[Federal Register: January 12, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 7)]
[Notices]               
[Page 1167-1168]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja09-21]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 6, 2009.
    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 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) 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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    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.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: General Administrative Regulations; Interpretations of 
Statutory and Regulatory Provisions.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-0055.
    Summary of Collection: Section 533 of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (1998 Research Act) 
requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to publish 
regulation on how FCIC will provide a final agency determination in 
response to certain inquiries. This section provides procedures when 
FCIC fails to respond in the established time, the interpretation of 
the requested is considered correct for the crop year. It becomes 
necessary for the requester, or respondent, to identify himself so he

[[Page 1168]]

can be provided a response and also to state his interpretation of the 
regulation for which he is seeking a final agency interpretation.
    Need and Use of the Information: FCIC will use the requester's name 
and address to provide a response. The identification and quotation of 
the specific provision in the 1998 Research Act or regulations allows 
FCIC to research and respond to the specific identified provision. The 
respondent's detailed interpretation of the regulation is required to 
comply with the requirements of Sec. 533 of the 1998 Research Act and 
to clarify the boundaries of the request to FCIC. If the requested 
information is not collected with each submission, FCIC would not be 
able to comply with the statutory mandates.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 45.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 78.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: Request for Applications for Research Partnerships.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-0065.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Act of 2002 
authorizes the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to enter into 
partnerships with public and private entities for the purpose of 
increasing the availability of risk management tools for producers of 
agricultural commodities. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has 
developed procedures for the preparation, submission and evaluation of 
applications.
    Need and Use of the Information: RMA and a review panel of 
independent reviewers will use the information to determine applicant 
eligibility and to evaluate the applications. The qualifying applicants 
will be scored on each of five criteria: Research objectives; RMA 
involvement/non-financial benefits; research methodology, development, 
and implementation; management; and bonus points for proposals that 
address RMA priorities and/or are submitted by applicants representing 
a geographically diverse area. Scores are totaled, listed in rank order 
and are used for the final decision on awards. If the information is 
not collected, the consequences would be a missed opportunity to 
improve and or develop new risk management tools for agricultural 
producers. The impact would affect those segments of agriculture 
lacking access to existing risk management tools.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Not-for-profit Institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,533.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: Risk Management and Crop Insurance Education; Request for 
Applications.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-0067.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Act, Title 7 
U.S.C. Chapter 36 Section 1508(k) authorizes the Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation (FCIC) to provide reinsurance to insurers approved by FCIC 
that insure producers of any agricultural commodity under one or more 
plans acceptable to FCIC. FCIC operating through the Risk Management 
Agency (RMA) has two application programs to carryout certain risk 
management education provisions of the Federal Crop Insurance Act. The 
two educational programs requiring application are: To establish crop 
insurance education and information programs in States that have been 
historically underserved by the Federal Crop Insurance Program; and to 
provide agricultural producers with training opportunities in risk 
management with a priority given to producers of specialty crops and 
underserved commodities. Funds are available to fund parties willing to 
assist RMA in carrying out local and regional risk management can crop 
insurance education programs.
    Need and Use of the Information: Applicants are required to submit 
completed application packages in hard copy to RMA. RMA and review 
panel will evaluate and rank applicants as well as use the information 
to properly document and protect the integrity of the process used to 
select applications for funding. For applicants that are selected, the 
information will be used to create the terms of cooperative agreements 
between the applicant and the agency and will not be shared outside of 
RMA.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 220.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,256.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-301 Filed 1-9-09; 8:45 am]

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