Notice of Intent: To Request a Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 75959-75961 [2010-30674]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2010 / Notices
Notice of these meetings is provided
in accordance with section 10(a)(2) of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2).
Signed in Washington, DC on December 1,
2010.
R. T. Valentine,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2010–30646 Filed 12–6–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Notice of Intent: To Request a Revision
of a Currently Approved Information
Collection
Natural Resources
Conservation Service, United States
Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104–13), and the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
regulations at 5 CFR 1320 (60 FR 44978,
August 29, 1995), this notice announces
the Natural Resources Conservation
Service’s (NRCS) intention to revise a
currently approved information
collection, Long-Term Contracting, to
clarify for the public information that is
no longer included in the collection.
DATES: To ensure consideration,
comments must be received on or before
January 6, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments
using any of the following methods:
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
SUMMARY:
and follow the instructions for sending
comments electronically.
• E-mail: Jill.Atencio@wdc.usda.gov.
• Mail: Paperwork Reduction Act
Comments, Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service,
P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013.
• Hand Delivery: Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 6819 South
Building, Washington, DC 20250,
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
Holidays. Please ask the guard at the
entrance to the South Building to call
(202) 720–1854 in order to be escorted
into the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Phyllis Watkins, Forms Manager,
Administrative Services Division,
Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4235
South Building, Washington, DC 20250;
Telephone: (202) 720–3770; Fax: (202)
720–4659. Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for
communication (Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact the
USDA Target Center at (202) 720–2600
(voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 0578–0013.
Expiration Date of Approval: May 31,
2012.
Type of Request: To revise a currently
approved information collection to
update and clarify information that is no
longer included in the information
collection.
Abstract: The primary objective of
NRCS is to work in partnership with the
American people and the farming and
ranching community to conserve and
sustain our natural resources on
privately owned land. The purpose of
the Long-Term Contracting information
75959
collection is to allow for programs to
provide Federal technical and financial
cost-sharing assistance through longterm contracts to eligible producers,
landowners, and entities. These
contracts provide for making land use
changes and installing conservation
measures and practices to conserve,
develop, and use the soil, water, and
related natural resources on private
lands. Under the terms of the agreement,
the participant agrees to apply, or
arrange to apply, the conservation
treatment specified in the conservation
plan. In return for this agreement,
Federal financial assistance payments
are made to the land user, or third party,
upon successful application of the
conservation treatment. Additionally,
NRCS purchases easements for the longterm protection of the property and
provides for the protection and
management of the property for the life
of the easement.
The information collected through
this package is used by NRCS to ensure
the proper use of program funds.
Section 2904 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(2008 Act) (Pub. L. 110–246) exempts
Conservation Programs under Title II of
the 2008 Act from Chapter 35 of Title
44, U.S.C. (Paperwork Reduction Act).
The programs in this information
collection that continue to be subject to
the requirements to the Paperwork
Reduction Act are listed in Table A.
This request will clarify the programs in
this information collection that are no
longer subject to these requirements,
and will identify the reduction in
burden by removing these forms from
the current information collection
package. The exempted programs are
listed in Table B.
TABLE A—CONSERVATION PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
Program
Description
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) (7 CFR
part 701).
USDA Farm Service Agency’s ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters
and for carrying out emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe
drought. Funding for ECP is appropriated by Congress.
The EWP was initiated in 1950 and is administered by NRCS. It provides technical and
financial assistance to local institutions for the removal of storm and flood debris from
stream channels and for the restoration of stream channels and levees to reduce the
threat to life and property. The program also provides for establishing permanent easements in floodplains with private landowners.
The RC&D was initiated in 1962 and is administered by NRCS. Through this program,
NRCS assists multi-county areas in enhancing conservation, water quality, wildlife
habitat, recreation, and rural development. The program provides technical and limited
financial assistance for the planning and installation of approved projects.
The WPFPP, otherwise known as Pub. L. 566, was initiated in 1954 and is administered
by NRCS. It assists State and local units of government in flood prevention, watershed
protection, and water management. Part of this effort involves the establishment of
conservation practices on private lands to reduce erosion, sedimentation, and runoff.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) (7 CFR part
624).
