[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 51 (Monday, March 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12591-12594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6649]


========================================================================
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. 51 / Monday, March 17, 1997 / 
Notices

[[Page 12591]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation


Request for Public Comment on Information Collections Related to 
Crop Insurance Policies

AGENCY: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces a public comment period on the 
information collection requests (ICRs) associated with crop insurance 
policies administered by Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). As 
part of the renewal of OMB approval for these collections, FCIC will 
review and combine all current ICRs approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under 23 separate dockets into one ICR. 
Only the docket related to the non-insured disaster assistance program, 
OMB Number 0563-0016, will be excluded from this merger. Establishing 
one OMB docket permits FCIC to better organize, monitor and revise its 
collections as programs change, and helps FCIC identify opportunities 
to streamline collections.
    FCIC is soliciting comments concerning its information collections.

DATES: Written comments on this notice will be accepted until close of 
business May 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the Acting Director, Product Development Division, Federal Crop 
Insurance Corporation, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
9435 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. Written comments will be 
available for public inspection and copying in room 6741, South 
Building, USDA, 14th and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., 
8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., est., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Smith, Supervisory Insurance 
Management Specialist, Research and Development, Product Development 
Division, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, at the Kansas City, MO 
address listed above, telephone (816) 926-7743.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Federal Crop Insurance Policies.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Parties affected by the information 
collection requirements included in this Notice are producers, 
insurance companies reinsured by FCIC, insurance agents, and loss 
adjustment contractors.
    Abstract: FCIC is conducting a thorough review of information 
collections associated with its crop insurance policies. As part of 
this review, FCIC is reorganizing and renewing currently approved 
information collections, and identifying any current collections that 
have not been approved by OMB. The ICRs affected by this review have 
been approved by OMB at different times under 23 different docket 
numbers. They are currently up for renewal and extension for three 
years. Establishing one common OMB docket number permits FCIC to 
maintain one ICR and to submit a single request once every three years 
when OMB approval must be renewed. Combining the agency's ICRs into one 
package also provides FCIC an opportunity to analyze the need for each 
of its forms, identify duplication, and plan streamlining of 
collections.
    FCIC seeks public comment regarding the following: (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; (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 respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information gathering 
technology.
    Background: The information collected by FCIC allows it to provide 
an actuarially sound insurance program for producers and increases 
producers' risk management options. The information is collected by 
Farm Service Agency personnel, crop insurance agents and loss 
adjusters. Various forms are used in gathering the information required 
by FCIC for the application, acceptance, and issuance of crop insurance 
policies and determining insurance coverage, premium, and the amount of 
production and loss. The information on these forms is then 
electronically transmitted to FCIC by the insurance provider. This data 
is used to administer the Federal crop insurance program in accordance 
with the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended.
    The collections identified in this notice also provide FCIC with 
data for establishing new and different types of insurance coverage or 
crop options to increase insurance protection. Policy provisions and 
options permit producers to personalize their insurance coverage 
through written agreements, which allow deviations from the written 
policy, providing exclusions for hail and fire or high-risk land, etc.
    Insurance providers must use the FCIC guidelines if they want to 
develop similar forms that fit their individual needs. Forms developed 
and produced on paper or electronically-generated by insurance 
providers will contain all required data and must be approved by FCIC.
    Since crops differ significantly, FCIC customizes its required 
information collections for each crop that it insures. The type and 
amount of information determined by FCIC as necessary to establish and 
maintain the crop insurance program must also be reasonable, and FCIC 
must take into consideration the time and cost to producers, insurance 
providers, insurance agents, and loss adjusters. FCIC is reviewing the 
burden calculations in preparation of applying for renewal of OMB 
approval of its information collections. FCIC is also identifying and 
reducing duplication of its forms.
    Burden Statement: FCIC has conducted a careful estimate of its 
current information collection burden. FCIC must estimate a burden for 
its forms that includes the time to complete the form and for the 
representative to explain the benefits of the program to the producer. 
Various activities of the loss adjuster (e.g., measuring acreage and 
making appraisals) must also be considered in the burden estimates.

