[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 152 (Friday, August 7, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 42361-42363] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-21116] ======================================================================== 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. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 152 / Friday, August 7, 1998 / Notices [[Page 42361]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request August 3, 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. Agricultural Marketing Service Title: Customer Service Survey for USDA--Donated Food Products. OMB Control Number: 0581-NEW. Summary of Collection: Each year the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) procures about $700 million of poultry, livestock, fruit, and vegetable products for the school lunch and other domestic feeding programs under authority of 7 CFR 250, Regulations for the Donation of Foods for Use in the United States, its Territories and Possessions and Areas Under its Jurisdiction. To maintain and improve the quality of these products, AMS has sought to make this process more customer- driven and therefore is seeking opinions from the users of these products. AMS will use AMS-11, ``Customer Opinion Postcard,'' to collect information. Customers that use USDA-procured commodities to prepare and serve meals retrieve these cards from the boxes and use them to rate their perception of product flavor, texture, and appearance as well as overall satisfaction. Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information on the product type, production lot, and identity and type of facility in which the product was served. USDA program managers will use survey responses to maintain and improve product quality through the revision of USDA commodity specifications and follow-up action with producers of designated production lots. Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; Not- for-profit institutions. Number of Respondents: 8,400. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 700. National Agricultural Statistical Service Title: Field Crops Production. OMB Control Number: 0535-0002. Summary of Collection: One of the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) primary functions is to prepare and issue current state and national estimates of crop production. To help set these estimates, field crops production data is collected. NASS will collect information through the use of mail, telephone, and personnel interview surveys. Need and Use of the Information: NASS collects information on field crops to monitor agricultural developments across the country which may impact on the nation's food supply. The Secretary of Agriculture uses estimates of crop production to administer farm program legislation and to make decisions relative to the export-import programs. Description of Respondents: Farms, Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 327,207. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Semi-annually; Annually. Total Burden Hours: 119,350. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Title: Swine Health Protection. OMB Control Number: 0579-0065. Summary of Collection: Title 21, U.S.C. authorizes the Secretary and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to prevent, control and eliminate domestic diseases, as well as to take actions to prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as hog cholera, foot-and- mouth disease, and other foreign diseases. Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing our ability to compete in the world market of animals and animal products trade. Garbage is one of the primary media through which numerous infections or communicable diseases of swine are transmitted. The Act and the regulations will allow only operators of garbage treatment facilities which meet certain specifications to utilize garbage for swine feeding. APHIS will use various forms to collect information on garbage treatment facilities and their operating practices. Need and Use of the Information: APHIS collects information from persons desiring to obtain a permit (license) to operate a facility to treat garbage. Prior to issuance of a license, an inspection will be made of the facility by an authorized representative to determine if it meets all requirements of the regulations. Periodic inspections will be made to determine if licenses are meeting the standards for operation of their approved facilities. Upon receipt of the information from the Public Health Officials, the information is used by Federal or State animal health personnel to determine whether the waste collector is feeding garbage to swine, whether it is being treated, and [[Page 42362]] whether the feeder is licensed or needs to be licensed. Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 264. Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 584. Rural Housing Service Title: 7 CFR Part 1951-F, Analyzing Credit Needs and Graduation of Borrowers. OMB Control Number: 0575-0093. Summary of Collection: Section 333 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and Section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949, require the Rural Housing Service (RHS), the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to graduate their direct loan borrowers to other credit when they are able to do so. Graduation is an integral part of Agency lending, as Government loans are not meant to be extended beyond a borrower's need for subsidized rates or non-market terms. The notes, security instruments, or loan agreements of most borrowers require borrowers to refinance their Agency loans when other credit becomes available at reasonable rates and terms. If a borrower finds other credit is not available at reasonable rates and terms, the Agency will continue to review the borrower for possible graduation at periodic intervals. Information will be collected from the borrowers concerning their loans. Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will include financial data such as amount of income, farm operating expenses, asset values, and liabilities. The information collected is submitted by FSA, RBS, or RHS borrowers to Agency offices. The information will be used in the Agency's efforts to graduate direct borrowers to private credit with or without the use of Agency loan guarantees. Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Farms; State, Local or Tribal Government. Number of Respondents: 22,512. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually. Total Burden Hours: 91,538. Farm Service Agency Title: Dairy Indemnity Payment Program--7 CFR Part 769. OMB Control Number: 0560-0116. Summary of Collection: The Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) was originally authorized by Section 331 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1967 (78 State. 508). This program indemnifies dairy producers and manufacturers in dollars based on milk they would have marketed if the public agency had not removed their milk or milk products from the commercial market. The DIPP indemnifies dairy farmers and manufacturers of dairy products who, suffer income losses with respect to milk or milk products removed from commercial markets because such milk or milk products contain certain harmful residues, chemicals, or contamination by nuclear radiation or fallout. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will use form FSA-373 (Application for Indemnity Payment) to collect information to determine the amount of loss a dairy farmer or manufacturer has incurred due to contamination by pesticides, toxic substances, nuclear radiation or fallout. Need and Use of the Information: FSA collects information from the producer and milk handler to determine the amount of the producer's indemnity payment. Without the information, FSA would not know the extent of a dairy farmer's loss and indemnity payments could not be approved. Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 80. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly. Total Burden Hours: 140. Farm Service Agency Title: Servicing of Real Estate Security and Certain Note Only Cases--7 CFR Part 1965A. OMB Control Number: 0560-0158. Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Farm Loan Program (FLP) provides supervised credit in the form of loans to family farmers and ranchers to purchase land and finance agricultural production. This regulation is promulgated to implement selected provisions of sections 331 and 335 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [P.L. 87-128 as amended through P.L. 104-130]. Section 331 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to grant releases from personal liability where security property is transferred to approved applicants who, under agreement, assume the outstanding secured indebtedness. That section also authorizes the Secretary to grant partial releases and subordinations of mortgages, subject to certain conditions, and to consent to leases of security and transfer of security property. Section 335 provides servicing authority for real estate security; operation or lease of realty; disposition of surplus property; conveyance of complete interest of the United States; easements; and condemnation. Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information through the use of several forms and information that is related to a program benefit recipient or loan borrower requesting action on security which they own, which was purchased with FSA loan funds, improved with FSA loan funds or has otherwise been mortgaged to the Agency to secure a government loan. This regulation is now used solely by the Farm Loan Programs of the Farm Service Agency. It prescribes policies and procedures for servicing real estate, leaseholds, and certain note-only security for FSA farm loans. Servicing will be carried out in accordance with the security instruments and related agreements, including any authorized modifications, providing the borrower has: (a) a reasonable prospect of accomplishing the loan objectives, (b) properly maintains and account for the security, and (c) otherwise meets the loan obligation. Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 15,226. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 6,421. Rural Housing Service Title: Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program handbook in Support of 7 CFR Part 3565. OMB Control Number: 0575-NEW. Summary of Collection: On March 28, 1996, President Clinton signed the ``Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996.'' One of the provisions of the Act was adding the authorization of the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) to the Housing Act of 1949. The purpose of the GRRHP is to increase the supply of affordable rural rental housing through the use of loan guarantees that encourage partnerships between the Rural Housing Service (RHS), private lenders and public agencies. Under the program, RHS will provide credit enhancements to encourage private and public lenders to make new loans for affordable rental properties that meet program standards. RHS will approve qualified lenders to participate and will monitor lender performance to ensure program requirements are met. Need and Use of the Information: RHS will use information from the GRRHP Handbook to provide lenders and Agency staff with guidance on the [[Page 42363]] origination and servicing of GRRHP loans and the approval of qualified lenders. RHS will collect information to manage, plan, evaluate, and account for Government resources in conjunction with the Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program. The information collected is necessary to ensure the proper and judicious use of public funds. Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for- profit institutions. Number of Respondents: 50. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; Monthly; Annually. Total Burden Hours: 854.75. Emergency approval for this information collection has been requested by August 7, 1998. 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. Nancy Sternberg, Departmental Information Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 98-21116 Filed 8-6-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-01-M