Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Federal Claims Collection Methods for Food Stamp Program Recipient Claims, 30113-30114 [E6-8036]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
30113
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 71, No. 101
Thursday, May 25, 2006
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2006–0072]
Availability of a Draft Pest Risk
Assessment for Hass Avocados From
Peru
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that a draft pest risk assessment has
been prepared by the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service relative to a
proposed rule currently under
consideration that would allow the
importation into the continental United
States of fresh Hass avocados from Peru.
We are making this draft pest risk
assessment available to the public for
review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before July 24,
2006.
SUMMARY:
You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and, in the
lower ‘‘Search Regulations and Federal
Actions’’ box, select ‘‘Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service’’ from the
agency drop-down menu, then click on
‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column,
select APHIS–2006–0072 to submit or
view public comments and to view
supporting and related materials
available electronically. Information on
using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the
docket after the close of the comment
period, is available through the site’s
‘‘User Tips’’ link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies)
cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:42 May 24, 2006
Jkt 208001
to APHIS–2006–0072, Regulatory
Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River
Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1238. Please state that your comment
refers to APHIS–2006–0072.
Reading Room: You may read any
comments that we receive on the
environmental assessment in our
reading room. The reading room is
located in room 1141 of the USDA
South Building, 14th Street and
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC. Normal reading room
hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except holidays. To be
sure someone is there to help you,
please call (202) 690–2817 before
coming.
Other Information: Additional
information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Juan Roman, Import Specialist, PPQ,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1237; (301) 734–
8758.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The regulations in ‘‘Subpart—Fruits
and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56 through
319.56–8, referred to below as the
regulations) prohibit or restrict the
importation of fruits and vegetables into
the United States from certain parts of
the world to prevent the introduction
and dissemination of plant pests that are
new to or not widely distributed within
the United States.
The Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) is
considering amending the regulations to
allow the importation of fresh Hass
avocados from Peru into the continental
United States. We have prepared a draft
pest risk assessment entitled,
‘‘Importation of ‘Hass’ Avocado (Persea
americana) Fruit from Peru into the
Continental United States’’ (May 2006),
in order to consider the pest risks
associated with the importation of fresh
Hass avocados from Peru into the
continental United States. We are
making the draft pest risk assessment
available to the public for review and
comment.
The draft pest risk assessment may be
viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site
or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES
above for instructions for accessing
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Regulations.gov and information on the
location and hours of the reading room).
You may request paper copies of the
draft pest risk assessment by calling or
writing to the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please
refer to the title of the draft pest risk
assessment when requesting copies.
This notice solicits public comments
on the draft pest risk assessment. We
will also make the draft pest risk
assessment available for public
comment during the comment period
for any proposed rule related to the
importation of Hass avocados from Peru.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, and
7781–7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR
2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of
May 2006.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6–8074 Filed 5–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request—Federal Claims
Collection Methods for Food Stamp
Program Recipient Claims
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on
proposed information collections. This
Notice of Proposed Information
Collection announces the intent of the
Food and Nutrition Service to revise
and extend the information collection
requirements associated with initiating
and conducting Federal collection
actions against households with
delinquent food stamp recipient debts.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before July 24, 2006 to
be assured consideration.
ADDRESSES: 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;
E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM
25MYN1
30114
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 101 / Thursday, May 25, 2006 / Notices
cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
(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
through the use of appropriate,
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Send comments to Jane Duffield,
Chief, Payment Accuracy Branch, Food
and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Room 818, Alexandria,
Virginia, 22302.
All comments will be summarized
and included in the request for Office of
Management and Budget approval of the
information collection. All comments
will become a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Leslie Byrd at (703) 305–2472.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Federal Claims Collection
Methods for Food Stamp Program
Recipient Claims.
OMB Number: 0584–0446.
Form Number: None.
Expiration Date: September 30, 2006.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 13(b) of the Food
Stamp Act of 1977, as amended (7
U.S.C. 2022(b)), and Food Stamp
Program (FSP) regulations at 7 CFR
273.18 require State agencies to refer
debtors for food stamp benefit overissuance to the U.S. Department of the
Treasury for collection. The Debt
Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 31
U.S.C. 3701, et seq., requires these debts
to be referred to Treasury for collection
when they are 180 days or more
delinquent. Through the Treasury Offset
Program (TOP), 31 CFR Part 285,
payments such as Federal income tax
refunds, Federal salaries and other
Federal payments payable to these
delinquent debtors will be offset and the
amount applied to the delinquent debt.
