50286 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices

1Those commercial vessels subject to inspections

are specified in 7 CFR, chapter III, part 330 or in

9 CFR, chapter I, subchapter D of the regulations.

Exemptions to these user fees are specified in

§ 354.3(b)(2).

2Those commercial trucks subject to inspections

are specified in 7 CFR, chapter III, part 330 or in

9 CFR, chapter I, subchapter D of the regulations.

Exemptions to these user fees are specified in

§ 354.3(c)(2).

3Section 354.3(c)(2)(i) of the regulations states

that commercial trucks entering the Customs

territory of the United States from Canada are

exempt from paying an APHIS user fee.

4Those commercial railroad cars subject to

inspections are specified in 7 CFR, chapter III, part

330 or in 9 CFR, chapter I, subchapter D of the

regulations. Exemptions to these user fees are

specified in § 354.3(d)(2).

5Those commercial aircraft subject to inspections

are specified in 7 CFR, chapter III, part 330 or in

9 CFR, chapter I, subchapter D of the regulations.

Exemptions to these user fees are specified in

§ 354.3(e)(2).

6Those international airline passengers subject to

inspections are specified in 7 CFR, chapter III, part

330 or in 9 CFR, chapter I, subchapter D of the

regulations. Exemptions to these user fees are

specified in § 354.3(f)(2).

the Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service (APHIS). These services

include, among other things, inspecting

commercial vessels, commercial trucks,

commercial railroad cars, commercial

aircraft, and international airline

passengers arriving at ports in the

Customs territory of the United States

from points outside the United States.

(The Customs territory of the United

States is defined in the regulations as

the 50 States, the District of Columbia,

and Puerto Rico.)

These user fees are authorized by

§ 2509(a) of the Food, Agriculture,

Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (21

U.S.C. 136a). This statute, known as the

Farm Bill, was amended by § 504 of the

Federal Agriculture Improvement and

Reform Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104–127) on

April 4, 1996.

On July 24, 1997, we published in the

Federal Register (62 FR 39747–39755,

Docket No. 96–038–3) a final rule to

amend the regulations by adjusting our

user fees for servicing commercial

vessels, commercial trucks, commercial

railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and

international airline passengers arriving

at ports in the Customs territory of the

United States from points outside the

United States and by setting user fees

for these services for fiscal years 1997

through 2002. When we established the

user fees for fiscal years 1997 through

2002, we stated that, prior to the

beginning of the fiscal year, we would

publish a notice to remind the public of

the user fees for that fiscal year. This

document provides notice to the public

of the user fees for fiscal year 1998.

We inspect commercial vessels of 100

net tons or more 1. As specified in

§ 354.3(b)(1), our user fee for inspecting

commercial vessels will be $454.50

during fiscal year 1998 (October 1, 1997

through September 30, 1998).

We inspect commercial trucks 2

entering the Customs territory of the

United States. Commercial trucks may

pay the APHIS user fee each time they

enter the Customs territory of the United

States from Mexico 3 or purchase a

prepaid APHIS permit for a calendar

year. Since commercial trucks are also

subject to Customs user fees, our

regulations provide that commercial

trucks must prepay the APHIS user fee

if they are prepaying the Customs user

fee. In that case, the required APHIS

user fee is 20 times the user fee for each

arrival, and is valid for an unlimited

number of entries during the calendar

year (see § 354.3(c)(3)(i) of the

regulations). The truck owner or

operator, upon payment of the APHIS

and the Customs user fees, receives a

decal to place on the truck windshield.

This is a joint decal, indicating that both

the Customs and APHIS user fees for the

truck have been paid for that calendar

year. As specified in § 354.3(c)(1), our

user fee for inspecting commercial

trucks will be $4.00 for individual

arrivals and, as specified in

§ 354.3(c)(2), $80.00 for a calendar year

1998 decal.

We inspect commercial railroad cars 4

entering the Customs territory of the

United States. These user fees may be

paid per inspection or prepaid. Prepaid

user fees cover one calendar year’s

worth of AQI inspections. As specified

in § 354.3(d)(1), the user fee for this

service will be $6.50 per loaded

commercial railroad car for each arrival

or, if user fees are prepaid, $130 (20

times the individual arrival fee) for each

loaded rail car during fiscal year 1998

(October 1, 1997 through September 30,

1998).