Resource Conservation and Development Program
(RC&D).
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program
(WPFPP) (7 CFR part 622).
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75960
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2010 / Notices
TABLE A—CONSERVATION PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT—
Continued
Program
Description
Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) (7 CFR
part 625).
HFRP is a voluntary program established for the purpose of restoring and enhancing forest ecosystems to: 1) Promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species; 2)
improve biodiversity; and 3) enhance carbon sequestration. The HFRP was signed into
law as part of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 and amended by the 2008
Act authorized to be carried out from 2009 through 2012.
The Wetland Conservation provisions are part of the Food Security Act of 1985, as
amended by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. The WC or Swampbuster provisions condition receipt of USDA benefits on landowners and operators not converting
wetlands for agricultural production purposes or to make possible the production of an
agricultural commodity. All the programs in this collection except WHIP are subject to
compliance with these provisions. Additionally, many of the programs in this collection
condition eligibility for certain practices on the type of wetlands present on the farm or
ranch, thereby needing a certified wetland determination completed per the regulation
in 7 CFR part 12, subparts A and C.
Wetland Conservation (WC or Swampbuster) (7 CFR
part 12).
TABLE B—CONSERVATION PROGRAMS EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) ....................
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
(FRPP).
Conservation Security Program (CSP) ...............
Conservation Stewardship Program ...................
Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) ...................
Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) .........
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) ......
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Environmental
(EQIP).
Quality
Incentives
Program
The conservation programs exempted
from the Paperwork Reduction Act
requirements accounted for a majority of
the forms submitted and completed
annually. The removal of these
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18:39 Dec 06, 2010
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WRP is a voluntary program established to assist owners of eligible lands in restoring and
protecting wetlands. It is the goal of WRP to maximize wetland functions and values and
optimize wildlife habitat benefits on every acre enrolled in the program particularly for migratory birds and other wetland dependent wildlife.
The FRPP is a voluntary program that helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program provides matching funds to State, tribal, or local governments and
non-governmental organizations with existing FRPPs to purchase conservation easements.
CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the
conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other
conservation purposes on tribal and private working lands. The program is available in all
50 States, the Caribbean Area, and the Pacific Basin area. The program provides equitable
access to benefits to all producers, regardless of size of operation, crops produced, or geographic location.
The Conservation Stewardship Program is a voluntary program that provides financial and
technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plants, and animals. It is mentioned here to clearly indicate this program as exempt
from the Paperwork Reduction Act and has never been under its confines.
GRP is a voluntary program established for the purpose of protecting grazing uses and related
conservation values by conserving and restoring grassland resources. GRP helps landowners and operators restore and protect grassland, including rangeland and pastureland,
and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. The program emphasizes support for grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity, and grasslands and
shrub lands under the greatest threat of conversion.
WHIP is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to enable eligible
participants to protect, restore, develop, or enhance habitat for upland wildlife, wetland wildlife, threatened and endangered species, fish, and other types of wildlife in an environmentally beneficial and cost effective manner. The purpose of the program is to develop
high quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife populations of local, State, and national significance.
AMA provides cost share assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues
such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. AMA is available only in 15 States where participation in
the Federal Crop Insurance Program is historically low. Producers may construct or improve
water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition
to organic farming.
EQIP is a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural
production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial
and technical help to assist eligible participants to install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.
programs from the current information
collection will result in a significant
reduction in burden hours. Table C
shows only the burden for those
programs that are subject to the
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requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act. The burden associated
with those programs exempted from the
Paperwork Reduction Act (as identified
in Table B) has been removed.
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2010 / Notices
75961
TABLE C—BURDEN FOR REQUIRED PROGRAMS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
Form
Purpose
Program(s)
* Number submitted annually
Application ................................
EWP, WPFPP, HFRP ......
Contract or Agreement .............
EWP, HFRP .....................
