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

59816

Vol. 65, No. 195

Friday, October 6, 2000

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

October 2, 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, D.C. 20503 and to

Departmental Clearance Office, USDA,

OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, D.C.

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.

• Food and Nutrition Service

Title: Form FNS–388, State Issuance

and Participation Estimates.

OMB Control Number: 0584–0081.

Summary of Collection: Section 18(b)

of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as

amended, requires that ‘‘In any fiscal

year, the Secretary shall limit the value

of those allotments issued (under the

Food Stamp Program) to an amount not

in excess of the appropriation for such

fiscal year.’’ Timely State monthly

issuance estimates are necessary for the

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to

ensure that it remains within the

appropriation and will have a direct

effect upon the manner in which

allotments would be reduced when

necessary. FNS uses the FNS–388 report

to obtain monthly Statewide estimated

or actual issuance and participation data

for the current and previous months,

and the actual participation data for the

second preceding month.

Need and Use of the Information: The

FNS–388 report provides the necessary

data for an early warning system to

enable the Department to fulfill the

requirements of Section 18(b) of the

Food Stamp Act. In addition, the data is

used to: (1) Validate the Annual Food

Stamp Household Characteristic Survey;

(2) to compile a Statistical Summary

Report which is used for special studies

and in response to Congressional and

other inquiries; and (3) to compare

against the coupon issuance points’

FNS–250 (which reports issuances from

inventory) and reconciliation points’

FNS–46 issuance data (which reports

issuances for coupons, electronic benefit

transfer, and cash-out) for indications of

accountability problems.

Description of Respondents: State,

Local, or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 53.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

Monthly; Semi-annually.

Total Burden Hours: 4,542.

• Rural Housing Service

Title: Notice of Funds Availability

(NOFA) Inviting Applications for the

Rural Community Development

Initiative (RCDI).

OMB Control Number: 0575–0180.

Summary of Collection: The Rural

Community Development Initiative

(RCDI) was created by Congress in

Fiscal Year 2000 with an appropriation

of $6 million under the Rural

Community Advancement Program. The

Rural Housing Service (RHS) will

administer the grant program. The

grants will be made to qualified

intermediary organizations that will

provide technical assistance to

recipients to increase their capacity and

ability in the areas of housing,

community facilities, and community

and economic development in rural

areas. Eligible recipients are private,

nonprofit community/based housing

and community development

organizations and low-income rural

communities.

Need and Use of the Information:

RHS will collect information to

determine applicant/grantee eligibility,

project feasibility, and to ensure that

grantees operate on a sound basis and

use grant funds for authorized purposes.

Failure to collect this information could

result in improper use of Federal funds.

Description of Respondents: Not-for

profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 100.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly;

Annually

Total Burden Hours: 1,702.

• Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: Tart Cherries Grown in the

states of MI, NY, PA, OR, UT, WA, and

WI.

OMB Control Number : 0581–0177.

Summary of Collection: Marketing

Order No. 930 (7 CFR part 930) regulates

the handling of tart cherries grown in

the states of Michigan, New York,

Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah,

Washington, and Wisconsin. The

Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act

of 1937 was designed to permit

regulation of certain agricultural

commodities for the purpose of

providing orderly marketing conditions

in inter and intrastate commerce and

improving returns to growers. The

primary objective of the Order is to

stabilize the supply of tart cherries.

Only tart cherries that will be canned or

frozen will be regulated. The Order is

administered by a 18 member Board

comprised of producers, handlers and

one public member with each member

serving for a three-year term office.

Need and Use of the Information:

Various forms are used to collect

information necessary to effectively

carry out the requirements of the Order.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Notices 59817

The information gathered is used to

ensure compliance, verify eligibility,

and vote on amendments, monitor and

record grower’s information. Authorized

Board employees and the industry are

the primary users of the information.

Description of Respondents: Business

or other for profit; arms.

Number of Respondents: 943.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 852.

• Food and Nutrition Service

Title: Worksheet for Food Stamp

Program Quality Control Reviews, FNS–

380.

OMB Control Number: 0584–0074.

Summary of Collection: State agencies

are required to perform Quality Control

reviews for the Food Stamp Program in

conjunction with Section 16 of the Food

Stamp Act of 1977. The Food Stamp

Worksheet provides a systematic means

of aiding the State agency’s quality

control reviewer in analyzing household

case records; planning and carrying out

the field investigations; and gathering,

comparing, analyzing and evaluating the

review data. The Food and Nutrition

Service (FNS) has traditionally used the

FNS–380 as a hardcopy worksheet;

however, recent efforts to automate the

form have been completed. FNS would

like to implement an automated version

of the form at the beginning of FY 2001.

