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[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 183 (Friday, September 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 54365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21939]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Risk Management Agency

Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Risk Management Agency, 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 Risk Management Agency's 
intention to request an extension for and revision to a currently 
approved information collection for Request for Applications for 
Research Partnerships.

DATES: Comments on this notice will be accepted until close of 
business, November 18, 2008.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Virginia Guzman, United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Research and Evaluation 
Division, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Risk Management Agency, 
6501 Beacon Drive, Mail Stop 813, Kansas City, MO 64133, telephone 
(816) 926-6343. Comments may also be submitted electronically to: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Research and Development, Request for Applications.
    OMB Number: 0563-0065.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Risk Management Agency intends to seek information in 
order to fulfill its mission to fund the development of non-insurance 
risk management tools that will be utilized by agricultural producers 
to assist them in mitigating the risks inherent in agricultural 
production and to improve the economic stability of agriculture through 
the maintenance and development of risk management tools. The Risk 
Management Agency (RMA), on behalf of the Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation (FCIC), is committed to meeting the risk management needs 
and improving or developing risk management tools for the nation's 
farmers and ranchers. The Risk Management Agency proposes to publish 
Requests for Applications (RFA) to announce the availability of funds 
and solicit proposals requesting funding for the development of risk 
management tools. The information collections will be limited to the 
request for applications and status reports. Information collections 
are necessary to evaluate proposals and award funds based on a 
competitive process and to obtain the information necessary for the 
development of partnership agreements and to obtain information on the 
status of research agreements and projects.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 2,400 minutes per response for a 
total burden of 6,000 hours.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Applications for funding are invited 
from qualified public and private entities. Eligible applicants include 
colleges and universities, Federal, State, and local agencies, Native 
American tribal organizations, non-profit and for-profit private 
organizations or corporations, and other entities. Individuals are not 
eligible applicants.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 150.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 150.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 6,000.
    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; (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, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other collection technologies, e.g. permitting 
electronic submission of responses. Comments may be sent to Virginia 
Guzman, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Research and 
Evaluation Division, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Risk 
Management Agency, 6501 Beacon Drive, Mail Stop 813, Kansas City, MO 
64133. All comments 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 also become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on September 15, 2008.
Eldon Gould,
Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
[FR Doc. E8-21939 Filed 9-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-08-P
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