We inspect international commercial

aircraft 5 arriving at ports in the Customs

territory of the United States. As

specified in § 354.3(e)(1), the user fee

will be $59.75 during fiscal year 1998

(October 1, 1997 through September 30,

1998).

We also inspect international airline

passengers 6 arriving at ports in the

Customs territory of the United States.

As specified in § 354.3(f)(1), the

international airline passenger user fee

will be $2.00 during fiscal year 1998

(October 1, 1997 through September 30,

1998).

Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of

September 1997.

Terry L. Medley,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 97–25483 Filed 9–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

Commodity Credit Corporation

Request for Extension and Revision of

a Currently Approved Information

Collection; Reinstatement and

Extension of a Currently Approved

Information Collection; and a

Proposed New Information Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and the

Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the intention of the

Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)

and Farm Service Agency (FSA) to

request an extension and revision of an

approved information collection to

support the Tobacco Marketing Quota

and Price Support program; a

reinstatement and extension of an

approved information collection to

support Importer Assessments on

imported tobacco; and an approval of a

new information collection for

conducting tobacco marketing quota

referenda. These information collections

are authorized by the following

regulations: 7 CFR part 723, Tobacco; 7

CFR part 1464, Tobacco; and 7 CFR part

717, Holding of Referenda. Such

regulations are issued under the

authority of the Agricultural Adjustment

Act of 1938, as amended, and the

Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received on or before November 24,

1997 to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Michael D. Thompson, USDA, Farm

Service Agency, Tobacco and Peanuts

Division, STOP 0514, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–0514, (202) 720–

4318; facsimile (202) 720–1288; or

Internet e-mail,

mdthomps@wdc.fsa.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Tobacco Marketing Quota and

Price Support Program, 7 CFR parts 711,

723 and 1464.

OMB Control Number: 0560–0058.

Expiration Date: September 30, 1997.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices 50287

Type of Request: Extension and

revision of an approved information

collection.

Abstract: The information collected

under OMB Control Number 0560–0058,

as identified above, is all that is

currently demanded by FSA to meet

administrative and statutory

requirements for the tobacco marketing

quota and price support programs.

Information collected from tobacco

producers and owners of farms with

tobacco allotment or quota is needed to

properly establish tobacco acreage

allotments and marketing quotas for

farms, transfer quota between farms, and

determine price support eligibility.

Because tobacco marketing quotas are

highly regulated, information is needed

to show where tobacco acreage is

planted, how much is planted, where

tobacco is marketed and how much is

marketed. Tobacco marketed in excess

of a farm marketing quota is subject to

a substantial marketing quota penalty

equal to 75 percent of the previous

year’s average price to producers.

Covered information collected from

tobacco dealers, auction warehouses,

processors, and others involved in the

marketing, buying, or handling of

tobacco is needed and used to

effectively administer the marketing

quota provisions of the tobacco

program. All tobacco produced on farms

is disposed of through commercial

marketing channels that involve dealers,

warehouses, processors, manufacturers,

and others. In order to completely and

accurately account for the production

and marketing of tobacco on an

individual farm basis, records and

reports must be submitted by persons

that acquire or handle producer tobacco.

In order to determine if any tobacco in

excess of a farm marketing quota has

been marketed, these persons must

maintain records and make reports on

their purchases and sales of tobacco.

Warehouse operators must maintain

records and make reports showing the

sales and purchases of tobacco handled

by the warehouse. These reports are

reviewed to ensure that excess tobacco

is not being marketed without being

subject to marketing quota penalties.

Information collected from domestic

manufacturers of cigarettes is needed to

establish the national marketing quotas

for burley and flue-cured tobacco. By

statute, the national marketing quota is

based, in part, on the amount of tobacco

the domestic cigarette manufacturers

intend to purchase from the next crop

year. The domestic cigarette

manufacturers must also report their

actual purchases and maintain records

that support their purchases of producer

tobacco. There are five major domestic

cigarette manufacturers that are subject

to these provisions.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average 7 minutes per

response.

Respondents: Individual tobacco

producers, allotment or quota owners,

tobacco auction warehouses, dealers,

and others involved in the marketing or

buying of tobacco which may include

small and medium size businesses, and

five domestic manufacturers of

cigarettes.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

325,455.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 3 per year.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 113,910 hours.

Title: Tobacco Importer Assessments,

7 CFR part 1464, subpart B.

OMB Control Number: 0560–0148.

