2017-14045. Notice of Request for Revision of Currently Approved Information Collections

AGENCY:

Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) intention to request a revision for currently approved information collections in support of the foreign donation of agricultural commodities under the section 416(b) program, the Food for Progress Program, and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by September 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

We invite you to submit comments as requested in this document. In your comment, include the volume, date, 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, hand delivery, or courier: Benjamin Muskovitz, Director, Food Assistance Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1034, Washington, DC 20250-1034;
• Email: [e-mail]; or
• Telephone: [phone].

Comments will be available for inspection online at http://www.regulations.gov and at the mail address listed above between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means for communication of information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at [phone] (voice and TDD).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Benjamin Muskovitz, Director, Food Assistance Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1034, Washington, DC 20250-1034; or by email at [e-mail]; or by telephone at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Foreign Donation of Agricultural Commodities (section 416(b) and Food for Progress programs) and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

OMB Number: 0551-0035.

Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2017.

Type of Request: Revision of currently approved information collections.

Abstract: Under the section 416(b) and Food for Progress programs (the “Foreign Donation Programs”) and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (“McGovern-Dole”) Program, information will be gathered from applicants desiring to receive federal awards under the programs to determine the viability of requests for resources to implement activities in foreign countries. Recipients of awards under the programs must submit compliance reports until activities carried out with donated commodities or funds, or local currencies generated from the sale of donated commodities, are completed. Recipients that use the services of freight forwarders must submit certifications from the freight forwarders regarding their activities and affiliations. Documents are used to develop effective grant and cooperative agreements for awards under the programs and assure that statutory requirements and objectives are met.

Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for each respondent resulting from information collections under the Foreign Donation Programs or the McGovern-Dole Program varies in direct relation to the number and type of agreements entered into by such respondent. The estimated average reporting burden for the Foreign Donation Programs is 45.24 hours per response and for the McGovern-Dole Program is 45.24 hours per response.

Respondents: Private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, freight forwarders, ship owners and brokers, and survey companies.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 61 per annum.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 32 per annum.

Estimated Total Annual Burden of Respondents: 88,308.5 hours.

Request for comments: Send comments regarding (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Connie Ehrhart, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at [phone] or email at [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.

Dated: June 15, 2017.

Holly Higgins,

Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.