[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 180 (Monday, September 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54893-54894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18493]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

Commodity Credit Corporation


Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection; Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and the Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to request renewal of the 
information collection currently approved and used in support of the 
FSA and CCC Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures program. Provisions 
in the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 and in 
the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 have resulted in a decrease 
in burden hours for information collection under the FSA and CCC Debt 
Settlement Policies and Procedures program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 
18, 2005 to be assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas F. Harris II, Claims Program 
Specialist, Financial Management Division, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 
STOP 0581, Washington, DC 20250-0581; telephone (703) 305-1439.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0146.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: The information collected under the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) Number 0560-0146, as identified above, is needed to 
enable FSA and CCC to effectively administer the regulations at 7 CFR 
792 (FSA) and 7 CFR 1403 (CCC) relating to debt settlement policies and 
procedures and to the identification of and settlement of outstanding 
claims. Collection of outstanding debts owed to FSA or to CCC can be 
effected by installment payments if a debtor furnishes satisfactory 
evidence of inability to pay a claim in full, and if the debtor 
specifically requests for an installment agreement. Part of the 
requirement is that the debtors furnish this request in writing and 
with a financial statement or other information that would disclose a 
debtor's assets and liabilities. This information is required in order 
to evaluate any proposed plan. Such documentation requests furnished by 
the debtor are also used in the other collection tools employed by both 
FSA and CCC in managing debt settlement policies and procedures. If an 
installment agreement is approved, then a Promissory Note (CCC-279), or 
an approved alternative promissory note format, must be executed 
between the debtor and the FSA/CCC representative(s). During the past 2 
years, over $10,687,000 in debt collection was facilitated by the use 
of this requested information and the establishment of 160 Promissory 
Notes between Debtors and FSA and CCC. Of that amount, $4,392,516 has 
been collected by 08/01/2005, leaving approximately $6,294,629 
outstanding. Total active Note amount for all years is presently 
$15,922,583.75, with a total outstanding amount of $8,638,168.19.
    The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 requires the head of an 
agency to take all appropriate steps to collect delinquent debts before 
discharging such debts. These steps require the employment of these 
information collection forms and formats which have been successfully 
used for the past several years and which have become familiar tools 
for both the agency employees and for the producer. Thus, forms and 
formats already exist and are in use. The need to develop and introduce 
new forms and formats into the marketplace would add additional burdens 
and costs to both the producer and to the agency in the handling of the 
claim settlement and collection processes and would create additional 
burdens not called for under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 
1996.
    Estimate of burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is estimated to average 60 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Producers participating in FSA and CCC programs.
    Estimated number of Annual Respondents: 100.
    Estimated number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 100 hours.
    Topics for comment include but are not limited to the following: 
(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

[[Page 54894]]

assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity 
of the information to be collected; or (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. Comments should be sent to the Desk Officer for 
Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503, and to Thomas F. Harris 
II, Claims Program Specialist, Financial Management Division, Farm 
Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0581, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0581; telephone (703) 305-1439. Copies of the 
information collection may be obtained from Thomas F. Harris II at the 
above address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on September 7, 2005.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency and Executive Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 05-18493 Filed 9-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P