This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

21714

Vol. 65, No. 79

Monday, April 24, 2000

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

April 19, 2000.

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), Washington, DC 20503 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) 720–6746.

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.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Title: Research on Rural Cooperative

Opportunities and Problems.

OMB Control Number: 0570–0028.

Summary of Collection: The Rural

Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) was

established by Public Law 103–350; the

Department of Agriculture

Reorganization Act of 1994. The mission

of RBS is to improve the quality of life

in rural America by financing

community facilities and businesses,

providing technical assistance and

creating effective strategies for rural

development. The primary objective of

this funding is to encourage research

through cooperative agreements on

critical issues vital to the development

and sustainability of cooperatives as a

means of improving the quality of life in

America’s rural communities. RBS will

collect information through research

proposals prepared by applicants, who

may be public or private colleges or

universities, research foundations

maintained, by a college or university,

or private nonprofit organizations.

Need and Use of the Information: RBS

will collect project proposal information

from applicants to determine (1)

eligibility; (2) the specific purpose for

which the funds will be utilized; (3)

time frames or dates by which activities

surrounding the use of funds will be

accomplished; (4) feasibility of the

project; (5) applicants’ experience in

managing similar activities; and (6) the

effectiveness and innovation used to

address critical issues vital to the

development and sustainability of

cooperatives as a means of improving

the quality of life in America’s rural

communities. Without the collection of

information, there would be no basis on

which to award funds or monitor project

progress.

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 50.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;

Quarterly.

Total Burden Hours: 1,140.

Foreign Agricultural Service

Title: Market Access Program.

OMB Control Number: 0551–0027.

Summary of Collection: The Market

Access Program (MAP) is authorized by

section 203 of the Agricultural Trade

Act of 1978, as amended. The primary

objective of the MAP is to encourage the

development, maintenance and

expansion of commercial export markets

for U.S. agricultural products through

cost-share assistance to eligible trade

organizations that implement a foreign

market development program. Personnel

of the Foreign Agricultural Service

(FAS) administer the MAP. Prior to

initiating program activities,

participants must submit detailed

applications to FAS, which include

country strategies, constraints, goals,

and benchmarks, proposed activities,

estimated budgets, and performance

measurements.

Need and Use of the Information: FAS

will collect information to manage,

plan, evaluate, and account for

government resources. The information

will be used for the allocation of funds,

program management, planning and

evaluation. If information is not

available which provides evidence

taxpayer funds are being disbursed in

accordance with authorizing legislation,

ethical standards, and standard

Government rules and regulations,

regulatory offices such as the General

Accounting Office (GAO) or the Office

of the Inspector General (OIG) would

likely recommend terminating the

program.

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit; State, Local or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 70.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 62,830.

Rural Utilities Service

Title: 7 CFR 1717 Subpart Y,

Settlement of Debt Owed by Electric

Borrowers.

OMB Control Number: 0572–0116.

Summary of Collection: The Rural

Utilities Service (RUS) makes mortgage

loans and loan guarantees to electric

systems to provide and improve electric

service in rural areas pursuant to the

Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) (RE Act).

The Rural Utilities Service makes

mortgage loans and loan guarantees to

electric systems to provide and improve

electric service in rural areas. Only

those electric borrowers that are unable

to fully repay their debts to the

government and who apply to RUS for

relief will be affected by this collection

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 79 / Monday, April 24, 2000 / Notices 21715

of information. The information

collected will be similar to that which

any prudent lender would require to

determine whether debt settlement is

required and the amount of relief that is

needed.

Need and Use of the Information:

RUS will collect information to

determine the need for debt settlement;

the amount of debt the borrower can

repay; the future scheduling of debt

repayment; and, the range of

opportunities for enhancing the amount

of debt that can be recovered.

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit.

Number of Respondents: 1.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 3,000.

Rural Utilities Service

Title: Inventory of Work Orders.

OMB Control Number: 0572–0019.