Type of Request: Reinstatement and

extension of an approved information

collection.

Abstract: The information collected

under OMB Control Number 0560–0148

is all of the information demanded by

FSA in order to effectively administer

the statutory provisions for assessments

on imported tobacco. Information

collected from importers of

unmanufactured tobacco is necessary to

determine the proper amounts of

assessments are timely paid. The

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of

1993 amended sections 106, 106A, and

106B, of the Agricultural Act of 1949, to

require the payment of importer no-netcost (INNC), and budget deficient

marketing assessments (BDMA) on

imported unmanufactured tobacco. The

INNC assessments apply only to burley

and flue-cured tobacco, and the BDMA

applies to all kinds of tobaccos that are

subject to a domestic marketing quota

and price support program. Information

is collected on form CCC–100, Importer

Entry and Assessment Worksheet. The

data reported includes the importer’s

name and address, the importer’s

number, and the tobacco’s entry

number, Harmonized Tariff Schedule

(HTS) number, as well as the quantity

of tobacco, and amounts of assessments

remitted.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated at 45 minutes per response.

Respondents: Importers of

unmanufactured tobacco for

consumption in the United States, who

may be individuals, small business, or

large tobacco leaf dealers and cigarette

manufacturers.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

40.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 18.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 540 hours.

Title: Holding of Referenda, 7 CFR

part 717.

OMB Control Number: New

submission.

Type of Request: Proposed new

information collection.

Abstract: The Agricultural

Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended,

requires the establishment of national

marketing quotas for certain

commodities and the holding of a

referendum of farmers engaged in the

production of that commodity to

determine if they favor or oppose

marketing quotas for the next three crop

years. Currently there are nine different

referenda held every 3 years for tobacco.

The number of eligible voters for all

referenda is estimated at 400,000, with

approximately 155,000 respondents

returning voted ballots. Voter eligibility

is based on a person being engaged in

the production of that kind of tobacco

for the preceding year. The actual voting

and returning a ballot is strictly

voluntary. The voter participation rate

ranges from 20 percent to 90 percent.

The average voter participation rate for

all referenda is about 40 percent.

Occasionally, special referenda are

conducted as a result of a petition for a

referendum, significant changes in the

tobacco program, and under a

Memorandum of Understanding with

another entity or government agency.

The Agency plans to continue to use the

traditional ballot. The ballot itself has

not been assigned an OMB control

number, but such number would be

assigned as a result of this notice.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated at 5 minutes per response.

Respondents: Individual tobacco

farmers and landowners who are

eligible voters that return a voted ballot.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

155,000.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: Once ever 3 years.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 4,300 hours.

Request for Comment: Comment on

above information request is sought.

Topics for comment may include, but

need not be limited to: (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

FSA’s estimate of burden including the

validity of the methodology and

assumptions used; (c) enhancing the

quality, utility, and clarity of the
50288 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices

information collected; or (d) minimizing

the burden of the collection of

information on respondents, including

the use of appropriate automated

electronic, mechanical, or other forms of

informational technology. Comments

should be sent to the Desk Officer for

Agriculture, Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of

Management and Budget, Washington,

DC 20503, and to Michael D. Thompson

at the address listed above. All

responses to this notice will be

summarized and included in the request

for OMB approval. All comments will

become a matter of public record.

OMB is required to make a decision

concerning the collection(s) of

information contained in these

proposed regulations between 30 and 60

days after publication of this document

in the Federal Register. Therefore, a

comment to OMB is best assured of

having its full effect if OMB receives it

within 30 days of publication.

Signed at Washington, DC, on September

18, 1997.

Keith Kelly,

Administrator, Farm Service Agency and

Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit

Corporation.

[FR Doc. 97–25451 Filed 9–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–05–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Silver Creek Integrated Resource

Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, intent to prepare

environmental impact statement.

SUMMARY: The Emmett Ranger District of

the Boise National Forest will prepare

an environmental impact statement

(EIS) for an integrated resource

management project in the Silver Creek

subwatershed, a headwater tributary to

the Middle Fork Payette River drainage.

The project area is located about 80 road

miles north of Boise, Idaho.

The Forest Service is seeking

information and comments from

Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies,

as well as individuals and organizations

who may be interested and/or affected

by the proposed action. The agency

invites written comments and

suggestions on the issues related to the

proposal and the area being analyzed.