Schedule of Practices/Costs
and signature sheet.
Schedule Modification ..............
EWP, WPFPP, HFRP ......
EWP, WPFPP, HFRP ......
750; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response.
150; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
300; Estimated time per participant .75 per response.
25; Estimated time per participant .60 per response.
Status/Contract Review ............
EWP, WPFPP, HFRP ......
Warranty,
Easement
Deed
Conservation,
Easement
Deed.
Option to Purchase Easement
EWP, HFRP .....................
EWP, HFRP .....................
AD–1159 ...........................
Option to Purchase, Amendment.
Subordination Agreement and
Limited Lien Waiver.
Notice of Intent to Continue .....
AD–1160 ...........................
Compatible Use Application .....
Not used by any non-exempt program.
EWP, HFRP .....................
AD–1161 ...........................
Application for Payment ...........
EWP, HFRP .....................
NRCS–LTP–151 ...............
NRCS–LTP–152 ...............
NRCS–LTP–153 ...............
Contract Violation Notification ..
Transfer Agreement ..................
Agreement Covering Non-Compliance With Provisions of
the Contract.
Request for Certified Wetland
Determination or Delineation.
Conservation Plan ....................
HFRP, EWP .....................
HFRP, EWP .....................
HFRP, EWP .....................
AD–1153 NRCS–CPA–
1200.
AD–1154 NRCS–CPA–
1202.
AD–1155 NRCS–CPA–
1155.
AD–1156 NRCS–CPA–
1156.
NRCS–LTP–13 NRCS–
CPA–013.
NRCS–LTP–20 NRCS–
CPA–260.
AD–1157 ...........................
AD–1157A ........................
AD–1158 ...........................
NRCS–CPA–38 ................
NRCS–CPA–68 ................
EWP, HFRP .....................
EWP, HFRP .....................
WC ...................................
CTA, HFRP ......................
250; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
150; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
165; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
120; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
100; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
200; Estimated time per participant .66 per response.
200; Estimated time per participant .58 per response.
20; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
5; Estimated time per participant 1.0 per response.
10; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
5,000; Estimated time per participant .83 per response.
2,700; Estimated time per participant .69 per response.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
* The number submitted annually provides the number of forms completed by respondents and the approximate number of hours to complete
each form. The response time is taken from the forms themselves as identified in the OMB Disclosure Statement where available.
NRCS anticipates the total number of
respondents will be 10,145 (previously
37,504 hours) and that the total burden
hours will be 7,661 (previously 25,291
hours). The estimated burden per
response depends upon the specific
form. This burden amount is identified
by form in Table C and ranges from .58
hour to 1 hour per respondent.
NRCS employees generally complete
the remainder of the forms in the
collection and review the documents
with the program participant for
concurrence and acceptance. The
burden was estimated based on a
projected average of documents to be
filed annually based on the funding
level for the authorized conservation
programs. The burden hours have been
significantly reduced from the previous
submission due to the exemption of
Conservation Programs under Title II of
the 2008 Act from Chapter 35 of Title
44, U.S.C. (Paperwork Reduction Act).
The number of respondents was
averaged from fiscal year (FY) 2008
through FY 2010. The total annual cost
to the respondents is $91,932. This
figure is computed based on 7,661
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18:39 Dec 06, 2010
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burden hours times a wage of $12.00 per
hour.
Comments: Comments are requested
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 hours (including hours
and cost) of the proposed collection of
information; (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
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments will be summarized and
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection,
and they will also become a matter of
public record.
PO 00000
Signed this 2nd day of December, 2010 in
Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010–30674 Filed 12–6–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Notice of Implementation of the Wind
Erosion Prediction System for Soil
Erodibility System Calculations for the
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the
Wind Erosion Prediction System
(WEPS) for soil erodibility system
calculations scheduled for
implementation for public review and
comment.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given of the
intention of the Natural Resources
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75959-75961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30674]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice of Intent: To Request a Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States
Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104-13), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations
at 5 CFR 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the
Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) intention to revise a
currently approved information collection, Long-Term Contracting, to
clarify for the public information that is no longer included in the
collection.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments must be received on or before
January 6, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments using any of the following methods:
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending comments
electronically.
