2020-03161. Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA.

ACTION:

Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces a public comment period on the information collection requests (ICRs) associated with the Area Risk Protection Insurance.

DATES:

Comments that we receive on this notice will be accepted until close of business April 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

We invite you to submit comments on this information collection request. In your comments, include the date, volume, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, and the title of rule. You may submit comments by any of the following methods, although FCIC prefers that you submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID FCIC-20-0001. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Director, Product Administration and Standards Division, Risk Management Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 419205, Kansas City, MO 64133-6205.

All comments received, including those received by mail, will be posted without change and publicly available on http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Francie Tolle; telephone [phone]; email [e-mail]. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication should contact the USDA Target Center at [phone] (voice).

ADDRESSES:

We invite you to submit comments on this rule. In your comments, include the date, volume, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, and the title of rule. You may submit comments by any of the following methods, although FCIC prefers that you submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID FCIC-20-0001. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Director, Product Administration and Standards Division, Risk Management Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 419205, Kansas City, MO 64133-6205.

All comments received, including those received by mail, will be posted without change and publicly available on http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Francie Tolle; telephone [phone]; email [e-mail]. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication should contact the USDA Target Center at [phone] (voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Area Risk Protection Insurance.

OMB Number: 0563-0083.

Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2020.

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

Abstract: The information collection requirements for this renewal package are necessary to administer the Area Risk Protection Insurance (ARPI) Basic Provisions and affected Crop Provisions to determine insurance coverage, premiums, subsidies, payments and indemnities. ARPI is an insurance plan that provides coverage based on the experience of an entire county. Producers are required to report specific data when they apply for ARPI such as acreage and yields. Insurance companies accept applications; issue policies; establish and provide insurance coverage; compute liability, premium, subsidies, and losses; indemnify producers; and report specific data to FCIC as required in Appendix III/M13 Handbook. Commodities for which ARPI is available are included in this information collection package.

FCIC is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the approval of this information collection for an additional 3 years.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public concerning this information collection. These comments will help us:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond (such as through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses).

Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.67 of an hour per response.

Respondents/Affected Entities: Producers and insurance providers reinsured by FCIC.

Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 18,634.

Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.5.

Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 139,671.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 94,261.

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.

Martin R. Barbre,

Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.