TOP places a burden on States agencies
and/or former food stamp recipients
who owe delinquent debts in three
areas: 60-day notices from State
agencies to debtors that their debt will
be referred to TOP; State-level
submissions; and automated data
processing (ADP).
TOP 60-Day Notice Proposed Burden
The proposed burden associated with
the 60-day notice involves both the
debtors and the State agencies. The 60day notice notifies the debtor of the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:42 May 24, 2006
Jkt 208001
proposed referral to TOP and provides
the right for review and appeal. The
State agency prepares and mails the
notices as well as responds to inquiries
and appeals. The debtor, in turn,
receives and reads the notice and may
make an inquiry or appeal the
impending action. Based on an average
of the number of records for claims the
States proposed to send to TOP for
calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2005, we
estimate that State agencies will send
out and that debtors will read 291,336
notices. In addition, we estimate that
the debtors will submit and State
agencies will respond to about 2,900
inquiries and appeals. The total number
of responses being proposed for the 60day notice portion of the proposed
burden is 588,472 respondents (291,336
notices + 2,900 follow-up inquiries and
appeals times 2) per year resulting in an
annual reporting and recordkeeping
burden of 41,745 hours. The existing
burden for activity relating to the 60-day
notice is 39,549 hours based on 558,132
respondents. The net increase of 2,196
hours is due to the fact that State
agencies have increased the number of
debts they are adding to TOP and this
is increasing the number of 60 day
notices sent to debtors.
TOP State-Level Submissions
Treasury prescribes specific processes
and file formats for FNS to use to send
debts to TOP. FNS provides guidance
and file formats to State agencies and
monitors their compliance with such.
State agencies must submit specified
documents and/or information to FNS
and FNS sends required information to
Treasury. The first such document is an
annual letter to FNS certifying that all
of the debts submitted by the State
agency to TOP are valid and legally
enforceable in the amount stated. The
second document certifies that Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) information is
safeguarded in accordance with IRS
instructions. Lastly, State agencies
report TOP collections on the FNS–209
Status of Claims against Households
report. (The burden for the remainder of
the FNS–209 report is already covered
under OMB burden number 0584–0069).
FNS estimates that it will take State
agencies a total of 135 hours per year for
these State submissions. There is no
change in the number of hours required
for these reports from the previous
submission.
TOP ADP Proposed Burden
The proposed burden for ADP
includes weekly file processing,
monthly address requests and system
maintenance. Weekly and monthly file
processing includes requesting
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
addresses to use to send out 60-day
notices, adding and maintaining debts
in TOP, correcting errors on
unprocessable records, and posting
weekly collection files. Much of this
activity is completed using automation
and involves an estimated 1.9 million
records annually. FNS estimates that
this activity takes 17,017 annual
reporting and recordkeeping burden
hours. This is an increase of 578 hours
over the previous submission because of
the increased number of records.
Summary of Estimated Burden
The net aggregate change from the
existing to the proposed annual burden
for this entire Proposed Collection is an
increase of 2,773 hours over the
previous submission. For the activity
relating to the 60-day notice, we are
increasing the estimated annual burden
for State agencies and debtors from
39,549 hours to 41,745 hours to reflect
an increase in the number of notices
sent to debtors. The State-level
submissions portion of the reporting
and recordkeeping burden is estimated
to require the same number of hours as
the previous submission. The annual
ADP portion of this burden package is
being increased from 16,439 to 17,017
hours primarily to reflect the processing
associated with the additional 60 day
notices and associated records.
Affected Public: State and local
government, and food stamp
households.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
294,236.
Number of Responses per
Respondent: 6.08.
Total Number of Annual Responses:
1,790,109.
Estimated Hours per Response: 0.03.
Estimated Total Annual Burden:
58,896 hours.
Dated: May 18, 2006.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. E6–8036 Filed 5–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Plumas County Resource Advisory
Committee (RAC)
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Plumas County Resource
Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a
meeting on June 2, 2006, in Quincy, CA.
The purpose of the meeting is to review
E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM
25MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30113-30114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8036]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Federal Claims Collection Methods for Food Stamp
Program Recipient Claims
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on proposed information collections. This Notice of Proposed
Information Collection announces the intent of the Food and Nutrition
Service to revise and extend the information collection requirements
associated with initiating and conducting Federal collection actions
against households with delinquent food stamp recipient debts.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 24, 2006 to
be assured consideration.
ADDRESSES: 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;
[[Page 30114]]
(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 through the use of appropriate, automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Send comments to Jane Duffield, Chief, Payment Accuracy Branch,
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 818,
Alexandria, Virginia, 22302.
