of Agriculture and is conducted under the authority of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-113). The law requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to conduct a Census of Agriculture in 1998 and every fifth year following 1998. Horticulture is one of the fastest growing segments in the agriculture sector. Horticultural crops are high value crops which farmers could grow to diversify their farming operations, but more information about them is needed. Horticultural operations are large consumers of pesticides and other chemicals, so research funding is critical to this industry to develop more effective horticultural chemicals or plants that are resistant to common diseases. NASS will collect information on horticulture using data from the census.
Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information on the number and value of plants grown and sold, the value of land, buildings, machinery and equipment, selected production expenses, irrigation, marketing channels, hired labor, area used for production, and type of structure. The primary objective of the horticultural specialties census is to obtain a comprehensive and detailed picture of the horticultural sector of the economy. Without the census of horticultural specialties, government policy makers and planners would lack valuable information needed to accomplish their missions.
Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 47,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One time).
Total Burden Hours: 48,371.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Title: Childhood Agricultural Injury.
OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) primary function is to prepare and issue State and National estimates of crop and livestock production. NASS has been asked by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to conduct a childhood agricultural injury study. Injuries to children living, working, or visiting farms are the focus of a special NIOSH
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initiative directed by Congress. A major problem in planning injury prevention programs for these children is the lack of surveillance data, especially for those injuries that are nonfatal. For the study, an injury is defined as any condition that results in one-half day or more of restricted activity (child missed school, could not perform normal activities, missed work). A childhood agricultural injury is defined as any injury meeting this definition that occurred on the farm property (including homestead), or occurred while performing work, either on the farm or off the farm, associated with the farm business. NASS will collect information using a survey.
Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information on the estimates of annual childhood agricultural injury incidence rates, annual injury frequencies, and descriptive injury information for children living on, working on, or visiting on farming operations in the United States. Data from the survey will provide a source of consistent information which NIOSH can effectively target funds appropriated by Congress for the prevention of childhood agricultural injuries.
Description of Respondents: Farms.
Number of Respondents: 42,500.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One time).
Total Burden Hours: 2,125.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Title: Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System.
OMB Control Number: 0583-0103.
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) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451). These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by ensuring the meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. FSIS has begun to build the principle of prevention into its inspection program and requires regulated establishments to prepare operating plans and continuously report performance against the plans.
Need and Use of the Information: Information will be collected from establishments as proof that standard operating plans have been developed. Additionally, information must be reported and pertinent records maintained on the occurrence and numbers of pathogenic microorganisms on meat and poultry products. FSIS will use this information during the inspection process and to determine whether an establishment should change its operating procedures so that the public's health is protected.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 7,374.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Other (daily).
Total Burden Hours: 30,686.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: 7 CFR 319.76 Exotic Bee Diseases and Parasites, 7 CFR 322 Honeybees and Honeybee Semen.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0072.
Summary of Collection: The Honeybee Act of 1922 (Title 7, Chapter 11) was created to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases and parasites harmful to honeybees, and the introduction of genetically undesirable plasm of honeybees. The introduction and establishment of new honeybee diseases, parasites, and undesirable honeybee strains in the United States could cause multimillion dollar losses to American agriculture. Diseases and parasites can weaken or kill honeybees, thereby causing substantial reductions in the production of honey and other honeybee products, as well as a reduction in pollination activity. Section 281c of the Honeybee Act provides that honeybees and honeybee semen can only be imported into the United States under rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Anyone who seeks to import honeybees, honeybee semen, or articles that could harbor diseases or parasites of honeybees must apply to APHIS for an import permit. APHIS will collect various pieces of information concerning the nature and point of origin of the items to be imported using a number of forms and documents.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS collects information from importers such as name, address, telephone number; the quantity and kinds of articles intended for import; the amount of semen to be imported; the species or subspecies of honeybee from which the semen was collected; the country or locality or origin; the intended port of entry in the United States; the means of transportation; and the expected date of arrival. The information is needed to determine if the honeybee semen or restricted articles are eligible for importation into the United States, and under what conditions (i.e., necessary treatment, appropriate shipping containers, proper port of entry, etc.).
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or households; Farms; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 91.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 31.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Requisition for Food Coupon Books.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0022.