[[Page 12592]]

FCIC has reviewed burden estimates for all of its forms, and the new 
burden estimates are lower for 52 forms and unchanged for 42 forms. 
FCIC is seeking approval from OMB for the burden associated with 30 
additional forms that are also described below. FCIC used the 1996 crop 
year Summary of Business totals and computer generated reports to 
determine a total number of policyholders.
    Total Burden: Burden hours and costs to respondents are described 
individually in the 23 currently-approved OMB dockets. FCIC is 
proposing to combine these dockets into one. Under the combined docket, 
FCIC estimates a total burden of 1,341,259 hours for all crop policy 
information collections.
    Frequency of Reporting: Some sales forms are completed only when a 
producer applies for crop insurance, e.g., the application and most 
coverage options. Canceling and reinstating insurance coverage, 
transferring insurance coverage to a different reinsured company, and 
changing the amount of insurance coverage are instances when these 
forms would have to be completed again. Other forms are completed 
annually, such as forms used to collect crop acreage data, production 
data used to establish the insurance guarantee, and administrative 
forms such as the assignment of indemnity and certain coverage options. 
More than one crop may be reported on one form and producers may need 
to complete more than one form per year, for example when planting both 
spring and winter wheat which have different reporting dates. Some 
acreage reports may need to be revised which will require an additional 
report to be submitted during the crop year. Notice of damage and claim 
forms are completed by crop year, crop, and unit when a crop has been 
damaged or destroyed.
    FCIC reviewed each form and estimated the proportion of insureds 
who complete each form in a given year, recognizing that some insureds 
complete the forms more than once in any given year. This proportion 
was multiplied by the number of insureds for each crop for the 1996 
crop year to determine the total annual number of responses. To 
determine the average number of completed Claim for Indemnity forms 
FCI-74, FCI-8, and FCI-63, FCIC generated indemnity records by crop and 
by unit for the 1993 through the 1996 crop years. The total annual 
responses for these claim forms were calculated by averaging the number 
of units indemnified during this period. Certain forms are used for 
each loss. FCIC estimated the proportion of losses requiring specific 
forms and multiplied that value times the average number of units 
indemnified to determine the total annual responses for such forms.
    Recordkeeping Requirements: FCIC requires records to be kept for 
three years, but all records required by FCIC are retained as part of 
normal business practice. Therefore, FCIC is not estimating additional 
burden related to recordkeeping.
    Nature and Purpose of Information Collected: The various categories 
of forms, the nature of the information collected, and the purpose for 
the information are described below.
    Sales documents provide the information required to issue a crop 
insurance policy, such as the insured's name, address, social security 
number, crops to be insured, dollar amount of insurance or price 
election and level of coverage selected by the producer, crop condition 
reports for perennial crops, assignment or transfer of indemnity, power 
of attorney, or other information affecting policy benefits.
    Yield Reports establish an individual insured's actual production 
history yield and provide the basis for calculating the insured's 
production guarantee. The production guarantee is the simple average of 
a minimum of four yearly yields up to a maximum of ten yields.
    Option forms allow an insured to modify the insurance coverage 
contained in the provisions in the crop insurance policy. An option may 
provide additional insurable causes of loss or limit those causes of 
loss, provide different methods of determining losses, or provide 
different types of unit division to increase an insured's protection, 
etc.
    Acreage reports indicate the location, number of acres, dates 
planted, share (percent of interest), and other information by unit for 
each crop to be insured. The reports includes such information as plant 
inventory and container reports for nursery crops, planting records for 
some crops, and tonnage reports for raisins. These reports are used to 
determine premium and liability and must be submitted on or before the 
final acreage reporting date specified in the Special Provisions.
    Notice of Damage and Claim Forms notify an insurance provider of 
damage to the crop. Appraisal worksheets for each individual crop are 
used in the field by the loss adjuster to determine the production to 
be counted in establishing the loss. Other forms in this category are 
various inspection, appraisal, production records, and claim for 
indemnity documents. The claim for indemnity form summarizes 
information determined by the loss adjuster and is required to compute 
the amount of an indemnity. The loss adjuster will determine from 
records, appraisals, and measurements, the amount of harvested and 
unharvested production, primary and secondary (when applicable) causes 
of loss, number of units (when applicable), number of planted and 
harvested acres and any other information necessary to determine the 
amount of loss.
    Forms and Previous OMB Docket Numbers: The following lists have 
been compiled by grouping the various forms by the type and intended 
use of the information required on each form.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Current OMB
                          Form No.                                         Form title                    No.    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Sales Documents                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCI-5......................................................  Request for Actuarial Change..........    0563-0042
FCI-5A.....................................................  Request for Actuarial Change..........    0563-0042
FCI-6......................................................  Statement of Facts....................    0563-0003
FCI-12.....................................................  Crop Insurance Application............    0563-0003
FCI-12A....................................................  Contract Changes......................    0563-0003
FCI-12P....................................................  Pre-Acceptance Perennial Crop             0563-0031
                                                              Inspection Report.                                
FCI-19C....................................................  Texas Citrus Grove inspection Report..    0563-0003
FCI-20.....................................................  Application for Assignment of             0563-0014
                                                              Indemnity.                                        
FCI-21.....................................................  Transfer of Right to Indemnity........    0563-0014
FCI-513....................................................  Waiver To Transfer Segregation II and     0563-0026
                                                              III--Peanuts To Quota Loan.                       
FCI-518*...................................................  Florida Citrus Grove Inspection Report  0563-      
                                                                                                                
