97-15581. Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 32285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15581]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 114 / Friday, June 13, 1997 / 
Notices

[[Page 32285]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) intends to request 
an extension for currently approved collection of information 
pertaining to FSA administered cost-share programs which have the 
common goal of conserving the Nation's basic soil and water resources 
and preserving the local environment. The programs that require forms 
covered by this request for extension are the Agricultural Conservation 
Program (ACP) for which the authority to engage in new activities was 
repealed by Section 336 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996, the interim Environmental Quality Incentives 
Program (EQIP) which provided temporary authority to engage in new ACP 
activities and those of three other programs through September 30, 
1996, the Emergency Conservation Program, the Conservation Reserve 
Program, and the Forestry Incentives Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 12, 
1997 to be assured consideration.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Cheryl Zavodny, Branch 
Chief, Conservation Programs Branch, Conservation and Environmental 
Protection Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0513, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0513, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Conservation and Environmental Programs OMB Number: 0560-
0082
    Expiration Date: July 31, 1997
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The FSA, in cooperation with the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, the Forest Service, and other agencies and 
organizations, provides eligible producers and landowners cost-share 
incentives through a number of conservation and environmental programs 
to help farmers, ranchers and other eligible landowners and operators 
conserve soil, improve water quality, maintain the fertility of the 
land, develop and improve forest areas, provide wildlife habitat, and 
rehabilitate land damaged by natural disasters. The conservation 
programs using these forms requires producers to provide information 
used to determine the producer's eligibility to participate and for 
payment purposes. Although the ACP was repealed by Section 336 of the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, and the period 
for the interim EQIP program has ended, there are existing ACP as well 
as existing interim EQIP long-term agreements in effect which continue 
to obligate the participants to perform conservation practices and 
other contract requirements in future years. The CRP (which is CCC 
funded) has significant activity because of the continuous and recent 
general CRP signups. A considerable increase is possible in ECP 
activity due to the many severe natural disasters recently occurring 
all over the country. The FIP is estimated to have about the same 
activity as previous years.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average: .25 hours for AD-245; .20 hours 
for FSA-18, and .5 hours for ACP-311.
    Respondents: Farm and ranch owners and operators, farm managers, or 
attorneys.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 510,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2 (average).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 205,000 hours.
    Proposed topics for comment include: (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; and (c) 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the information on 
those who are to respond. Comments should be sent to the Desk Officer 
for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503 and to Cheryl Zavodny, 
Branch Chief, Conservation Programs Branch, Conservation and 
Environmental Protection Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0513, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0513, [phone].

    Signed at Washington, D.C., on June 8, 1997.
Bruce R. Weber,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency and Acting Executive Vice 
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 97-15581 Filed 6-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P