United States Department of Agriculture

1 

Agency Retrospective Review Plan Report—January 2014—USDA

E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB 

Control No.

Title of 

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or Target 

Completion Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or information 

collection burdens

Progress updates and 

anticipated accomplishments

USDA – Food Safety

Food Safety & 

Inspection 

Service (FSIS)

0583-AD39 Electronic Import 

Inspection and 

Certification of 

Imported Products 

and Foreign 

Establishments

This rule will amend import 

inspection regulations to provide 

for the electronic transmittal of 

foreign establishment certificates 

and foreign inspection certificates. 

FSIS will also propose to amend its 

regulations to give importers the 

option of submitting electronic 

import inspection applications.

Final rule to publish 

by 4/2014. 

The final rule, in conjunction with the Public Health 

Information System, will reduce the information 

collection burden on importers by approximately 

10,000 hours. 

The electronic import system will also facilitate the 

import product foreign inspection and annual 

foreign establishment certifications by providing 

immediate and direct electronic government-togovernment exchange of information; as well as 

exchange of information with the Customs and 

Border Protection system. 

The new business practice may be operational as 

early as April 2012, and the regulations will codify 

the changes.

The final rule is under 

development and expected to 

publish by April 2014. 

FSIS 0583-AD41 Electronic Export 

Application and 

Certification Fee

The electronic export application and 

certification system will be a 

component of the Agency's Public 

Health Information System (PHIS). 

The export component of PHIS will be 

available as an alternative to the 

paper-based application and 

certification process.

Final rule to publish 

by 5/2014.

The final rule is expected to reduce the information 

collection burden. Actual amount TBD. 

When an electronic government-to-government 

system interface or data exchange is used, 

fraudulent transactions’, such as false alterations 

and reproductions will be significantly reduced, if 

not eliminated. Moreover, the workload of the 

inspection personal is reduced through the 

The final rule is under 

development and expected to 

publish by May 2014. 
 United States Department of Agriculture

2

E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB 

Control No.

Title of 

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or Target 

Completion Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or information 

collection burdens

Progress updates and 

anticipated accomplishments

elimination of physical handling and processing of 

applications and certificates, reducing a two step 

process to one step.

FSIS 0583-AC59 Prior Labeling 

Approval System: 

Generic Label 

Approval

This rulemaking will continue an 

effort initiated several years ago by 

amending FSIS' regulations to expand 

the types of labeling that are 

generically approved.

The rulemaking has 

been completed. 

The final rule is expected to reduce the information 

collection burden hours on industry by 34,971.

The proposed rule would be beneficial because it 

would streamline the generic labeling process, 

while imposing no additional cost burden on 

establishments. Consumers would benefit because 

industry would have the ability to introduce 

products to the marketplace more quickly. 

Moreover, the change would make better use of 

FSIS resources because it would reduce the number 

of labels required to be reviewed by the Agency.

The final rule was published on 

November 7, 2013. 

This rule is effective January 6, 

2014.

FSIS 0583-AD32 Modernization of 

Poultry Slaughter 

inspection 

This rule will modernize young 

chicken and turkey slaughter 

inspection in the United States by 

focusing FSIS inspection resources on 

the areas of the poultry production 

system that pose the greatest risk to 

food safety. The new inspection 

system will shift the responsibility for 

detecting visible carcass defects from 

FSIS inspectors to plant employees. 

FSIS will continue to conduct an onFinal rule to publish 

by 4/2014 with an 

effective date 60

days after the 

publication date. 

Full

implementation

may take up to two 

years in plants that 

opt in. 

The final rule will reduce costs by making better use 

of the Agency’s inspection resources and improving 

the effectiveness of inspection systems. It is also 

expected to reduce the risk of foodborne illness in 

the United States and remove unnecessary barriers 

to innovation. The final rule will provide the 

framework for action to provide public healthbased inspection in all establishments that 

slaughter amenable poultry species.