FCI-532....................................................  Power of Attorney.....................    0563-0030

[[Page 12593]]

                                                                                                                
FCI-544....................................................  Underwriting Questionnaire (Container     0563-0034
                                                              Stock Only).                                      
FCI-554....................................................  Macadamia Orchard Inspection Report...    0563-0015
FCI-575....................................................  Social Security Number (SSN) and          0563-0047
                                                              Employer Identification (EIN)                     
                                                              Reporting Form.                                   
FCI-576....................................................  Disclaimer............................    0563-0049
FCI-583*...................................................  Authorization to Obtain Prune Records.  0563-      
                                                                                                                
FCI-587*...................................................  Request to Waive Administrative Fees    0563-      
                                                              for Catastrophic Crop Coverage.                   
FCI-588*...................................................  Producer's Pre-Acceptance Worksheet...  0563-      
                                                                                                                
FCI-589*...................................................  Pre-Acceptance Inspection Report--      0563-      
                                                              Peach Addendum Worksheet.                         
FCI-590*...................................................  Pre-Acceptance Inspection Report--      0563-      
                                                              Apple Addendum Worksheet.                         
FCI-591*...................................................  Pre-Acceptance Inspection Report--      0563-      
                                                              Almonds, Citrus, Figs, Fr. Plums,                 
                                                              Stonefruit, Walnuts, Addendum                     
                                                              Worksheet.                                        
FCI-592*...................................................  Pre-Acceptance Inspection Report--      0563-      
                                                              Blueberry Addendum Worksheet.                     
FCI-*......................................................  Pre-Acceptance Inspection Report--      0563-      
                                                              Cranberry Addendum Worksheet.                     
FCI-*......................................................  Pre-Acceptance Inspection Report--      0563-      
                                                              Grape/Table Grape Addendum Worksheet.             
FCI-*......................................................  Pre-Acceptance Inspection Report--Pear  0563-      
                                                              Addendum Worksheet.                               
FCI-*......................................................  Block Production Worksheet............  0563-      
                                                                                                                