Summary of Collection: The Food Stamp Act of 1977 requires the Secretary and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to prescribe appropriate procedures for the delivery of food coupon books to coupon issuers and for the subsequent controls to be placed over such coupons by coupon issuers in order to ensure adequate accountability. The regulations at 7 CFR 274.7 and 274.8 require State agencies to establish coupon inventory management systems which include proper control and security procedures, procedures for ordering coupon books and shipping books within the State. These procedures also provide an orderly mechanism for States to order new supplies of food coupon books. FNS will collect information using Form FNS-260, Requisition of Food Coupon Books, to determine what State needs additional coupon books and the details of their order.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS collects information to determine how many coupon books to order, what denominations and when to order more coupon books in order to provide State agencies with inventories that will be adequate to issue program benefits to households on a monthly basis.
Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 1,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 3,000.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0026.
Summary of Collection: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, was enacted on August 22, 1996. This statute amended the National School Lunch Act to remove all references to the automatic free meal eligibility of children from assistance units receiving benefits under Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). In its
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place, Congress established automatic eligibility for children receiving benefits under the State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (generally known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)), provided that the eligibility criteria for the state's TANF program are comparable to or more restrictive than the standards for the AFDC program it replaced. Because States have latitude in the way they administer TANF, the Secretary is requesting State agencies, in cooperation with the agency administering TANF, to make comparison and inform the Secretary of their determination.
Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requiring each State agency to notify the appropriate FNS regional office, in writing, whether the TANF program in their State is comparable to or more restrictive than their AFDC program, and indicate the information used to make the comparison. This information is required in order to facilitate the delivery of Federal benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Not-for- profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 4,260,648.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Biennially; Annually; Other (Triennially).
Total Burden Hours: 1,028,149.
Risk Management Agency
Title: Multiple Peril Crop Insurance.
OMB Control Number: 0563-0053.
Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) provides for a nationwide crop insurance program. The Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended in 1994 and 1996, established the crop insurance program to be the principal tool for risk management by producers of farm products. The current regulations and insurance provisions require the collection of a wide range of information through various forms that are categorized as either sales documents or notices of damage and claim. The information collected is used in part to establish insurance coverage, premiums, payments, indemnities and allow for other program and administrative operations. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) on behalf of FCIC is proposing to modify regulations implementing the Grape Crop Insurance Provisions. The proposed changes will (1) allow grape producers in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to select one price election and one coverage level for each varietal group specified in the Special Provisions; and (2) provide year-round coverage in California, Idaho, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas and Washington for insureds with no break in coverage from the prior crop year. No changes are proposed to the existing forms and no additional burden is anticipated due to these proposed changes.
Need and Use of the Information: The current regulations and insurance provisions require the collection of a wide range of information that is used to in part to establish insurance coverage, premiums, payments, indemnities and allow for other program and administrative operations. This information is also used to create an information data base to support continued development and improvements in crop insurance products available to producers and to strengthen the insurance program overall.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 4,514.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 1,092,849.
Risk Management Agency
Title: Multiple Peril Crop Insurance.
OMB Control Number: 0563-0053.
Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) provides for a nationwide crop insurance program. The Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended in 1994 and 1996, established the crop insurance program to be the principal tool for risk management by producers of farm products. The current regulations and insurance provisions require the collection of a wide range of information through various forms that are categorized as either sales documents or notices of damage and claim. The information collected is used in part to establish insurance coverage, premiums, payments, indemnities and allow for other program and administrative operations. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) on behalf of FCIC is proposing to modify regulations implementing the Cotton and ELS Cotton Crop Insurance Provisions. The proposed changes will (1) provide a replant payment; (2) revise the provision used to determine the amount of production to count for cotton and ELS cotton that is eligible for quality adjustments; and (3) provide a prevented planting coverage level of 50 percent for cotton and ELS cotton for the 1999 and subsequent crop years. The burden associated with this collection will decrease due to fewer insured and respondents.
Need and Use of the Information: The current regulations and insurance provisions require the collection of a wide range of information that is used to in part to establish insurance coverage, premiums, payments, indemnities and allow for other program and administrative operations. This information is also used to create an information data base to support continued development and improvements in crop insurance products available to producers and to strengthen the insurance program overall.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 1,599,244.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeping; reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 1,126,103. Nancy Sternberg, Departmental Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-22521Filed8-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
