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[Federal Register: February 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 24)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5940-5941]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05fe10-21]                         

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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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[[Page 5940]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-TM-09-0080; TM-09-10]

 
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection, Federal-State Marketing 
Improvement Program (FSMIP).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 6, 2010 to be 
assured of consideration.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Janise Zygmont, Staff 
Officer, Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program, Transportation 
and Marketing Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, 1800 M Street, NW., Room 3002-South Tower, Washington, 
DC 20036, telephone: 202-694-4002; fax: 202-694-5950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). FSMIP 
provides matching grants on a competitive basis to enable States to 
explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural 
products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving 
the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system.
    Title: Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP).
    OMB Number: 0581-0240.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2010.
    Abstract: The primary objective of FSMIP is to enable States to 
explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural 
products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving 
the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible 
entities under this program include State departments of agriculture, 
State agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate State 
Agencies.
    AMS has established guidelines that contain full details about 
FSMIP and the application process. The guidelines and application forms 
are available from the FSMIP Staff Officer by calling 202/694-4002, 
faxing-202/694-5950, or e-mailing to janise.zygmont@ams.usda.gov. This 
information is also available at the FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FSMIP. FSMIP applicants must complete Form SF-424, 
``Application for Federal Assistance,'' (approved under OMB 
4040-0004) for each application. Form SF-424A, ``Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs,'' (approved under OMB 
4040-0006) also must be completed for each application to show 
the project's budget breakdown, both with regard to expense categories 
and the division between Federal and matching non-Federal sources, as 
applicable. A Proposal Narrative is also required for each application.
    AMS needs to receive the information contained in this collection 
of information to select the projects that will best meet and fulfill 
FSMIP program objectives. The selection process is competitive and AMS 
must ensure that limited funds are used for the intended purpose.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for completing the 
SF-424, SF-424A, and the Proposal Narrative is estimated to average 
12.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture, State agricultural 
experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 450.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,513 hours.
    After approval of the grant application and before grant funds are 
dispersed, grantees must complete the following forms to certify 
compliance with applicable Federal regulations: Form SF-424B, 
``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs,'' (approved under OMB 
4040-0007); AD-1047, Certification Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered 
Transactions; AD-1048, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions; 
and AD-1049, Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 
(Grants) Alternative 1-for Grantees Other Than Individuals.
    In addition, two copies of the Grant Agreement must be signed with 
an original signature and dated once by grantees after their proposals 
have been approved and before grant funds are dispersed. In the past, 
grantees were required to sign four copies of the Grant Agreement. AMS 
has determined that having grantees sign four original Grant Agreements 
was not necessary. This decision has no impact on the public reporting 
burden. The information will be used to affirm the award amount, time 
frame, objectives and work plan agreed upon by the grantee and USDA/
AMS. The Grant Agreement also outlines responsibilities of both parties 
with regard to the grant.
    Standard Form 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement (approved 
under OMB 0348-0004), is completed whenever the grantee 
requests an advance or reimbursement of grant funds. The information 
will be used to keep track of grant disbursements and the level of 
matching funds expended by the grantee during the grant period. We 
expect that grantees will submit a total of three SF-270 forms during 
the grant period.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for completing the 
SF-424B, AD-1047, AD-1048, AD-1049, the Grant Agreement, and three SF-
270 forms is estimated to average 3.23 hours per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture, State agricultural 
experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies.

[[Page 5941]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 200.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 646 hours.
    Progress Reports are required at the midpoint of projects approved 
for one year and at six-month intervals for projects of longer 
duration. Progress Reports should (1) briefly summarize activities 
performed and milestones achieved for each objective or sub-element of 
the narrative; (2) note unexpected delays or impediments as well as 
favorable or unusual developments; (3) outline work to be performed 
during the succeeding period; and (4) indicate the amount of grant and 
matching funds expended to date. We expect that grantees will submit a 
total of two Progress Reports during the grant period.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for two Progress 
Reports is estimated to average 14 hours per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture, State agricultural 
experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 50.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 700 hours.
    Not later than 90 days following the ending date of the Grant 
Agreement the grantee must submit Standard Form 425, Federal Financial 
Report (approved under OMB 0348-0061), to document the final 
financial status of the grant project and to indicate that the one-to-
one matching requirement has been met. In the past, grantees used 
Standard Form 269A (or Standard Form 269 if the grant involved program 
income) to document the final financial activity of the grant. Standard 
Forms 269A and 269 were discontinued by OMB as of October 1, 2009. AMS 
has determined that a new form, Standard Form 425 (OMB Approval Number 
0348-0061), is an acceptable replacement that will allow grantees to 
report the final financial activity of the grant. The public reporting 
burden for Standard Form 425 is estimated to average 1.5 hours per 
response, which is the same as the reporting burden for Standard Form 
269A.
    The grantee must also submit a Final Report of results and 
accomplishments within 90 days following the grant ending date. The 
Final Report will include:
     An outline of the issue or problem.
     A description of how the issue or problem was approached 
via the project.
     A description of the contribution of public or private 
agency cooperators.
     A description of results, conclusions and lessons learned.
     A summary of current or future benefits to be derived from 
the project.
     Additional information available (publications, Web 
sites).
     Recommendations for future research needed, if applicable.
     A description of the project beneficiaries.
     The contact person for the project with telephone number 
and e-mail address.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for completing 
Standard Form 425 and the Final Report is estimated to average 16.78 
hours per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture, State agricultural 
experiment stations, and other appropriate State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 838 hours.
    In accordance with 7 CFR 3016.42, grantees are required to maintain 
all financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, 
statistical records, and other records of grantees or sub-grantees for 
a period of three years from the day the grantee submits the final 
financial report.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for maintaining 
required records relating to the grant is estimated to average 1 hour 
per response.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture, State agricultural 
experiment stations, and other appropriate State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 25.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 25 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (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 may be sent to Janise Zygmont, 
FSMIP Staff Officer, USDA, AMS, 1800 M Street, NW., Room 3002-South 
Tower, Washington, DC 20036. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection during regular business hours at the same 
address.
    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.

    Dated: February 2, 2010.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-2543 Filed 2-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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