FCI-*......................................................  Unit Summary Worksheet................  0563-      
                                                                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Yield Report Forms                                               
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCI-19A....................................................  Actual Production History Review......    0563-0016
FCI-19A....................................................  Production and Yield Report...........    0563-0003
FCI-555....................................................  Peach Producer's Picking Records......    0563-0022
FCI-595*...................................................  Hybrid Corn Seed Approved Yields......  0563-      
                                                                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Option Forms                                                  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCI-9......................................................  Late Planting Agreement...............    0563-0023
FCI-78.....................................................  Request To Exclude Hail and Fire......    0563-0032
FCI-505....................................................  Potato Crop insurance Policy--            0563-0020
                                                              Certified Seed Potato Option                      
                                                              Amendment.                                        
FCI-506....................................................  Apple Fresh Fruit Option..............    0563-0020
FCI-523....................................................  Potato Crop Insurance Policy--Potato      0563-0020
                                                              Quality Option.                                   
FCI-539....................................................  Apple Sunburn Option..................    0563-0020
FCI-547....................................................  Potato Crop Insurance Policy--            0563-0020
                                                              Processing Potato Quality Option.                 
FCI-548....................................................  Potato Crop Insurance Policy--Frost/      0563-0020
                                                              Freeze Potato Option.                             
FCI-549....................................................  High-Risk Land Exclusion Option.......    0563-0003
FCI-550....................................................  Fresh Market Tomato Minimum Value         0563-0020
                                                              Option.                                           
FCI-553....................................................  Unit Division Option..................    0563-0003
FCI-577....................................................  Nursery Frost, Freeze, and Cold.......    0563-0050
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Acreage Report Forms                                              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCI-19.....................................................  Crop Insurance Acreage Report.........    0563-0003
FCI-527....................................................  Fresh Sweet Corn Planting Record......    0563-0022
FCI-528....................................................  Peppers--Planting Record..............    0563-0022
FCI-529....................................................  Tomatoes--Planting Record.............    0563-0022
FCI-544....................................................  Underwriting Questionnaire (Container     0563-0034
                                                              Stock Only).                                      
FCI-545....................................................  Nursery Container Report..............    0563-0034
FCI-546....................................................  Nursery Provisions Plant Inventory        0563-0034
                                                              Summary.                                          
FCI-819....................................................  Raisin Supplement--Tonnage Report.....    0563-0035
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Notice of Damage and Claim Forms                                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCI-8......................................................  Notice of Damage or loss..............             
FCI-63.....................................................  Claim for Citrus Indemnity............    0563-0016
FCI-63.....................................................  Claim for Raisin Indemnity............    0563-0016
FCI-63A....................................................  Adjuster's Florida Citrus Worksheet...    0563-0016
FCI-63A....................................................  Notice of Damage and Inspection--         0563-0035
                                                              Raisins.                                          
FCI-63B....................................................  Tabulation of Production Records From     0563-0044
                                                              Individual Load Certificates FL.                  
                                                              Citrus.                                           
FCI-63C....................................................  Florida Citrus Production Sheet.......    0563-0044
FCI-73.....................................................  Certification Form....................    0563-0033
FCI-74.....................................................  Field Inspection and Claim for            0563-0016
                                                              Indemnity.                                        
FCI-74 (Continuation Sheet)................................  Field Inspection and Claim for            0563-0016
                                                              Indemnity (Continuation Sheet).                   
FCI-74T-P-C................................................  Field Inspection and Claim for            0563-0016
                                                              Indemnity (Tobacco, Peanuts, and                  
                                                              Cotton).                                          
FCI-74T-P-C (Continuation Sheet)...........................  Field Inspection and Claim for            0563-0016
                                                              Indemnity (Tobacco, Peanuts, and                  
                                                              Cotton-Continuation Sheet).                       
FCI-74T-P-C*...............................................  AUP Cotton Quality Adjustment           0563-      
                                                              Worksheet.                                        
FCI-74T-P-C*...............................................  ELS Cotton Quality Adjustment           0563-      
                                                              Worksheet.                                        
FCI-74A....................................................  Adjuster's Apple Worksheet............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Avocado Appraisal Worksheet...........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Beans and Peas Appraisal Worksheet....    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Canning & Processing Beans--Stand         0563-0016
                                                              Reduction and Hail Appraisal                      
                                                              Worksheet.                                        
FCI-74A....................................................  Blueberry Appraisal Worksheet.........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Lowbush Blueberry Appraisal Worksheet.    0563-0016

[[Page 12594]]