The final rule is under 

development and expected to 

publish by April 2014. 
 United States Department of Agriculture

3

E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB 

Control No.

Title of 

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or Target 

Completion Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or information 

collection burdens

Progress updates and 

anticipated accomplishments

line carcass-by-carcass inspection, 

but FSIS inspectors will be located 

further down the production line, 

where they will be presented with 

carcasses that have fewer defects to 

inspect. 

USDA – National Resources and Environment

Forest 

Service(FS)

0596-AD01 National 

Environmental Policy 

Act Efficiencies

The Forest Service is proposing to 

develop and provide notice and 

comment on the addition of new 

categorical exclusions (CEs) to its 

NEPA Regulations. These CEs, 

designed to expedite landscape 

restoration activities on National 

Forests, Grasslands, and Prairies, will 

supplement existing Agency 

categorical exclusions found in 36 

CFR part 220.6.

The rulemaking has 

been completed. 

Categorical exclusions will reduce cost and time 

commitment burden on the Agency without 

reducing environmental protection.

The final rule was published on 

September 12, 2013. 

USDA – Rural Development

Rural Business 

Services (RBS)

0570-AA76

0570-0050

0570-0061

0570-0059

Rural Energy America 

Program 

The rule proposes to change the RES 

and EEI grant application 

requirements to reduce burden and 

streamline the application process by 

requesting documentation for a 

complete application based on total 

project costs.

Final Rule to 

publish by 4/2014.

The final rule is expected to reduce the information 

collection burden. Notably, an estimated 20 

percent reduction in the number of hours it takes 

to complete a technical report for those 

applications for projects with total project costs 

(TPC) of more than $80,000 to $200,000; the 

elimination of a technical report for those 

The proposed rule published 

April 12, 2013. The final rule is 

expected to publish by April

2014. 
 United States Department of Agriculture

4

E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB 

Control No.

Title of 

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or Target 

Completion Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or information 

collection burdens

Progress updates and 

anticipated accomplishments

applications for projects with TPC of $80,000 or 

less; and a 50 percent reduction in the number of 

hours it takes to complete the narrative portion of 

an application.

RBS 0570–AA85 Business and Industry 

Loan Guaranteed 

Program

The proposed rule will alter the way 

RBS services the loan guarantees 

making the program operate at a 

lower cost.

Final rule to be 

published by

4/2015.

Estimated reduction in Burden up to 2,000 hours. The proposed rule is pending 

submission to OMB for review.

The proposed rule is expected to 

publish by April 2014.

Rural Housing 

Service

0575-AC91 Community Facilities 

Loan and Grants

Update program operation in an 

effort to consolidate, streamline, and 

simplify existing processes. 

Final Rule to 

publish in 

December 2014.

The agency is aligning its application requirements 

with the lending industry. As such, approximately 

90 applicants each year would not be required to 

provide an examination opinion, which averages 

about $45,000 each. Hence, this change will save 

the public approximately $4 million a year.

The proposed rule is under 

development and is expected to 

publish by February 2014.

USDA – Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services

Farm Service

Agency and Risk 

Management 

Agency

0563-0084 Acreage and Crop 

Reporting 

Streamlining Initiative

To improve and streamline the 

existing information collection 

activities currently approved by OMB 

by eliminating or minimizing the 

duplication of information collected 

by each of the agencies

Implementation is 

to be conducted in 

phases with the 

first phase 

occurring in 

selected counties in 

Kansas.

The final rule is expected to reduce the information 

collection burden. Actual amount TBD.

OMB cleared the information 

collection on March 23, 2012.

For the 2013 crop year, the 

following USDA-wide changes 

have been or are in the process 

of being implemented:

location identifiers aligned to 

ANSI standards; acreage 
 United States Department of Agriculture

5

E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB 

Control No.

