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

20164

Vol. 63, No. 78

Thursday, April 23, 1998

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

April 17, 1998.

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.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Title: Research on Rural Cooperative

Opportunities and Problems.

OMB Control Number: 0570–New.

Summary of Collection: The mission

of the Rural Business-Cooperative

Service (RBS) 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. Approximately $1.9

million in competitive cooperative

agreement funds have been allocated for

RBS to award to public or private

colleges or universities, research

foundations maintained by a college or

university, or private nonprofit

organizations to encourage research 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.

Information required from applicants

applying for these funds will include

written proposals and forms describing

the proposed research project and the

individual or organization’s profile and

legal authority to apply for funds. If

selected, the funding recipient, will be

required to submit quarterly progress

reports and maintain financial records

and supporting documentation for three

years.

Need and Use of the Information: The

application information to be collected

will be used by RBS to evaluate (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. Progress reports from

funding recipients will be used to

monitor the actual accomplishments to

established objectives and compliance

with funding requirements.

Recordkeeping requirements are

imposed by regulation to support audit

activities.

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 100.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;

Quarterly.

Total Burden Hours: 2,280.

Food and Nutrition Service

Title: Food Stamp Program

Regulations, Quality control—Part 275.

OMB Control Number: 0584–0303.

Summary of Collection: The Food and

Nutrition Service (FNS), as

administrator of the Food Stamp

Program, requires each State agency

implementing a quality control system

to provide a basis for determining each

State agency’s error rates through review

of a sample of Food Stamp cases. Each

State agency is responsible for the

design and selection of the quality

control samples and must submit a

quality control sampling plan for

approval to FNS. Additionally, State

agencies are required to maintain case

records for three years to ensure

compliance with provisions of the Food

Stamp Act.

Need and Use of the Information: The

quality control sampling plan is

necessary for FNS to monitor State

operations and is essential to the

determination of a State agency’s error

rate and corresponding entitlement to

increased Federal share of its

administrative costs or liability for

sanctions.

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: 3,830.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Title: Revolving Loan Funds

Capitalized by USDA Rural

Development.

OMB Control Number: 0570–New.

Summary of Collection: The Rural

Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an

agency within the Rural Development

mission areas of USDA, operates several

programs that provide funds to

organizations to be used for loans to

third-party recipients. RBS currently has

little information about the ultimate

recipients of these programs.

Accordingly, RBS has entered into a

cooperative agreement with Virginia

Polytechnic Institute and State

University (VA Tech) to development an

automated data base of information on
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 78 /Thursday, April 23, 1998 / Notices 20165

ultimate recipients of loans. Collection

of information will be accomplished

through the use of a form that may be

completed manually or electronically.

Need and Use of the Information: The

information collected will include data

about the ultimate recipients of loans

made by intermediaries (i.e.,

organizations which receive loans or

grants directly from the Federal

government). This information will

improve measurement of program

impacts in accordance with the National

Performance and Results Act and

provide information necessary for an

analysis of the potential for secondary

market sales of the loans held by the

intermediaries.

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit; Federal Government; State, Local

or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 550.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 2,750.

Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: Marketing Agreement No. 146,

Regulating the Quality of Domestically

Produced Peanuts (7 CFR Part 998).

OMB Control Number: 0581–0067.

Summary of Collection: The

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS),

through the authorities emanating from

the Agricultural Marketing Agreement

Act of 1937 and marketing agreement

No. 146 (covering peanuts grown in the

U.S.), regulates certain agricultural

commodities for the purpose of

providing orderly marketing conditions

in interstate commerce and improving

returns to producers. The required

information relating to peanut supplies,

shipments, inspection, disposition, and

other inventory information is collected

through the use of standardized forms

and written letters.

Need and Use of the Information: The

information collected falls into two

categories: (1) Information from peanut

handlers nominated, and subsequently

selected, to serve on the Peanut

Administrative Committee, and (2)

information about peanut stocks—

quantity purchased and milled, and

monthly expenses. The information

related to the first category is used by

the Secretary of Agriculture to

determine whether nominees are

eligible to serve in the positions for

which they were nominated.

Information in the second category is

necessary to implement regulations and

provide oversight of the marketing

agreement.

Description of Respondents: Business

or other for-profit; Farms.

Number of Respondents: 29.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;

Monthly; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 126.

Rural Housing Service

Title: Form RD 1940–59, Settlement

Statement.

OMB Control Number: 0575–0088.

Summary of Collection: The Rural

Housing (RHS) and the Farm Service

Agency (FSA) are requesting an

extension of the OMB clearance for

Form RD 1940–59, ‘‘Settlement

Statement.’’ The Real Estate Settlement

Procedures Act (RESPA), as amended,

requires the disclosure of real estate

settlement costs to real estate buyers

and sellers. Disclosure of the nature and

costs of a mortgage transaction enables

the borrower to be a more informed

customer and protects the public from

unnecessarily high settlement charges.

Need and Use of the Information:

Form RD 1940–59 is completed by

Settlement Agents, Closing Attorneys,

and Title Insurance Companies

performing the closing of RHS loans and

credit sales used to purchase or

refinance Section 502 Housing, Rural

Rental Housing, and Farm Laboring

Housing. The information is collected to

provide the buyer and the seller with a

statement detailing the actual costs of

the settlement services involved in

certain Agency financed real estate

transactions. Failure to collect the

information and disclose the

information would be a violation of the

RESPA.

Description of Respondents: Business

or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 17,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 20,500.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Potato Diversion Program—7

CFR Part 80.

OMB Control Number: 0560–0145.

Summary of Collection: The Potato

Diversion Program is administered

under the general direction of and

supervision of the Agricultural

Marketing Service, and in the field will

be carried out by the Farm Service

Agency (FSA) through State or County

Committees. The Potato Diversion

Program is authorized by the Act of

August 24, 1935, Section 32. The

objectives of the Potato Diversion

Program are to make payment to

producers for the diversion of potatoes

subject to the terms and condition set

forth, to charitable institutions, for use

as livestock feed, or for compost.

Information must be collected in order

to determine the amount paid to each

producer for the quantity of potatoes

diverted by the producer under the

Potato Diversion Program.

Need and Use of the Information:

Information will be collected from

producers of eligible potatoes on Forms

FSA–117, FSA–118, FSA–120 by the

County FSA Offices. The information on

Form FSA–117 is obtained from

producers desiring to participate in this

program and establishes the

hundredweight of potatoes approved for

diversion. The information on Form

FSA–118 is obtained from the producer

by arranging for inspection so that the

inspector can be present to determine

the proportion of potatoes in each lot

which meet the quality requirements for

the program. The information on Form

FSA–120 is obtained from the producer

after the FSA–117 is approved and the

diversion has been completed, but

before diversion period has expired for

the Potato Diversion Program.

Description of Respondent: Farm;

Individuals or households; Business or

other for-profit.

Number of Respondent: 1,500.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

Annually; Other-when authorized.

Total Burden Hours: 8,251.

Nancy Sternberg,

Departmental Information Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98–10800 Filed 4–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service

Extension of a Currently Approved

Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Foreign

Agricultural Service’s intention to

request an extension and revision for a

currently approved information

collection in support of the List of

Commodities by Firm Available for

Exporting (U.S. Supplier Listing) based

on re-estimates.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by June 22, 1998 to be assured

of consideration.

REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS: Send

comments regarding (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