2014-27864. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 19, 2014.

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), [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 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 [phone].

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.

Foreign Agricultural Service

Title: Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program.

OMB Control Number: 0551-0038.

Summary of Collection: The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program is authorized by Section 3205 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171). Regulations governing the program appear at 7 CFR part 1487. Section 3205 provides that the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program to address unique barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. The program was reauthorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014, which became effective on February 7, 2014. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) administers the program for the Commodity Credit Corporation.

Need and Use of the Information: FAS collects data for fund allocation, program management, planning and evaluation. FAS will collect information from applicant desiring to receive grants under the program to determine the viability of requests for funds. The program could not be implemented without the submission of project proposals, which provide the necessary information upon which funding decisions are based.

Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 50.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 1,600.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.