2018-15797. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request  

  • Start Preamble Start Printed Page 34981 July 19, 2018.

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are required regarding (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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 regarding this information collection received by August 23, 2018 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.

    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

    Farm Service Agency

    Title: Assignments of Payments and Joint Payment Authorizations.

    OMB Control Number: 0560-0183.

    Summary of Collection: The Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(g)) authorizes producers to assign, in writing, Farm Service Agency (FSA) conservation program payments. The statute requires that any such assignment be signed and witnessed. The Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, extends that authority to Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) programs, including rice, feed grains, cotton, and wheat. When the recipient of an FSA, NRCS, or CCC payment chooses to assign a payment to another party or have the payment made jointly with another party, the other party must be identified. All federal nontax payments must be made by EFT, unless a waiver applies which requires certain criteria to be granted. FSA will collect information using forms CCC-36, CCC 37, CCC-251, CCC-252 and CCC-40.

    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected on the forms will be used by FSA and NRCS employees in order to record the payment or contract being assigned, the amount of the assignment, the date of the assignment, and the name and address of the assignee and the assignor. This is to enable FSA employee to pay the proper party when payments become due. FSA will also use the information to issue program payments jointly at the request of the producer and also terminate joint payments at the request of both the producer and joint payee.

    Description of Respondent: Individuals or households.

    Number of Respondents: 126,542.

    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.

    Total Burden Hours: 21,083.

    Start Signature

    Ruth Brown,

    Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.

    End Signature End Preamble

    [FR Doc. 2018-15797 Filed 7-23-18; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3410-05-P