[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 7205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3846]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 32 / Tuesday, February 18, 1997 / 
Notices

[[Page 7205]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Intent To Extend and Revise a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 
CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) intention to request an 
extension for and revision to a currently approved information 
collection, the annual survey of farmer cooperatives, as authorized in 
the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before April 21, 
1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles A. Kraenzle, Director, 
Statistics and Technical Services Staff, RBS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 3256, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 
20250-3256, Telephone (202) 720-3189.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Annual Survey of Farmer Cooperatives.
    OMB Number: 0570-0007.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1997.
    Type of Request: Intent to extend and revise a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The primary objective of Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service (RBS) is to promote understanding, use and development of the 
cooperative form of business as a viable option for enhancing the 
income of agricultural producers and other rural residents. Cooperative 
Services' (CS) direct role is providing knowledge to improve the 
effectiveness and performance of farmer cooperative businesses through 
technical assistance, research, information, and education. The annual 
survey of farmer cooperatives collects basic statistics on cooperative 
business volume, net income, members, financial status, employees, and 
other selected information to support CS' objective and role. 
Cooperative statistics are published in various reports and used by the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperative leaders, educators, and 
others in planning and promoting the cooperative form of business.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 29 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmer cooperatives.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,082.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,487 Hours.
    Copies of this information collection and repeated instructions can 
be obtained from Sam Spencer, Regulations and Paperwork Management 
Division, at (202) 720-9588.

Comments

    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 will have 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; and (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 
forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Sam Spencer, 
Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0743, Washington, DC 20250-0743. 
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: February 5, 1997.
Dayton J. Watkins,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3846 Filed 2-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-U