Need and Use of the Information: FNS

will use the hardcopy and automated

versions of the FNS–380 to document

and evaluate each step of the field

investigation process to determine

eligibility and payment amounts under

FNS approved State practices.

Description of Respondents: State,

Local, or Tribal Government; Federal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 53.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;

Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 491,967.

• Rural Business—Cooperative Service

Title: Research on Rural Cooperative

Opportunities and Problems.

OMB Control Number: 0570–0028.

Summary of Collection: The

Department of Agriculture

Reorganization Act of 1994, Public Law

103–350, established the Rural

Business-Cooperative Service (RBS).

RBS’ mission 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 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.

• Economic Research Service

Title: Study of Program Access and

Declining Food Stamp Participation.

OMB Control Number: 0536–NEW.

Summary of Collection: The

Economic Research Service (ERS) of the

Department of Agriculture (USDA) has

the responsibility to provide social and

economic intelligence on consumer,

food marketing, and rural issues,

including: domestic food assistance

programs; low-income assistance

programs; food security status of the

poor; food consumption determinants

and trends; consumer demand for food

quality, safety, and nutrition; food

market competition and coordination;

and food safety regulations. The Food

Stamp Program (FSP) is the cornerstone

of the Nation’s nutrition safety net for

low-income Americans. The program’s

intent is to eliminate hunger and enable

eligible low-income persons to obtain a

more nutritionally adequate diet by

providing food stamp coupons (or other

forms of payment) redeemable at many

retail food stores. USDA is concerned

about the declines in Food Stamp

Program participation that have

occurred since 1994, and whether or not

the program is reaching all those in

need. In an effort to better understand

the factors affecting Food Stamp

Program participants, the ERS will

launch a study. The evaluation is being

performed pursuant to Public Law 95–

73, which authorizes USDA to

undertake research in this area.

Need and Use of the Information: ERS

will collect information to describe the

policies and practices in local food

stamp offices, particularly those

instituted since welfare reform, that may

affect accessibility to the FSP; to

examine how local policies and

practices affect households’ decisions to

apply for food stamps and their

decisions to continue to receive food

stamps; and to examine the reason

eligible households do not participate in

the FSP. If the information is not

collected, FNS would be severely

limited in its ability to make appropriate

policy decisions regarding the FSP.

Description of Respondents:

Individuals; State, Local, or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 37,278.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

Other (one time).

Total Burden Hours: 5,110.5.

• Rural Housing Service

Title: 7 CFR 3570–B, Community

Facilities Grant Program.

OMB Control Number: 0575–0173.

Summary of Collection: The

Consolidated Farm and Rural

Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926)

authorizes the Rural Housing Service

(RHS) to make grants to public agencies,

nonprofit corporations, and Indian

tribes to develop essential community

facilities and services for public use in

rural areas. These facilities include

schools, libraries, childcare, hospitals,

clinics, assisted-living facilities, fire and

rescuer stations, police stations,

community centers, public buildings,

and transportation. The Department of

Agriculture through its Community

Programs strives to ensure that facilities

are readily available to all rural

communities.

Need and Use of the Information:

Rural Development field offices will

collect information from applicant/

borrowers and consultants. This

information is used 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 information

could have an adverse impact on

effectively carrying out the mission,

administration, processing, and program

requirements.

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

Government.

Number of Respondents: 294.

59818 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Notices

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 1,078.

• Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: Vegetable and Specialty Crops.

OMB Control Number: 0581–0178.

Summary of Collection: The

Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act

of 1937 was designed to permit

regulation of certain agricultural

commodities for the purpose of

providing orderly marketing conditions

in inter and intrastate commerce and

improving returns to growers. The Order

and agreements are administered by

committees/board comprised of

producers/growers, handlers and in

some cases, a member representing the

public. The marketing order programs

provide an opportunity for producers of

fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty

crops, in specified production areas to

work together to solve marketing

problems that cannot be solved

individually.