Title of 

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or Target 

Completion Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or information 

collection burdens

Progress updates and 

anticipated accomplishments

reporting dates consolidation;

data governance process to 

maintain common data 

standards over time; the first 

phase of consolidated entity 

types and the common USDA 

commodity table are in place;

phased implementation of 

mandatory acreage reporting by 

Common Land Unit; Phase 1 of 

the USDA acreage reporting web 

application was available for 

spring 2013 acreage reporting in 

4 counties in Kansas.

Still underway is work to 

complete the consolidation of 

the remaining entity types; to 

fully incorporate the common 

USDA commodity table into 

agency processes and systems; 

to continue to achieve goals of 

annually increasing the 

percentage of acreage reporting 

by Common Land Unit; and to 

implement common production 

data elements and common 
 United States Department of Agriculture

6

E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB 

Control No.

Title of 

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or Target 

Completion Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or information 

collection burdens

Progress updates and 

anticipated accomplishments

production evidence standards.

Ongoing activity includes 

continuous Agency requests to 

add/edit new 

crops/types/intended uses to 

the CVT; to complete acreage 

reporting date change requests; 

and to continue work on Phase 

2 of the pilot web acreage 

reporting application, using 

feedback from Phase 1 

participants and other lessons 

learned to make changes and 

improvements to the 

application.

USDA – Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Animal Plant 

Health & 

Inspection 

Service (APHIS)

0579-0007, 

0579-0047, 

0579-

0070/0137, 

0579-0101, 

0579-0127, 

0579-0137, 

0579-0146, 

0579-0148, 

0579-0185, 

Certification, 

Accreditation, 

Registration, Permits, 

and other Licenses 

(CARPOL)

APHIS is creating a new electronic 

system to replace its ePermits system 

that will integrate 

programs/processes that are 

currently not electronic and/or part 

of a consolidated system. The 

CARPOL system will streamline all 

certification, accreditation, 

registration, permitting, and other 

license processes across APHIS and 

The Target 

Completion Date of 

the initial process 

delivery date is 

12/2016; however, 

this will be an 

ongoing initiative.

APHIS anticipates both savings in cost and 

information collection burdens for APHIS and the 

public. The affected publics would be State, Local, 

and Tribal Governments; Businesses and Other ForProfits (small entities included); Not-for-Profits; 

Farms; Individuals and Households; and Foreign 

Federal Governments.

The Assessment of business 

practices will be an ongoing 

initiative to incorporate 

certifications, accreditations and 

other license processes. The 

Target Completion Date for 

completion of the permitting 

phase of the Assessment of 

business practices is 04/2014. 

APHIS continues to do the 
 United States Department of Agriculture

7

E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB 

Control No.

Title of 

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or Target 

Completion Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or information 

collection burdens

Progress updates and 

anticipated accomplishments

0579-0189, 

0579-0192, 

0579-0324, 

0579-0338, 

0579-0367

will communicate with other 

systems. 

preparatory work associated 

with this initiative, but does not 

expect to solicit proposals this 

fiscal year. 
 United States Department of Agriculture

8

EO 13610: Paperwork and Reporting Burden Initiatives

Agency Sub-Agency Title Description of the Initiative Hours of paperwork/reporting 

eliminated

Notes Estimated effective date 

of the change

USDA FSIS Generic Label 

Approval

This initiative would streamline the generic labeling 

process for meat and poultry by expanding the types of 

labeling that are generically approved.

34,971 Cost savings of $8.7 

million over 10 years 

The final rule was 

published on November 7, 

2013. 

This rule is effective 

January 6, 2014.

USDA FNS Direct Certification for 

School Meals

Under the direct certification process, a local educational 

agency obtains documentation of a child’s receipt of 

SNAP benefits from the State or local program office. By 

eliminating the need for paper applications for many lowincome families, direct certification helps to substantially 

reduce paperwork burden and simplify program access 

for participants.

