[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4329-4330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2218]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Request for Revisions of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the intentions of the Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) to revise a currently approved information collection for
Landholders' Certification and Reporting Forms for Acreage Limitation.
Because of recent changes to the Acreage Limitation Rules and
Regulations (43 CFR Part 426), revisions are needed to the forms and
burden hours. The revisions would be included on the forms starting
with those distributed for the 1998 water year.
Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
Reclamation, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of Reclamation's estimated burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 31, 1997 to be
assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
[[Page 4330]]
Copies of the proposed revised forms are available by submitting a
written request to the Bureau of Reclamation, D-5200, P.O. Box 25007,
Denver, Colorado 80225-0007 or by calling (303) 236-1061, extension
293. Written comments are to be submitted to Reclamation at the above
address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Landholders' Certification and Reporting Forms for Acreage
Limitation, 43 CFR Part 426.
OMB Approval Number: 1006-0005.
Abstract: This information collection requires certain landholders
(landowners and lessees) to complete forms demonstrating their
compliance with the acreage limitation provisions of reclamation law.
The forms establish each landholder's status with respect to
landownership limitations, full-cost pricing thresholds, lease
requirements, and other provisions of reclamation law. In addition,
primarily through the submittal for these forms, Reclamation becomes
aware of other documents to request for review from landholders and
other parties, including but not limited to: leases, farm operating
agreements, trusts, documents creating entities, etc. The review of
these additional documents is performed to help determine the acreage
limitation status and entitlements of landholders, and their westwide
landholdings.
Frequency: Annually.
Respondents: Owners and lessees of land on Federal Reclamation
projects whose landholding exceed specified thresholds.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.35 hours per response.
Estimated number of Respondents: 32,100.
Estimated number of Responses per Respondent: 1.02.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 32,750.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 11,500.
Specific Changes
1. The forms submittal threshold for qualified recipients changed
on January 1, 1997, from 40 acres to 80 or 240 acres depending on each
district's Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (RRA) forms submittal
category. This change will be reflected on the instructions for the
following forms: Forms 7-2180, 7,2180EZ, 7-2181, 7-2184, and 7-21TRUST.
In addition, information on the RRA forms submittal threshold
categories is presented on Form 7-21INFO. This change in the RRA forms
submittal threshold resulted in the reduction in burden hours reflected
above.
2. The requirement for reporting landholding changes will be
revised on January 1, 1998, from 15 to 30 days for district
notification and from 30 to 60 days for the submittal of new
certification or reporting forms. This change will be reflected on the
following forms and associated instructions: Forms 7-2180, 7-2180EZ, 7-
2181, 7-2184, 7-2190, 7-2190EZ, 7-2191, 7-2194, 7-21PE, 7-21TRUST, and
7-21VERIFY. In addition, this information is included on Form 7-21INFO.
3. Nonresident aliens will be required to indicate the country of
which they are a citizen on Forms 7-2180, 7-2180EZ, 7-2190, and 7-
2190EZ. This change to the information collection is also reflected on
the associated instructions. Nonresident aliens will also be asked to
provide proof of citizenship as part of their RRA forms submittal for
the 1998 water year or on their initial submittal of RRA forms,
whichever occurs first.
4. Entities that have not been established under State or Federal
law will be required to indicate the country in which they are
established on Forms 7-2181, 7-2184, 7-2191, and 7-2194. This change to
the information collection is also reflected on the associated
instructions. The same requirement will be included on Form 7-21TRUST,
for trusts that have not been established under State or Federal law.
Foreign entities and foreign trusts will be asked to provide
documentation verifying they are established in the country indicated
as part of their RRA forms submittal for the 1998 water year or on
their initial submittal of RRA forms, whichever occurs later.
5. As of January 1, 1998, limited recipients will only need to list
all part owners whose attribution of land from their interest in the
limited recipient results in more than 40 acres. Currently, the actual
level of interest owned in the entity (more than 4 percent) is also a
criterion. This change will be reflected on Forms 7-2181 and 7-2191,
and the associated instructions.
6. The option for public entities to use verification forms if
certain criteria are met will be included on the instructions for Form
7-21PE. This was not an available option for public entities during the
1997 water year. The note on the instructions for Form 7-21VERIFY that
states public entities cannot use that form for the 1997 water year
will be removed, starting with the forms for the 1998 water year.
7. The requirement that trusts which include a class of
beneficiaries, in addition to or instead of specifically named
beneficiaries, cannot use the verification form (Form 7-21VERIFY) as
their annual submittal will be included on the instructions to Form 7-
21TRUST. This requirement will also be noted on the instructions for
Form 7-21VERIFY. Prior to January 1, 1998, trusts that included a class
of beneficiaries were not eligible to receive Reclamation irrigation
water.
8. Trusts that are required to have Taxpayer Identification Numbers
(TINs) will be required to include such on their Form 7-21TRUST. The
instructions for that form will be changed to reflect this requirement.
9. The instructions for Form 7-21VERIFY concerning annual leases
will be adjusted to clarify that only renewals or extensions of annual
leases (leases for a term of 1 year or less) are eligible to use Form
7-21VERIFY. All other lease renewals or extensions must be reported on
a standard certification or reporting form.
10. Four definitions will be updated on Form 7-21INFO to reflect
the wording used in the revised rules. They are: Contract; Landholder;
Lease; and Legal entity or entity.
11. The Form 7-21INFO will be revised to include information on the
application of the administrative fee in addition to the compensation
rate (full-cost) if Reclamation irrigation water is delivered to
ineligible excess land.
12. All forms and instructions will be reviewed and updated to
ensure Code of Federal Regulations citations reflect the revised
Acreage Limitation Rules and Regulations that become effective on
January 1, 1998. (The current rules are entitled, Rules and Regulations
for Projects Governed by Federal Reclamation Law.) For example, the
section of those rules that addresses information requirements will
change from 43 CFR 426.10 to 43 CFR 426.18 on that date.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Dated: January 22, 1997
J. Austin Burke,
Director, Program Analysis Office.
[FR Doc. 97-2218 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M
