2005 Forest Land Recovery Program, 10936-10937 [05-4322]
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10936
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 43 / Monday, March 7, 2005 / Notices
implementation. Until all of the paper
food coupons issued are redeemed, the
Redemption Certificate will remain an
essential document to the food stamp
redemption process.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before May 6, 2005 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Andrea
Gordon, Chief, Redemption
Management Branch, Benefit
Redemption Division, Food and
Nutrition Service, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive,
Room 404, Alexandria, VA 22302.
Comments may also be submitted via
fax to the attention of Andrea Gordon at
(703) 305–1863 or via e-mail to: brdhqweb@fns.usda.gov.
Comments are invited on: (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
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (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 those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
All written comments will be open for
public inspection at the office of the
Food and Nutrition Service during
regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101
Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia
22302, Room 404.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for Office of Management and Budget
approval. All comments will be a matter
of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection
should be directed to Andrea Gordon,
(703) 305–2456.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Food Stamp Redemption
Certificate.
OMB Number: 0584–0085.
Form Number: FNS–278B and FNS–
278–4.
Expiration Date: February 28, 2005.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: The Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture is the Federal Agency
responsible for the Food Stamp Program
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(FSP). Section 10 of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 2019)
requires that FNS provide for the
redemption, through financial
institutions, of food coupons accepted
by retail food stores and wholesale food
concerns from program participants. 7
CFR 278.3 and 7 CFR 278.4 of the FSP
regulations governs the participation of
authorized wholesale food concerns and
retail stores in the food coupon
redemption process. Form FNS–278B,
Food Stamp Redemption Certificate and
Form FNS–278–4, Wholesaler
Redemption Certificates (RCs) are
required to be used by all authorized
wholesalers or retailers, and are
processed by financial institutions when
they are presented for cash or credit.
Without the RCs, no vehicle would exist
for financial institutions, Federal
Reserve Banks, and FNS to track
deposits of food coupons.
The burden associated with this form
is derived from the numbers of RCs
processed annually, based on
information available in our Store
Tracking and Redemption System
database. As of September 2004, the
number of program respondents was
152,499 retailers and wholesalers and
5,850 banks participating in the FSP.
The number of completed RC responses
by authorized retailers was 438,955
annually. We estimate that it takes an
average of 1.2 minutes (or .020 hours)
for a retailer to complete the
information on the RC and for the
financial institution to handle and
process the document.
For this information collection
package, we calculated the burden
hours from each year, added them
together (2005–2007) and divided by
three to obtain the average burden for
which we are seeking OMB approval.
We estimate the average burden hours
for the next three years to be 69.501
hours.
The burden for each of the three fiscal
years (FYs) are estimated as follows:
In FY 2005, we estimate the number
of program respondents will be 7,624
respondents with 5,850 banks
continuing to participate in the FSP—a
reduction of 144,874 (or 95 percent)
respondents. We also estimate that the
number of completed RC responses by
authorized retailers to be 8,779.1
annually—providing for a reduction of
430,175.9 (or 95 percent) annual
responses, and a total burden hours
calculated to be 175.582 hours.
In FY 2006, we estimate the number
of program respondents will be 2,668.73
respondents with 5,850 banks
continuing to participate in the FSP—a
reduction of 4,956.22 (or 65 percent)
respondents. We also estimate that the
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number of completed RC responses by
authorized retailers to be 1,316.86
annually—providing for a reduction of
7,462.23 (or 85 percent) annual
responses, and a total burden hours
calculated to be 26.337 hours.
In FY 2007, we estimate the number
of program respondents will be 667.18
respondents with 5,850 banks
continuing to participate in the FSP—a
reduction of 2,001.55 (or 75 percent)
respondents. We also estimate that the
number of completed RC responses by
authorized retailers to be 329.217
annually—providing for a reduction of
987.66 (or 75 percent) annual responses,
and a total burden hours calculated to
be 6.584 hours.
The estimated reduction of
respondents and annual burden hours is
based on a projected decrease in the
number of authorized retailers
participating in the FSP, and a decrease
in the number of RCs processed as a
result of fewer authorized retailers
accepting paper food coupons due to
FNS phasing out the use of paper food
coupons.
Respondents: Businesses, wholesale
food concerns, or other not-for-profit
financial institutions.
Estimated Average Number of
Respondents: 3,653.62.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: 0.951.
Estimated Total Average Annual
Responses: 3,475.062.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average .020 hours per
response.
Estimated Total Average Annual
Burden: 69.501 hours.
Dated: March 1, 2005.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 05–4298 Filed 3–4–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
2005 Forest Land Recovery Program
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of program
implementation.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Military Construction
Appropriations and Emergency
Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations
Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108–324) makes
$10,000,000 available to the Secretary of
Agriculture to provide assistance to
eligible nonindustrial private forest
landowners who suffered losses during
2004, as a result of hurricane, tropical
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07MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 43 / Monday, March 7, 2005 / Notices
storm, or related events for the purposes
of debris removal, replanting of timber,
and other related purposes. The USDA
Forest Service will administer this
program, in partnerhsip with State
forestry agencies in the States of
Alabama and Florida, where signicant
loss and damage to forest resources has
occurred.