113,000 Not identified Already in effect.
 United States Department of Agriculture

9

EO 13610: Paperwork and Reporting Burden Initiatives

Agency Sub-Agency Title Description of the Initiative Hours of paperwork/reporting 

eliminated

Notes Estimated effective date 

of the change

USDA APHIS Forms for Declaration 

Mandated by 2008 

Farm Bill

The Lacey Act amendments included in the 2008 Farm Bill 

require the declaration of imported plant and plant 

products. APHIS, in cooperation with other Federal 

entities, has implemented a number of initiatives to 

reduce the burden on importers. APHIS has been 

developing an electronic entry system and solicited public 

comment on regulatory options on several issues, 

including a de minimis exemption for the declaration 

requirement. 

Electronic entry system (known 

as Lacey Act Web Governance 

System or LAWGS): It is 

estimated that some time would 

be saved due to importers using 

templates of forms saved from 

previously submitted electronic 

entries; postage and filing fees 

would also be saved.

De minimis exemption: The de 

minimis exemption would 

provide industry cost and time 

savings by eliminating the need 

for declarations of products with 

little plant material. The 

solicitation for comment 

indicated 2 percent, 5 percent, 

and 10 percent of volume, 

weight, or value. If it is assumed 

that at least 2 percent of all 

declarations currently received 

would not be received under de 

minimis, the savings would be 

120,000 hours (12 million 

anticipated under full 

Electronic entry system: 

cost savings to industry 

estimated at $1.7 

million - $5.7 million 

[57,600 entries (those 

currently received in 

paper format) * $30 to 

$100 broker's fees]. The 

Government will incur 

cost of $750,000 to 

develop and implement 

the entry system.

De minimis exemption: 

The ANPRM proposed 

thresholds of 2 percent, 

5 percent, or 10 

percent. Assuming that 

at least 2 percent of the 

number of declarations 

that would otherwise be 

filed under full 

implementation are 

exempt, the cost savings 

would be $7.2 million to 

$24 million (240,000 

Electronic entry system: 

September 2013: Four 

Industry webinars were 

held introducing the new 

system. To date, almost 

300 participants 

representing more than 

80 organizations have 

registered for LAWGS 

webinars. 

February 2013 to 

December 2013: internal 

testing of the system is 

ongoing.

Winter 2014: initiate a 

beta test program with up 

to 20 industry and other 

stakeholders; continue, to 

conduct additional 

webinars.

Late winter 2014: 

implementation of 
 United States Department of Agriculture

10

EO 13610: Paperwork and Reporting Burden Initiatives

Agency Sub-Agency Title Description of the Initiative Hours of paperwork/reporting 

eliminated

Notes Estimated effective date 

of the change

implementation *0.02*0.5 

hours per declarations) 

declarations * $30 to 

$100 in broker’s fees).

LAWGS, pending 

completion of Agencymandated certification 

and accreditation of the 

system. 

De minimis exemption: As 

rulemaking is required, 

the initiative could not be 

implemented before 

2014. The de minimis 

exemption would not 

likely be implemented if 

the phase-in 

implementation did not 

progress, as most plant 

products under the 

current implementation 

schedule are comprised of 

all or nearly all wood. 
 United States Department of Agriculture

11

EO 13610: Paperwork and Reporting Burden Initiatives

Agency Sub-Agency Title Description of the Initiative Hours of paperwork/reporting 

eliminated

Notes Estimated effective date 

of the change

USDA FSA/FLP Streamlined Farm 

Loan Programs Direct 

Loan Making (OMB 

Control # 0560-0237)

FSA’s Farm Loan Programs provide loans to family 

farmers to buy real estate and equipment, and finance 

agricultural production. FSA added a streamlined version 

of form FSA-2314 that will be used by some 

respondents. Repeat customers (borrowers) whose 

information has not changed will be able to use the new 

form, which will be streamlined and require less 

information and therefore less burden. The burden hours 

have decreased in some forms (FSA-2001, 2002, 2003, 

2004, 2005, and 2006) due to lower number of responses 

by the current participants.

