[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 240 (Thursday, December 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74167-74168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30020]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection Request: Highly Erodible Land Conservation 
and Wetland Conservation

AGENCIES:  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 Highly Erodible Land 
Conservation and Wetland Conservation certification requirements. This 
information is collected in support of the conservation compliance 
provisions of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (the 1985 Farm 
Bill), as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
(the 2008 Farm Bill).

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by February 11, 2013.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include date, volume, and page number of this issue of the 
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Daniel McGlynn, Deputy Director, Production, 
Emergencies, and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0517.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,

[[Page 74168]]

Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan McGlynn, (202) 720-3463.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation 
Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0185.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2013.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The collection of this information is necessary to 
determine payment eligibility of individuals and entities for various 
programs administered by the USDA, including Conservation Programs, 
Price Support Programs, Direct and Counter Cyclical Programs, including 
the Average Crop Revenue Election Program, Aquaculture and Livestock 
Grant Programs, Crop and Livestock Energy Programs, USDA Revenue 
Programs, Wildlife Programs, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance 
Program, Disaster Programs and Farm Loan Programs. Regulations 
governing the requirements under Title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801-3862), as amended by the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (see Pub. L. 110-246, Title II, Subtitle A), 
relating to highly erodible lands and wetlands are in 7 CFR part 12. In 
order to ensure that persons who request program benefits subject to 
conservation restrictions obtain the necessary technical assistance and 
are informed regarding compliance requirements on their land, 
information is collected with regard to their intended activities on 
their land which could affect their eligibility for requested USDA 
benefits. Once technical determinations are made, producers are 
required to certify that they will comply with conservation 
requirements on their land to maintain their eligibility for certain 
programs. Persons may request that certain activities be exempt 
according to provisions of the 1985 Farm Bill. Information is collected 
from those individuals who seek these exemptions for the purpose of 
evaluating whether the exempted conditions will be met. Forms AD-1026, 
AD-1026B, AD-1026C, AD-1026D, AD-1068, AD-1069, CCC-21, and FSA-492 are 
being used for making determinations in this information collection. 
The forms are not required to be completed on an annual basis.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response. The 
average travel time, which is included in the total annual burden, is 
estimated to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Individuals and entities.
    Estimated Number Respondents: 262,788.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 262,346.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Determine whether the continued collection of information is 
still necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Assess the accuracy of the FSA'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; and
    (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 received 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 submission for the 
Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Signed on November 27, 2012.
Juan M. Garcia,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-30020 Filed 12-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P