DATES: Assistance will be made
available to eligible landowners from
March 2005 until such time as all funds
are expended.
ADDRESSES: Information about the
Forest Land Recovery Program can be
obtained by writing to the USDA Forest
Service, Cooperative Forestry Staff
headquarters located at 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–1123.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl
R. Dalla Rosa, Cooperative Forestry
Staff, (202) 205–6206.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
National Program Administration
All program funds will be
adminsitered by the Chief of the Forest
Serivce through the Forest Service
Regional Forester, in partnership with
State forestry agencies in the States of
Alabama and Florida, where significant
damage and loss to private forest
resources has occurred. The State
Foresters shall use all program funds to
provide cost-share assistance to nonindustrial private forest landowners in
their States, who suffered losses to
hurricanes and tropical storms during
the 2004 hurricane season. All funds
will be accounted for in accordance
with Federal financial accounting
standards. The Chief has final authority
to resolve all issues that may arise in the
adminsitraton of these funds.
State Program Administration
The State Foresters shall make all
program funds available, as cost-share
assistance to eligible landowners as
follows:
1. For the purposes of site preparation
(including debris removal), planting and
other purposes related to the restoration
of damaged or lost forest resources.
2. Following the preparation of a
management or practice plan that
identifies the needed practices,
specifications, and performance period
for the implementation of the practice(s)
to achieve the forest restoration
objectives of the landowner.
3. As reimbursements for practices
completed on a 75% cost-share basis.
4. Consistent with appropriate per
acre cost-share rate maximums for
eligible practices, as established by the
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18:15 Mar 04, 2005
Jkt 205001
State Foresters, through this or existing
cost-share programs.
5. No single landowner shall receive
more than $75,000 total in cost-share
assistance.
6. No single landowner shall receive
assistance for the treatment of more than
1000 acres of forestland.
Landowner Eligibility Requirements for
Cost-Share Assistance
A landowner is eligible for program
assistance if all of the following
requirements are met:
1. The landowner is an individual,
group, association, corporation, Indian
Tribe, or other legal private entity
owning not more than 5,000 acres of
timber producing forest land (or a
person who has received concurrence
from the landowner for practice
implementation and who holds a lease
on the land for a minimum of 10 years).
Corporations whose stocks are publicly
traded or owners principally engaged in
the primary processing of raw wood
products are excluded.
2. The landowner owns forest land in
either Florida or Alabama, where
significant forest resource loss or
damage has occurred as a result of one
or more hurricane or tropical storm
during the 2004 hurricane season. The
landowner has not received, nor will
receive cost-share assistance from the
USDA Farm Service Agency under
Public Law 108–324, Section 101(c), the
Tree Assistance Program.
Recapture of Cost-Share Assistance
Payments made to landowners may be
recaptured under one or more of the
following circumstances:
1. If any landowner, successor, or
assignee uses any scheme or device to
unjustly benefit from this program. A
scheme or device includes, but is not
limited to, coercion, fraud or
misrepresentation, false claims, or any
business dissolution, reorganization,
revival, or other legal mechanism
designed for or having the effect of
evading the requirements of this
program. Financial assistance payments
shall be withheld or a refund of all or
part of any cost-share payments
otherwise due or paid to that person
shall be secured.
2. If any landowner or successor takes
any action or fails to take action, which
results in the destruction or impairment
of a prescribed practice for the duration
of the practice. Cost-share payments
shall be withheld or a recapture of all
or part of any cost-share payments
otherwise due or paid shall be secured,
based on the extent and effect of
destruction and impairment.
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10937
3. If it is determined that the
landowner has also received assistance
from the USDA Farm Service Agency
under H.R. 4837, Section 101(c)(2), the
Tree Assistance Program.
Landowner Application Information
Eligible landowners are may apply for
program assistance at their local office
of the Florida Division of Forestry or the
Alabama Forestry Commission.
Dated: February 25, 2005.
Sally Collins,
Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 05–4322 Filed 3–4–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Yakutat Resource Advisory Committee
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Yakutat Resource
Advisory Committee will meet in
Yakutat, Alaska. The purpose of the
meeting is continue business of the
Yakutat Resource Advisory Committee.
The committee was formed to carry out
the requirements of the Secure Rural
Schools and Self-Determination Act of
2000. The agenda for this meeting is to
review submitted project proposals and
consider recommending projects for
funding. Project proposals are due by
March 7, 2005 to be considered at this
meeting.
