53284 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 198 / Tuesday, October 14, 1997 / Notices

OMB Number: 0579–0102.

Expiration Date of Approval: April 30,

1998.

Type of Request: Extension of

approval of an information collection.

Abstract: The Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of

the U.S. Department of Agriculture is

responsible for preventing the interstate

spread of injurious plant pests, such as

the imported fire ant, from infested

areas of the United States to noninfested

areas. Implementing this mission often

requires the use of domestic quarantines

to restrict the interstate movement of

articles that could carry the plant pest.

Restricting the interstate movement of

regulated articles from an infested area

to a noninfested area is crucial to our

mission of preventing the interstate

spread of the imported fire ant.

Nursery owners who elect to enter our

Imported Fire Ant-Free Nursery

Program visually inspect their premises

for the presence of imported fire ants,

record the results in a notebook or

logsheet, and also record any treatments

they perform if fire ants are discovered.

State plant protection officials collect

this information by interviewing the

nursery owner, reviewing the owner’s

inspection and treatment records, and

inspecting the nursery site. The

information obtained is used for issuing

the various certificates, permits, and

other documents that enable the nursery

owner to move regulated items (such as

potted nursery plants, sod, or other

products) across State lines to markets

outside the areas quarantined because of

imported fire ant.

Without this information collection,

we would be unable to collect the

information we need to effectively

implement our imported fire ant

quarantine.

We are asking the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) to

approve the continued use of this

information collection activity.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit

comments from the public (as well as

affected agencies) concerning our

information collection. We need this

outside input to help us:

(1) Evaluate 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;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our

estimate of the burden of the proposed

collection of information, including the

validity of the methodology and

assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, through use, as

appropriate, of automated, electronic,

mechanical, and other collection

technologies, e.g., permitting electronic

submission of responses.

Estimate of burden: The public

reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average

.3561 hours per response.

Respondents: U.S. nursery owners,

shippers, and State and county plant

health protection authorities.

Estimated number of respondents:

2,704.

Estimated number of responses per

respondent: 3.4038.

Estimated annual number of

responses: 9,204.

Estimated total annual burden on

respondents: 3,278 hours. (Due to

rounding, the total annual burden hours

may not equal the product of the annual

number of responses multiplied by the

average reporting burden per response.)

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.

Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of

October 1997.

Craig A. Reed,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 97–27098 Filed 10–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

Commodity Credit Corporation

Request for Reinstatement and

Revision of a Previously Approved

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 reinstatement, with change, of a

previously approved collection in

support of the Peanut Warehouse

Storage Loan and Handler Operations

and the Peanut Poundage Quota and

Marketing Regulations Governing the

1996–2002 crop of peanuts as

authorized by the Federal Agriculture

Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

(1996 Act).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received on or before December 15, 1997

to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Carolyn Hunter, Marketing Specialist,

Tobacco and Peanuts Division, Farm

Service Agency, United States

Department of Agriculture, STOP 0514,

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20250–0514, (202)

690–0013, facsimile (202) 720–9015; or

Internet e-mail,

chunter@wdc.fsa.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Peanut Poundage Quota and

Marketing Regulations for the 1996

Through 2002 Crops.

OMB Control Number: 0560–0006.

Type of Request: Reinstatement, with

change, of a previously approved

information collection.

Abstract: The information relative to

reports and recordkeeping as authorized

by the Secretary are used by the FSA

and CCC to monitor and control

compliance with the peanut program as

outlined in parts 729 and 1446. If the

information is not monitored and data

not required, the peanut program could

not operate and the 1996 Act would not

be implemented as required by

Congress. The 1996 Act changed the

peanut poundage quota program by

reducing the national quota, providing

temporary seed quota allocation,

removing the carryover of

undermarketed quota, allowing the

transfer of peanut poundage quota to

any other farm within the same State,

providing for increasing marketing

assessments under certain conditions to

cover losses in area marketing pools and

restricting transfer of peanuts from

additional loan to quota loan.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average 9 minutes per

response.

Respondents: Individual producers.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

255,116.

Estimated Total Annual Burden of

Respondents: 301,690 hours.

Title: Peanut Warehouse Storage Loan

and Handler Operations for the 1996

Through 2002 Crops.

