[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66779-66780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31226]
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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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 26, 1995 /
Notices
[[Page 66779]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of Currently
Approved Information Collection Regulations Governing the Financing of
Commercial Sales of Agricultural Commodities
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) intention to
request a revision to a currently approved information collection under
the Pub. L. 480, title I program based on a final rule published at 60
FR 62702 on December 7, 1995.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 26, 1996 to
be assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Connie B. Delaplane, Director, Public Law 480 Operations Division,
Foreign Agricultural Service, United States Department of Agriculture,
14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1033; telephone
(202) 720-3664.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Regulations--Financing Commercial Sales of Agricultural
Commodities under Title I, P.L. 480.
OMB Number: 0551-0005.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1998.
Type of Request: Minor revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Title I of the Agricultural Trade Development and
Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, (Pub. L. 480) authorizes the
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to finance the sale and exportation
of agricultural commodities on concessional credit terms. 7 U.S.C. 1701
et seq. Suppliers of commodities and ocean transportation must retain
records for three years and report payments to representatives of
importing countries. Prospective commodity suppliers must provide
information for the Department to determine eligibility. Commodity
suppliers must report details of sales for price approval. Shipping
agents nominated by importing countries must submit information to
allow identification of possible conflicts of interest.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for these collections
of information in the regulations prior to this amendment was estimated
at eight hours per response for suppliers of commodities and ocean
transportation (records retention and reporting payments); three hours
per response for prospective commodity suppliers; 15 minutes per
response for commodity suppliers reporting sales; and 1\1/4\ hours per
response for shipping agents which are nominated by importing
countries.
The changes contained in the final rule are expected to have a
quantifiable increase on only one of these estimates. Suppliers of
commodities and ocean transportation will be required to report any
payment ``delivered to'' a representative of the importer or importing
country as well as payments ``to'' such representatives. (Sec. 17.12).
Suppliers submitted only four reports for FY 1994, with an estimated
burden of 1 hour for a report which contained information on a payment
and 15 minutes for a negative report. If the number of positive reports
tripled as a result of this final rule, the total reporting burden
would increase from 1\3/4\ hours to 12 hours.
Little or no burden increase is expected for the other two
modifications to information collection requirements contained in the
final rule. Suppliers of ocean transportation will, if requested, have
to furnish to CCC copies of related discharge contracts when they are
financed by CCC. (Sec. 17.12.) Such contracts are available to the
supplier as a routine part of the transaction, and CCC will request
them only when necessary to clarify the terms of the contract. Shipping
agents nominated by importing countries must slightly expand the
programs and services referenced in their conflict of interest
certification and must also certify that no kickbacks or illegal
benefits were paid in connection with their selection. [Sec. 17.5(c)
(7) and (8).] Given the widespread use of word processing, this should
take only a few minutes to change in the master document which will
then become a part of every subsequent submission by the agent.
Respondents: Suppliers of commodities and ocean transportation;
prospective commodity suppliers; shipping agents.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 103.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 528 hours (existing);
new burden estimate is 538\1/4\ hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela
Hopkins, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 720-
6713.
Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed 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 the burden of the
proposed collection of information including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (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 appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Connie
B. Delaplane, Director, P.L. 480 Operations Division, Foreign
Agricultural Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 14th and
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1033; telephone (202)
720-3664.
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.
[[Page 66780]]
Signed at Washington, D.C. on December 18, 1995.
Christopher E. Goldthwait,
General Sales Manager, Foreign Agricultural Service and Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 95-31226 Filed 12-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M