DATES: The meeting will be held March
18, 2005 from 6–9 p.m. and will
continue on March 19, 2005 from 9–12
a.m., if necessary.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Kwaan Conference Room, 712 Ocean
Cape Drive, Yakutat, Alaska. Send
written comments to Tricia O’Connor,
c/o Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 327,
Yakutat, AK 99689, (907) 784–3359 or
electronically to poconnor@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tricia O’Connor, District Ranger and
Designated Federal Official, Yakutat
Ranger District, (907) 784–3359.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
meeting is open to the public. Council
discussion is limited to Forest Service
staff and Council members. However,
persons who wish to bring resource
projects or other Resource Advisory
Committee matters to the attention of
the Council may file written statements
with the Council staff before or after the
meeting. Public input sessions will be
provided and individuals who made
written requests by March 7, 2005 will
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 43 (Monday, March 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10936-10937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4322]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
2005 Forest Land Recovery Program
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of program implementation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Military Construction Appropriations and Emergency
Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-324) makes
$10,000,000 available to the Secretary of Agriculture to provide
assistance to eligible nonindustrial private forest landowners who
suffered losses during 2004, as a result of hurricane, tropical
[[Page 10937]]
storm, or related events for the purposes of debris removal, replanting
of timber, and other related purposes. The USDA Forest Service will
administer this program, in partnerhsip with State forestry agencies in
the States of Alabama and Florida, where signicant loss and damage to
forest resources has occurred.
DATES: Assistance will be made available to eligible landowners from
March 2005 until such time as all funds are expended.
ADDRESSES: Information about the Forest Land Recovery Program can be
obtained by writing to the USDA Forest Service, Cooperative Forestry
Staff headquarters located at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-1123.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl R. Dalla Rosa, Cooperative
Forestry Staff, (202) 205-6206.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
National Program Administration
All program funds will be adminsitered by the Chief of the Forest
Serivce through the Forest Service Regional Forester, in partnership
with State forestry agencies in the States of Alabama and Florida,
where significant damage and loss to private forest resources has
occurred. The State Foresters shall use all program funds to provide
cost-share assistance to non-industrial private forest landowners in
their States, who suffered losses to hurricanes and tropical storms
during the 2004 hurricane season. All funds will be accounted for in
accordance with Federal financial accounting standards. The Chief has
final authority to resolve all issues that may arise in the
adminsitraton of these funds.
State Program Administration
The State Foresters shall make all program funds available, as
cost-share assistance to eligible landowners as follows:
1. For the purposes of site preparation (including debris removal),
planting and other purposes related to the restoration of damaged or
lost forest resources.
2. Following the preparation of a management or practice plan that
identifies the needed practices, specifications, and performance period
for the implementation of the practice(s) to achieve the forest
restoration objectives of the landowner.
3. As reimbursements for practices completed on a 75% cost-share
basis.
4. Consistent with appropriate per acre cost-share rate maximums
for eligible practices, as established by the State Foresters, through
this or existing cost-share programs.
5. No single landowner shall receive more than $75,000 total in
cost-share assistance.
6. No single landowner shall receive assistance for the treatment
of more than 1000 acres of forestland.
Landowner Eligibility Requirements for Cost-Share Assistance
A landowner is eligible for program assistance if all of the
following requirements are met:
1. The landowner is an individual, group, association, corporation,
Indian Tribe, or other legal private entity owning not more than 5,000
acres of timber producing forest land (or a person who has received
concurrence from the landowner for practice implementation and who
holds a lease on the land for a minimum of 10 years). Corporations
whose stocks are publicly traded or owners principally engaged in the
primary processing of raw wood products are excluded.
2. The landowner owns forest land in either Florida or Alabama,
where significant forest resource loss or damage has occurred as a
result of one or more hurricane or tropical storm during the 2004
hurricane season. The landowner has not received, nor will receive
cost-share assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency under Public
Law 108-324, Section 101(c), the Tree Assistance Program.
Recapture of Cost-Share Assistance
Payments made to landowners may be recaptured under one or more of
the following circumstances:
1. If any landowner, successor, or assignee uses any scheme or
device to unjustly benefit from this program. A scheme or device
includes, but is not limited to, coercion, fraud or misrepresentation,
false claims, or any business dissolution, reorganization, revival, or
other legal mechanism designed for or having the effect of evading the
requirements of this program. Financial assistance payments shall be
withheld or a refund of all or part of any cost-share payments
otherwise due or paid to that person shall be secured.
2. If any landowner or successor takes any action or fails to take
action, which results in the destruction or impairment of a prescribed
practice for the duration of the practice. Cost-share payments shall be
withheld or a recapture of all or part of any cost-share payments
otherwise due or paid shall be secured, based on the extent and effect
of destruction and impairment.
3. If it is determined that the landowner has also received
assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency under H.R. 4837, Section
101(c)(2), the Tree Assistance Program.
Landowner Application Information
Eligible landowners are may apply for program assistance at their
local office of the Florida Division of Forestry or the Alabama
Forestry Commission.
Dated: February 25, 2005.
Sally Collins,
Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 05-4322 Filed 3-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