E-mail: Jill.Atencio@wdc.usda.gov.
Mail: Paperwork Reduction Act Comments, Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890,
Washington, DC 20013.
Hand Delivery: Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6819 South Building, Washington, DC
20250, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays. Please ask the guard at the entrance to the
South Building to call (202) 720-1854 in order to be escorted into the
building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phyllis Watkins, Forms Manager,
Administrative Services Division, Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room
4235 South Building, Washington, DC 20250; Telephone: (202) 720-3770;
Fax: (202) 720-4659. Persons with disabilities who require alternative
means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should
contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 0578-0013.
Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2012.
Type of Request: To revise a currently approved information
collection to update and clarify information that is no longer included
in the information collection.
Abstract: The primary objective of NRCS is to work in partnership
with the American people and the farming and ranching community to
conserve and sustain our natural resources on privately owned land. The
purpose of the Long-Term Contracting information collection is to allow
for programs to provide Federal technical and financial cost-sharing
assistance through long-term contracts to eligible producers,
landowners, and entities. These contracts provide for making land use
changes and installing conservation measures and practices to conserve,
develop, and use the soil, water, and related natural resources on
private lands. Under the terms of the agreement, the participant agrees
to apply, or arrange to apply, the conservation treatment specified in
the conservation plan. In return for this agreement, Federal financial
assistance payments are made to the land user, or third party, upon
successful application of the conservation treatment. Additionally,
NRCS purchases easements for the long-term protection of the property
and provides for the protection and management of the property for the
life of the easement.
The information collected through this package is used by NRCS to
ensure the proper use of program funds.
Section 2904 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(2008 Act) (Pub. L. 110-246) exempts Conservation Programs under Title
II of the 2008 Act from Chapter 35 of Title 44, U.S.C. (Paperwork
Reduction Act). The programs in this information collection that
continue to be subject to the requirements to the Paperwork Reduction
Act are listed in Table A. This request will clarify the programs in
this information collection that are no longer subject to these
requirements, and will identify the reduction in burden by removing
these forms from the current information collection package. The
exempted programs are listed in Table B.
Table A--Conservation Programs Subject to the Requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) USDA Farm Service Agency's ECP
(7 CFR part 701). provides emergency funding and
technical assistance for farmers
and ranchers to rehabilitate
farmland damaged by natural
disasters and for carrying out
emergency water conservation
measures in periods of severe
drought. Funding for ECP is
appropriated by Congress.
Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) (7 The EWP was initiated in 1950 and
CFR part 624). is administered by NRCS. It
provides technical and financial
assistance to local institutions
for the removal of storm and
flood debris from stream
channels and for the restoration
of stream channels and levees to
reduce the threat to life and
property. The program also
provides for establishing
permanent easements in
floodplains with private
landowners.
Resource Conservation and Development The RC&D was initiated in 1962
Program (RC&D). and is administered by NRCS.
Through this program, NRCS
assists multi-county areas in
enhancing conservation, water
quality, wildlife habitat,
recreation, and rural
development. The program
provides technical and limited
financial assistance for the
planning and installation of
approved projects.
Watershed Protection and Flood The WPFPP, otherwise known as
Prevention Program (WPFPP) (7 CFR Pub. L. 566, was initiated in
part 622). 1954 and is administered by
NRCS. It assists State and local
units of government in flood
prevention, watershed
protection, and water
management. Part of this effort
involves the establishment of
conservation practices on
private lands to reduce erosion,
sedimentation, and runoff.
[[Page 75960]]
Healthy Forests Reserve Program HFRP is a voluntary program
(HFRP) (7 CFR part 625). established for the purpose of
restoring and enhancing forest
ecosystems to: 1) Promote the
recovery of threatened and
endangered species; 2) improve
biodiversity; and 3) enhance
carbon sequestration. The HFRP
was signed into law as part of
the Healthy Forests Restoration
Act of 2003 and amended by the
2008 Act authorized to be
carried out from 2009 through
2012.