OMB Control Number: 0560–0014.

Type of Request: Reinstatement, with

change, of a previously approved

information collection.

Abstract: The information relative to

reports and recordkeeping as authorized

by the Secretary are used by the FSA

and CCC to monitor and control

compliance with the peanut program as

outlined in parts 729 and 1446. If the

information is not monitored and data

not required, the peanut program could
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 198 / Tuesday, October 14, 1997 / Notices 53285

not operate and the 1996 Act would not

be implemented as required by

Congress. The 1996 Act changed the

peanut warehouse storage loan and

handler operations program by adding

restrictions on transfer of peanuts from

additional loan to quota loan.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average 8 minutes per

response.

Respondents: Individual producers

and warehousemen.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

179,383.

Estimated Total Annual Burden of

Respondents: 54,119.

Request for Comments: Comments on

this information request are sought.

Proposed topics for comment include

may include, but need not be limited to:

(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; or (4) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on those who are to respond, including

the use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Comments should be sent to the Desk

Office for Agriculture, Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget,

Washington, D.C. 20503, and to Carolyn

Hunter, at the address listed above. All

comments will also 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, D.C., on October 1,

1997.

Bruce R. Weber,

Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency

and Acting Executive Vice President,

Commodity Credit Corporation.

[FR Doc. 97–27105 Filed 10–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–05–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Performance

Reporting System, Management

Evaluation, Data Analysis, and

Corrective Action

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice invites the general public and

other public agencies to comment on

proposed information collections. The

proposed collection is an extension of

collection currently approved under

Office of Management and Budget No.

0584–0010.

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before December 15,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of the

agency, including whether the

information has practical utility; (b) the

accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the

burden of the proposed collection of

information, 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

the use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Comments may be sent to Joseph H.

Pinto, Chief, State Administration

Branch, Food Stamp Program, Food and

Consumer Service, U. S. Department of

Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive,

Alexandria, VA 22302.

All responses to this notice will be

summarized and included in the request

for Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) approval. All comments will also

become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection

form and instruction should be directed

to Joseph H. Pinto, (703) 305–2383.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Performance Reporting System,

Management Evaluation, Data Analysis,

and Corrective Action.

OMB Number: 0584–0010.

Expiration Date: October 31, 1997.

Type of Request: Reinstatement

without change, of this previously

approved collection of information.

Abstract: The purpose of the

Performance Reporting System (PRS) is

to ensure that each State agency and

project area is operating the Food Stamp

Program in accordance with the Food

Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, (Act)

and corresponding program regulations.

Under Section 11 of the Act, State

agencies must maintain necessary

records to ascertain that the Food Stamp

Program is operated in compliance with

the Act and regulations and must make

these records available to the Food and

Consumer Service (FCS) for inspection

and audit.

Management Evaluation (ME) Review

Schedules—Unless the State receives

approval for an alternative ME review

schedule, each State agency is required,

under 7 CFR Part 275 to submit one

review schedule every one, two, or three

years, depending on the project area

make-up of the State.

Data Analysis—Under 7 CFR Part 275,

each State must establish a system for

analysis and evaluation of all data

available to the State. Data analysis and

evaluation is an ongoing process that

facilitates the development of effective

and prompt correction action.

Corrective Action Plans—Under 7

CFR Part 275, State agencies must

prepare a Corrective Action Plan (CAP)

addressing identified deficiencies. The

State agencies must develop a system

for monitoring and evaluating corrective

action and submit CAP updates to FCS

twice a year.

Affected Public: 53 State

governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

2896 (includes project areas within the

53 State governments responsible for the

administration and operation of the

Food Stamp Program).

Number of responses per respondent:

2.0614.

Estimated Total annual responses:

5,970.

Hours per response: 99.3534.

Number of record keepers: 53.

Estimated Annual hours per record

keepers: 1.451.

Total record keeping hours: 75.

Total annual reporting hours: 593,215

(total hours per response plus total

recordkeeping hours).

Dated: October 1, 1997.

Yvette S. Jackson,

Acting Administrator, Food and Consumer

Service.

[FR Doc. 97–27103 Filed 10–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P