Summary of Collection: The Rural

Utilities Service (RUS) is a credit agency

of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA). It makes mortgage loans and

loan guarantees to finance electric,

telecommunications, and water and

waste facilities in rural areas. RUS

manages loan programs in accordance

with the Rural Electrification Act (RE

Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as

amended and as prescribed by the

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) Circular A–129, Policies for

Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax

Receivables, which states that agencies

must, based on a review of a loan

application, determine that an applicant

complies with statutory, regulatory, and

administrative eligibility requirements

for loan assistance. RUS Form 219,

Inventory of Work Orders, is one of the

documents the borrower submits to RUS

to support actual expenditures and an

advance of loan funds.

Need and Use of the Information:

RUS will collect information to monitor

the activities of the borrower to ensure

that funds are being used for RUS

purposes. If the information were not

collected, RUS would be unable to

determine whether borrowers were

appropriating loan funds for the

purposes specified at the inception of he

loan contract.

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit.

Number of Respondents: 750.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 10,125.

Rural Housing Service

Title: 7 CFR 1942–A, Community

Facility Loans.

OMB Control Number: 0575–0015.

Summary of Collection: The Rural

Housing Service (RUS) is a credit

agency within the Rural Development

mission area of the U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA). The Community

Programs Division of the RHS

administers the Community Facilities

program under 7 CFR part 1942, subpart

A. Rural Development provides loan

and grant funds through the Community

Facilities program to finance many

types of projects varying in size and

complexity, from large general hospitals

to small fire trucks. The facilities

financed are designed to promote the

development of rural communities by

providing the infrastructure necessary to

attract residents and rural jobs. RUS will

collect information using several forms.

Need and Use of the Information:

RUS will collect information to

determine applicant/borrower

eligibility, project feasibility, and to

ensure borrowers operate on a sound

basis and use loan and grant funds for

authorized purposes. Failure to collect

proper information could result in

improper determinations of eligibility,

improper use of funds, and/or unsound

loans.

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit; State, Local or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 3,020.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;

Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 61,076.

William McAndrew,

Departmental Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–10139 Filed 4–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

Unified Federal Policy for Ensuring a

Watershed Approach to Federal Land

and Resource Management

AGENCIES: Office of the Secretary,

USDA; Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed policy; extension of

comment period.

SUMMARY: On February 22, 2000, the

Department of Agriculture and the

Department of the Interior published a

proposed unified Federal policy for

ensuring a watershed approach to

Federal land and resource management

(65 FR 8834). In response to comments

from the public requesting additional

time to fully analyze the issues and

prepare comprehensive comments, the

Departments of Agriculture and the

Interior are extending the comment

period to May 24, 2000.

DATES: Comments must be received by

May 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: You may send or hand

deliver written comments to: USDAForest Service, Content Analysis

Enterprise Team, Attn: UFP, Building 2,

Suite 295, 5500 Amelia Earhart Drive,

Salt Lake City, UT 84116. You may also

fax comments to (801) 517–1021 or

submit comments electronically to

cleanwater/wolcaet-slc@fs.fed.us.

Comments are available for public

inspection and copying at the address

above during regular business hours

(8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through

Friday, except Federal holidays). You

are encouraged to call (801) 517–1037 to

arrange a time to inspect the comments

received. Individuals who use a

telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD) may call the Federal Information

Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339. All

comments will also be available

electronically for public inspection at

the close of the comment period via the

Internet at http://www.cleanwater.gov/

ufp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric

Janes, Rangelands, Soil and Water

Group, Bureau of Land Management,

Department of the Interior or Karen

Solari, Watershed and Air Management

Staff, Forest Service, Department of

Agriculture, at (801) 517–1037. A copy

of the proposed unified Federal policy

is available via the Internet at http://

www.cleanwater.gov/ufp or a copy may

be obtained by calling the USDA-Forest

Service Content Analysis Enterprise

Team at (801) 517–1037. Individuals

who use a telecommunications device

for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal

Information Relay Service at 1–800–

877–8339.

For the Department of Agriculture.

Dated: April 19, 2000.

James R. Lyons,

Under Secretary, Natural Resources and

Environment.

For the Department of the Interior.

Dated: April 14, 2000.

Sylvia V. Baca,

Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals

Management.

[FR Doc. 00–10148 Filed 4–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P