The information received will be used

in preparing the draft and final EIS. For

most effective use, comments should be

submitted within 30 days from the date

of publication of this Notice in the

Federal Register.

Proposed Action

Six objectives have been identified for

the project: (1) Restore and/or maintain

the presence of the seral, shade

intolerant tree species (i.e., ponderosa

pine, aspen) as part of the area’s

vegetative mosaic; (2) improve forest

resilience to damaging insects and

disease; (3) improve timber stand vigor

and growth; (4) reduce the risk of large,

stand-destroying wildfire, especially in

the vicinity of the Silver Creek Plunge

Hot Springs Resort and rural

subdivision; (5) restore streambanks,

riparian areas, and other wet, upland

sites damaged by unrestricted, crosscountry motorized travel; and, (6)

provide sawlogs and other wood

products to help sustain local sawmills

and communities.

The proposed action would treat,

either with timber harvest or prescribed

fire, a total of 9,545 acres. An estimated

23 million board feet (MMBF) of timber

would be harvested by ground-based

(1,089 acres), skyline/cable (304 acres),

or helicopter (4,722 acres) yarding

systems. The proposed action would

employ a variety of silvicultural

systems, including improvement

selection (38 percent), commercial

thinning (31 percent), sanitation/salvage

(13 percent), irregular shelterwood (9

percent) and group selection (6 percent).

Prescribed fire would also occur on

another 3,430 acres to rejuvenate old,

decadent aspen stands and/or provide

seedbeds for potential white-bark pine

regeneration. The existing

transportation system would be

improved to facilitate the harvest

operation and reduce sedimentation, 3

miles of road relocation and

construction, 1.3 miles of temporary

road construction, and spot graveling of

intermittent sections of Roads No. 698

(Middle Fork Payette), No. 671 (Silver

Creek), and No. 678 (Bridge-Bryan

Creek). Two bridges would be

constructed to provide log haul access.

Six existing helicopter landings would

be used, however, each would be first

‘‘stabilized’’ to improve drainage and

reduce potential sediment delivery. Two

dry, upland meadows would also be

used as possible log landing sites. An

estimated 4 miles of existing, userdeveloped roads, the majority which

either lies immediately adjacent to

perennial streams or is deeply eroded,

would be obliterated. Five existing,

user-developed stream crossings would

be closed and rehabilitated. Upon

completion of post-harvest activities,

motorized travel east of Silver Creek

would be restricted to designated routes

(i.e., roads and trails), except for

snowmobiles during the winter.

To meet the project’s objectives,

several changes to the Boise Land and

Resource Management Plan (Forest

Plan) would be needed. The proposed

Forest Plan changes include redefining

the visual quality objectives (VQO’s) for

the Peace Rock, Silver Creek, and

Lightning Creek management areas

(MA’s) as well as changing the

prohibition concerning the use of

ground-based yarding systems,

mechanized equipment, and road

construction in the Peace Rock MA.

Preliminary Issues

Anticipated concerns related with the

proposed action are: (1) Timber harvest

and road relocation and/or construction

could effect a portion of the Peace Rock

inventoried roadless area’s (IRA) wild

character; (2) bridge construction and

road relocation/reconstruction activities

could result in short-term increases in

the sediment entering area streams; (3)

the project could alter the scenic quality

of the Silver Creek area; (4) the

proposed restrictions on cross-country,

motorized travel could displace some

outdoor enthusiasts and/or reduce

recreational opportunities for some user

groups; and (5) the activities resulting

from the proposed Forest Plan changes

could alter the semiprimitive, motorized

character of the area. Other potential

issues may be identified during the

current scoping period.

Schedule

The draft EIS is anticipated to be

available for public review and

comment in April 1998; the final EIS by

July 1998.

Public Involvement

The Forest Service is inviting the

public to visit Silver Creek with Emmett

District personnel. Two field tours are

scheduled for the project area; one on

October 3, 1997; the other on October 4,

1997. Both field tours will be from 9

a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning at the Garden

Valley Station, Garden Valley, Idaho,

with a brief presentation and then

proceeding to the project area. In

addition, a public meeting will be held

at the Garden Valley Senior Citizens’

Center, Crouch, Idaho on October 6,

1997, from 7–9 p.m. to discuss the

proposed activities. Comments received

from those field tours, as well as the

public meeting will be incorporated into

the analysis and decision-making

process.

Comments

Written comments concerning the

proposed project should be received on