2018-26505. Information Collection Request; Request for Special Priorities Assistance

AGENCY:

Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved information collection request associated with the Request for Special Priorities Assistance. The information collection established by the Agriculture Priorities and Allocations System (APAS) regulation is necessary for the program applicant (person) to request prioritizing of a contract above all other contracts. The purpose of the priority rating is to obtain item(s) in support of national defense programs that they are not able to obtain in time through normal market channels.

DATES:

We will consider comments that we receive by February 5, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

We invite you to submit comments on the 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: David Weschsler, USDA/FPAC/HS, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 0092-S, Mail Stop 0560, Washington, DC 20250-0567.

You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may be requested by contacting Lesa A. Johnson at the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Wechsler, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Request for Special Priorities Assistance for APAS.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0280.

Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2019.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: APAS would efficiently place priority ratings on contracts or orders of agriculture commodities up through the wholesale levels, agriculture production equipment, allocate resources, and handle food claims within its authority as specified in the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950, as amended, when necessary to promote national defense. It was determined that food is a scarce and critical commodity essential to the national defense (including civil emergency preparedness and response). Unless its production, processing, storage, and wholesale distribution are regulated during times of emergencies, the national defense requirement for food and food production may not be met without creating hardship in the civilian marketplace. Applicants (Government agencies or private individuals with a role in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery functions) will request authorization from USDA to place a rating on a contract for items to support national defense activities. Priority rating request procedures and forms can be found on USDA's website. Applicants must supply, at time of request, their name, location, contact information, items for which the applicant is requesting assistance on, quantity, and delivery date. Applicants can submit the request by mail or fax. There are no changes to the burden hours since the last OMB approval.

For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the formula used to calculate the total burden hour is the estimated average time per responses hours multiplied by the estimated total annual responses.

Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for the information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes (0.50) per response.

Respondents: Individuals, businesses, and agencies with responsibilities for emergency preparedness and response.

Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 100.

Estimated Number of Reponses per Respondent: 0.95.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 95.

Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.5 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 50 hours.

We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information collection to help us to:

(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate 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;

(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 Office of Management and Budget approval.

Steven Peterson,

Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.