                                                                                                                
FCI-74A....................................................  Canola Appraisal Worksheet............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Citrus Appraisal Worksheet--(AZ/CA)...    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Citrus Appraisal Worksheet--(Texas)...    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Texas Tree Citrus Appraisal Worksheet.    0563-0016
FCI-74A (Continuation Sheet)...............................  Appraisal Worksheet (Texas Citrus Tree    0563-0016
                                                              Damage Continuation Sheet).                       
FCI-74A....................................................  Sweet Corn--Fresh/Canning & Freezing      0563-0016
                                                              Appraisal Worksheet.                              
FCI-74A....................................................  Corn, Grain Sorghum, and Silage           0563-0016
                                                              Appraisal Worksheet.                              
FCI-74A....................................................  Cotton Appraisal Worksheet............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Fig Appraisal Worksheet...............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Flax Appraisal Worksheet..............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Florida Fruit Tree Pilot Appraisal        0563-0016
                                                              Worksheet.                                        
FCI-74A (Continuation Sheet)...............................  Florida Fruit Tree Pilot Appraisal        0563-0016
                                                              Worksheet (Continuation Sheet).                   
FCI-74A....................................................  Forage Appraisal Worksheet............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Grape/Table Grape--Appraisal Worksheet    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Macadamia Trees Appraisal Worksheet...    0563-0016
FCI-74A (Continuation Sheet)...............................  Macadamia Tree Appraisal Worksheet        0563-0016
                                                              (Continuation Sheet).                             
FCI-74A....................................................  Millet Appraisal Worksheet (Does not      0563-0016
                                                              require OMB approval).                            
FCI-74A....................................................  Nut Trees (Nut Count) Appraisal           0563-0016
                                                              Worksheet.                                        
FCI-74A*...................................................  Onion Appraisal Worksheet.............  0563-      
                                                                                                                
FCI-74A....................................................  Peach Appraisal Worksheet.............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Peanuts Appraisal Worksheet...........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Pear Appraisal Worksheet..............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Peppers/Fresh Tomatoes Appraisal          0563-0016
                                                              Worksheet (Planting to Fruit Set/                 
                                                              Replant).                                         
FCI-74A....................................................  Fresh Plums Appraisal Worksheet.......    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Potatoes Appraisal Worksheet..........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Prune Appraisal Worksheet.............    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Random Path Appraisal Worksheet.......    0563-0039
FCI-74A....................................................  Safflower Appraisal Worksheet.........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Small Grains Appraisal Worksheet          0563-0016
                                                              (Wheat-Barley-Rye-Rice).                          
FCI-74A....................................................  Soybeans Appraisal Worksheet..........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Stonefruit Appraisal Worksheet........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Sugar Beets Appraisal Worksheet.......    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Sugarcane Appraisal Worksheet.........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Sunflowers Appraisal Worksheet........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  Tobacco Appraisal Worksheet...........    0563-0016
FCI-74A....................................................  C&P Tomatoes Appraisal Worksheet......    0563-0016
FCI-74B....................................................  Apple Appraisal Worksheet.............    0563-0016
FCI-74B....................................................  Peanut Computation Sheet..............    0563-0041
FCI-74B....................................................  Pepper Appraisal Worksheet (Fruit Set     0563-0016
                                                              to Maturity).                                     
FCI-74B....................................................  Corn & Grain Sorghum--Stand Reduction     0563-0016
                                                              Appraisal Worksheet.                              
FCI-74B....................................................  Fresh Tomatoes Appraisal Worksheet        0563-0016
                                                              (After Fruit Set).                                
FCI-74C....................................................  Summary of Harvested Avocado              0563-0016
                                                              Production Worksheet.                             
FCI-74C....................................................  Corn & Grain Sorghum Hail Damage          0563-0016
                                                              Appraisal Worksheet.                              
FCI-74C....................................................  Peppers/Fresh Tomatoes/Fresh Sweet        0563-0040
                                                              Corn--Summary of Harvested Production.            
FCI-74C-VC*................................................  Peanut Computation Sheet..............  0563-      
                                                                                                                
FCI-551....................................................  Raisin Reconditioning Pool Production     0563-0035
                                                              to Count.                                         
FCI-552....................................................  Self-Certification Replant Worksheet..    0563-0037
FCI-578 *..................................................  Raisin Packer's Release of Insured      0563-      
                                                              Raisins.                                          
FCI-579 *..................................................  Raisin Release to an Alternative Use    0563-      
                                                              Market.                                           
FCI-580 *..................................................  Raisin Release to Disk................  0563-      
                                                                                                                
FCI-581 *..................................................  Raisin Reconditioning Authorization...  0563-      
                                                                                                                
FCI-582 *..................................................  Raisin Appraisal Worksheet............  0563-      
                                                                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Seeking OMB approval.                                                                                         

    Signed in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 1997.
Kenneth D. Ackerman,
Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
[FR Doc. 97-6649 Filed 3-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-FA-P