Need and Use of the Information:

Various forms are used to collect

information necessary to effectively

carry out the requirements of the Act

and the Order/Agreement. Information

collected is used to formulate market

policy, track current inventory and

statistical data for market development

programs, ensure compliance, and

verify eligibility, monitor and record

grower’s information. The Committees/

Boards periodically review the forms to

avoid unnecessary duplication by

industry and public sector agencies. If

information were not collected, it would

eliminate data needed to keep the

industry and the Secretary abreast of

changes at the State and local level.

Description of Respondents: Business

or other for profit; Farms; Federal

Government; Individuals or households;

Not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 17,463.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

On occasion, Quarterly, Biennially,

Weekly, Semi-annually, Monthly,

Annually and Recordkeeping.

Total Burden Hours: 9,102.

• National Agricultural Statistics

Service

Title: Nursery and Greenhouse

Production Survey and Nursery and

Floriculture Chemical Use Survey.

OMB Control Number: 0535–NEW.

Summary of Collection: In February

1997, the Secretary of Agriculture

issued the report of the Civil Rights

Action Team entitled ‘‘Civil Rights at

the Department of Agriculture.’’ Civil

Rights teams were formed to implement

the report recommendations. One of the

recommendations that was a direct

outcome of the evaluation was the

condition of farm workers. The team

recognized the need for reliable

pesticide use information about

enterprises that involve farm workers

and requested that the National

Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

obtain pesticide use information for

commodities which require intensive

farm labor. Congress appropriated funds

for the collection of pesticide use data

on nursery and flouriculture operations.

NASS will incorporate biennial nursery

production statistics into the NASS

estimating program to measure the

nursery industry’s growing significance

to the agriculture economy and also

provide a link to the collection of

chemical use data. The data will be

collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C.

2204(a). NASS will collect information

using surveys.

Need and Use of the Information:

NASS will collect information to assess

the environmental and economic impact

of various programs, policies, and

procedures on nursery and flouriculture

operators and their workers. The basic

chemical use and farm practices

information will be used to enhance the

national chemical use database

maintained by NASS. The information

will also aid in determining the needs

of growers, such as appropriation of

research funds to target pests and

diseases.

Description of Respondents: Farms;

Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 9,834.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

Biennially.

Total Burden Hours: 5,098.

Nancy B. Sternberg,

Departmental Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–25727 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service

Notice of Public Meeting on U.S.

Participation in the 17th Annual

Meeting of the International

Consultative Group on Food Irradiation

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: FAS is informing the public

of a meeting to be held Friday, October

20, 2000, at the U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this meeting is to solicit

public comment on U.S. participation in

the 17th annual meeting of the

International Consultative Group on

Food Irradiation (ICGFI), November 1–3,

2000, in Geneva, Switzerland, including

future activities (Plan of Work), U.S.

level of contributions (funding), and

ICGFI’s role. It is also to seek public

input in identifying any new issues of

concern that should be considered.

Representatives from past delegations

will also be present to apprise the

public of the background of ICGFI, its

mandate, past contributions and to

respond to questions. ICGFI was

established under the joint aegis of the

Food and Agriculture Organization of

the United Nations (FAO), the

International Atomic Energy Agency

(IAEA) and the World Health

Organization (WHO).

The functions of ICGFI are:

1. To evaluate global developments in the

field of food irradiation;

2. To provide a focal point of advice on the

application of food irradiation to Member

States and the three Organizations; and

3. To furnish information, as required,

through the Organizations, to the Joint FAO/

IAEA/WHO Expert Committee on the

Wholesomeness of Irradiated Food and the

Codex Alimentarius Commission.

DATES: The public meeting date is

Friday, October 20, 2000, 9 a.m. to 11

a.m., Washington, DC in the back of the

cafeteria, South Building. Written

comments should be submitted by

October 17, 2000. All visitors should

enter at Wing 2 on the C Street side of

the South Building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Foreign Agricultural Service,

International Trade Policy, Food Safety

and Technical Services Division, Room

5545, South Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720–1301;

or e-mail ofsts@fas.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Topics To Be Discussed at the Public

Meeting Include the Following:

Should the United States continue to

support ICGFI financially?

Should United States government

funding for ICGFI continue at the

same level, increase, or decrease?

Should contributions continue to come

only from the Government, or should

industry contribute as well (or in

place of the Government)?

Should the proposed ‘‘Programme of

Work and Budget for 2001’’ be

approved?

Programme of work

Estimated

budget

(US$)

1. International Trade

(a) Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS) for Food

Inspectors ..................................... 25,000