All comments will be summarized and included in the request for
Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection.
All comments will become a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Byrd at (703) 305-2472.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Federal Claims Collection Methods for Food Stamp Program
Recipient Claims.
OMB Number: 0584-0446.
Form Number: None.
Expiration Date: September 30, 2006.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 13(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended
(7 U.S.C. 2022(b)), and Food Stamp Program (FSP) regulations at 7 CFR
273.18 require State agencies to refer debtors for food stamp benefit
over-issuance to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for collection.
The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 31 U.S.C. 3701, et seq.,
requires these debts to be referred to Treasury for collection when
they are 180 days or more delinquent. Through the Treasury Offset
Program (TOP), 31 CFR Part 285, payments such as Federal income tax
refunds, Federal salaries and other Federal payments payable to these
delinquent debtors will be offset and the amount applied to the
delinquent debt. TOP places a burden on States agencies and/or former
food stamp recipients who owe delinquent debts in three areas: 60-day
notices from State agencies to debtors that their debt will be referred
to TOP; State-level submissions; and automated data processing (ADP).
TOP 60-Day Notice Proposed Burden
The proposed burden associated with the 60-day notice involves both
the debtors and the State agencies. The 60-day notice notifies the
debtor of the proposed referral to TOP and provides the right for
review and appeal. The State agency prepares and mails the notices as
well as responds to inquiries and appeals. The debtor, in turn,
receives and reads the notice and may make an inquiry or appeal the
impending action. Based on an average of the number of records for
claims the States proposed to send to TOP for calendar years 2003, 2004
and 2005, we estimate that State agencies will send out and that
debtors will read 291,336 notices. In addition, we estimate that the
debtors will submit and State agencies will respond to about 2,900
inquiries and appeals. The total number of responses being proposed for
the 60-day notice portion of the proposed burden is 588,472 respondents
(291,336 notices + 2,900 follow-up inquiries and appeals times 2) per
year resulting in an annual reporting and recordkeeping burden of
41,745 hours. The existing burden for activity relating to the 60-day
notice is 39,549 hours based on 558,132 respondents. The net increase
of 2,196 hours is due to the fact that State agencies have increased
the number of debts they are adding to TOP and this is increasing the
number of 60 day notices sent to debtors.
TOP State-Level Submissions
Treasury prescribes specific processes and file formats for FNS to
use to send debts to TOP. FNS provides guidance and file formats to
State agencies and monitors their compliance with such. State agencies
must submit specified documents and/or information to FNS and FNS sends
required information to Treasury. The first such document is an annual
letter to FNS certifying that all of the debts submitted by the State
agency to TOP are valid and legally enforceable in the amount stated.
The second document certifies that Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
information is safeguarded in accordance with IRS instructions. Lastly,
State agencies report TOP collections on the FNS-209 Status of Claims
against Households report. (The burden for the remainder of the FNS-209
report is already covered under OMB burden number 0584-0069).
FNS estimates that it will take State agencies a total of 135 hours
per year for these State submissions. There is no change in the number
of hours required for these reports from the previous submission.
TOP ADP Proposed Burden
The proposed burden for ADP includes weekly file processing,
monthly address requests and system maintenance. Weekly and monthly
file processing includes requesting addresses to use to send out 60-day
notices, adding and maintaining debts in TOP, correcting errors on
unprocessable records, and posting weekly collection files. Much of
this activity is completed using automation and involves an estimated
1.9 million records annually. FNS estimates that this activity takes
17,017 annual reporting and recordkeeping burden hours. This is an
increase of 578 hours over the previous submission because of the
increased number of records.
Summary of Estimated Burden
The net aggregate change from the existing to the proposed annual
burden for this entire Proposed Collection is an increase of 2,773
hours over the previous submission. For the activity relating to the
60-day notice, we are increasing the estimated annual burden for State
agencies and debtors from 39,549 hours to 41,745 hours to reflect an
increase in the number of notices sent to debtors. The State-level
submissions portion of the reporting and recordkeeping burden is
estimated to require the same number of hours as the previous
submission. The annual ADP portion of this burden package is being
increased from 16,439 to 17,017 hours primarily to reflect the
processing associated with the additional 60 day notices and associated
records.
Affected Public: State and local government, and food stamp
households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 294,236.
Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.08.
Total Number of Annual Responses: 1,790,109.
Estimated Hours per Response: 0.03.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 58,896 hours.
Dated: May 18, 2006.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E6-8036 Filed 5-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