Eliminated 17,898 responses 

and 6,271 annual burden hours

$162,607 cost savings 

for the respondents and 

$647,728, federal cost 

savings for processing 

by the Federal 

Government employees

OMB approved the ICR for 

the change on October 22, 

2013.
 United States Department of Agriculture

12

EO 13610: Paperwork and Reporting Burden Initiatives

Agency Sub-Agency Title Description of the Initiative Hours of paperwork/reporting 

eliminated

Notes Estimated effective date 

of the change

USDA NRCS Conservation Delivery 

Streamlining Initiative 

(CDSI) – Client 

Gateway (CG)

Although NRCS’ Conservation Delivery Streamlining 

Initiative (CDSI) is not an effort focused on paperwork 

reduction, the new processes and technologies being 

implemented will result in some paperwork reduction for 

NRCS’ clientele. 

Most of the efficiency gains for clients will result from the 

Client Gateway, which will provide an online portal that 

will allow customers to: 

- work with NRCS 24/7 at their convenience, reducing or 

eliminating the needs for trips to the NRCS office; 

- view, finalize, and electronically sign documents using 

remote electronic signature, eliminating the generation, 

processing, and management of some paper documents; 

and 

- request assistance, describe problems, obtain resource 

When CDSI is fully implemented, 

NRCS estimates the Initiative 

has the potential to substantially 

reduce other (non-PRA) 

administrative time for clients 

when participating in NRCS’ 

conservation programs. While 

not within the scope of PRA, 

examples of such time savings 

include: 110,000 hours result 

from reduced travel time by 

clients to NRCS offices, or 

40,000 hours result from 

reduced time interpreting and 

applying the simplified and 

consolidated documents 

(conservation plan, practice 

designs, etc.) being 

implemented through CDSI.

Cost savings is not a 

primary objective of 

CDSI, so little or no 

initial cost savings will 

be realized. In the long 

term, there are 

information technology 

cost savings to NRCS 

associated with 

reducing: (1) the 

number of information 

technology legacy 

systems that must be 

maintained, (2) costs for 

data storage and 

management, and (3) 

costs of managing 

multiple duplicative 

physical document 

The Client Gateway public 

facing web application is 

scheduled for nationwide 

implementation in 

calendar year 2014. The 

Client Gateway 

application will provide 

benefits for both NRCS 

employees and its clients.

Other CDSI systems

(Conservation Desktop 

and Mobile Planning Tool) 

and streamlined processes 

that will enhance the 

paperwork reduction are

scheduled for 

implementation in late 

fiscal year 2015; and 
 United States Department of Agriculture

13

EO 13610: Paperwork and Reporting Burden Initiatives

Agency Sub-Agency Title Description of the Initiative Hours of paperwork/reporting 

eliminated

Notes Estimated effective date 

of the change

information, and check on payments in less time and with 

fewer steps. 

Other paperwork reductions will result from NRCS’ 

implementation of mobile planning tools and other 

process streamlining.

Since the use of the Client 

Gateway is optional, there is an 

expectation that initial use will 

be small, with increasing 

participation each year 

thereafter. NRCS projects 

participation will be 10-20% in 

2015, and grow to 75-100% by 

2020. 

management systems. 

The design and 

development contract 

cost for Client Gateway 

Version 1 is $1.48M. 

NRCS anticipates

significant lifecycle 

savings as usage by 

USDA’s external 

customers (farmers, 

etc.) increases and as 

USDA personnel are 

able to more quickly and 

efficiently process 

customer technical 

assistance requests and 

financial assistance 

applications. 

The Client Gateway 

results in a cost-savings 

for NRCS customers by 

reducing the number of 

trips customers must 

thereafter. 
 United States Department of Agriculture

14

EO 13610: Paperwork and Reporting Burden Initiatives

Agency Sub-Agency Title Description of the Initiative Hours of paperwork/reporting 

eliminated

Notes Estimated effective date 

of the change

make to the NRCS office 

to participate in the 

Agency’s programs.