[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29720-29721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12521]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection: Volunteer Programs

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is seeking comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved 
information collection associated with the Volunteer Programs.

DATES: We will consider comment that we received by July 22, 2011.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comment, include volume, date and page number of this issue of the 
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
    E-mail: Send comments to: [email protected].
    Fax: (202) 205-9068.
    Mail: Ms. Janice Barnes, USDA, FSA, Human Resources Division, PAB--
Stop 0590, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0590.
    Comments also should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Janice Barnes, Human Resources 
Specialist, phone: (202) 401-0391.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Volunteer Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0232.
    Expiration Date for Approval: October 31, 2011.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: Section 1526 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1981 (7 
U.S.C. 2272) permits the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a 
program to use volunteers to perform a wide range of

[[Page 29721]]

activities to carry out the programs of, or supported by the Department 
of Agriculture. 5 U.S.C. 3111 grants agencies the authority to 
establish programs designed to provide educationally related work 
assignments for students in non-pay status. The volunteer program will 
provide a valuable service to the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
    In FSA volunteer program, each individual must follow the same 
responsibilities and guidelines to conduct to which Federal Government 
employees are expected to follow. The individuals, who are mainly 
students participating in the sponsored volunteer program, must 
complete the ``Service Agreement and Attendance Records,'' and other 
forms, with providing required supporting documents. The collected 
information is to allow FSA to effectively recruit, train, and accept 
volunteers to carry out programs supported by the Department of 
Agriculture.
    Without the collected information, FSA would be unable to document 
services without compensation in the program. FSA is reporting the 
collected information to the Department of Agriculture and the Office 
of Personnel Management that request information on volunteer programs.
    Estimate of Burden: The recordkeeping requirements in this request 
are normal business records and, therefore, have no burden. Public 
reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to 
average 15 minutes per response. The average travel time, which is 
included in the total annual burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per 
respondent.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.33.
    Estimated Total Annual Reponses: 80.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 30 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (4) 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.
    All comments in response to this notice, including names and 
addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. Comments 
will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 17, 2011.
Carolyn B. Cooksie,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-12521 Filed 5-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P