2012-15200. Notice of Request for Revision of Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to request a revision from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a currently approved information collection process in support of the Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) Program and the Market Access Program (MAP).

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by August 20, 2012.

Additional Information or Comments: Contact Mark Slupek, Director, Program Operations Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, Room 6510, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250, [phone], fax: [phone], email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program and Market Access Program.

OMB Number: 0551-0026.

Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2012.

Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information collection process. The Estimate of Burden is decreasing and the Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent and Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents is increasing.

Abstract: The primary objective of the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program and the Market Access Program is to encourage and aid in the creation, maintenance, and expansion of commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products through cost-share assistance to eligible trade organizations. The programs are a cooperative effort between CCC and the eligible trade organizations. Currently, there are about 70 organizations participating directly in the programs with activities in more than 100 countries.

Prior to initiating program activities, each Cooperator or MAP participant must submit a detailed application to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) which includes an assessment of overseas market potential; market or country strategies, constraints, goals, and benchmarks; proposed market development activities; estimated budgets; and performance measurements. Prior years' plans often dictate the content of current year plans because many activities are continuations of previous activities. Each Cooperator or MAP participant is also responsible for submitting: (1) Reimbursement claims for approved costs incurred in carrying out approved activities, (2) an end-of-year contribution report, (3) travel reports, and (4) progress reports/evaluation studies. Cooperators or MAP participants must maintain records on all information submitted to FAS. The information collected is used by FAS to manage, plan, evaluate, and account for Government resources. The reports and records are required to ensure the proper and judicious use of public funds. FAS has recently revised the MAP regulation and added three additional required documents to the MAP program: brand program operational procedures, written contracting guidelines, and an anti-fraud prevention program. With the addition of these three documents and other minor adjustments, the Estimate of Burden is decreasing and the Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent and Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents is increasing.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per response.

Respondents: Non-profit agricultural trade organizations, state regional trade groups, agricultural cooperatives, state agencies, and commercial entities.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 71.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 68.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 96,560 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Connie Simpson, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at [phone].

Request for Comments: Send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate, ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any other aspect of this collection of information, to: Mark Slupek, Director, Program Operations Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, Room 6510, STOP 1042, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Facsimile submissions may be sent to [phone] and electronic mail submissions should be addressed to: [e-mail].

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.

Signed at Washington, DC, on June 1, 2012.

Janet A. Nuzum,

Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.