Wetland Conservation (WC or The Wetland Conservation
Swampbuster) (7 CFR part 12). provisions are part of the Food
Security Act of 1985, as amended
by the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 and the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of
1996. The WC or Swampbuster
provisions condition receipt of
USDA benefits on landowners and
operators not converting
wetlands for agricultural
production purposes or to make
possible the production of an
agricultural commodity. All the
programs in this collection
except WHIP are subject to
compliance with these
provisions. Additionally, many
of the programs in this
collection condition eligibility
for certain practices on the
type of wetlands present on the
farm or ranch, thereby needing a
certified wetland determination
completed per the regulation in
7 CFR part 12, subparts A and C.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table B--Conservation Programs Exempted From the Requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).... WRP is a voluntary program
established to assist owners of
eligible lands in restoring and
protecting wetlands. It is the goal
of WRP to maximize wetland
functions and values and optimize
wildlife habitat benefits on every
acre enrolled in the program
particularly for migratory birds
and other wetland dependent
wildlife.
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection The FRPP is a voluntary program that
Program (FRPP). helps farmers and ranchers keep
their land in agriculture. The
program provides matching funds to
State, tribal, or local governments
and non-governmental organizations
with existing FRPPs to purchase
conservation easements.
Conservation Security Program CSP is a voluntary program that
(CSP). provides financial and technical
assistance to promote the
conservation and improvement of
soil, water, air, energy, plant and
animal life, and other conservation
purposes on tribal and private
working lands. The program is
available in all 50 States, the
Caribbean Area, and the Pacific
Basin area. The program provides
equitable access to benefits to all
producers, regardless of size of
operation, crops produced, or
geographic location.
Conservation Stewardship Program.. The Conservation Stewardship Program
is a voluntary program that
provides financial and technical
assistance to promote the
conservation and improvement of
soil, water, air, energy, plants,
and animals. It is mentioned here
to clearly indicate this program as
exempt from the Paperwork Reduction
Act and has never been under its
confines.
Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)... GRP is a voluntary program
established for the purpose of
protecting grazing uses and related
conservation values by conserving
and restoring grassland resources.
GRP helps landowners and operators
restore and protect grassland,
including rangeland and
pastureland, and certain other
lands, while maintaining the areas
as grazing lands. The program
emphasizes support for grazing
operations, plant and animal
biodiversity, and grasslands and
shrub lands under the greatest
threat of conversion.
Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program WHIP is a voluntary program that
(WHIP). provides technical and financial
assistance to enable eligible
participants to protect, restore,
develop, or enhance habitat for
upland wildlife, wetland wildlife,
threatened and endangered species,
fish, and other types of wildlife
in an environmentally beneficial
and cost effective manner. The
purpose of the program is to
develop high quality wildlife
habitats that support wildlife
populations of local, State, and
national significance.
Agricultural Management Assistance AMA provides cost share assistance
(AMA). to agricultural producers to
voluntarily address issues such as
water management, water quality,
and erosion control by
incorporating conservation into
their farming operations. AMA is
available only in 15 States where
participation in the Federal Crop
Insurance Program is historically
low. Producers may construct or
improve water management structures
or irrigation structures; plant
trees for windbreaks or to improve
water quality; and mitigate risk
through production diversification
or resource conservation practices,
including soil erosion control,
integrated pest management, or
transition to organic farming.
Environmental Quality Incentives EQIP is a voluntary conservation
Program (EQIP). program for farmers and ranchers
that promotes agricultural
production and environmental
quality as compatible national
goals. EQIP offers financial and
technical help to assist eligible
participants to install or
implement structural and management
practices on eligible agricultural
land.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The conservation programs exempted from the Paperwork Reduction Act
requirements accounted for a majority of the forms submitted and
completed annually. The removal of these programs from the current
information collection will result in a significant reduction in burden
hours. Table C shows only the burden for those programs that are
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The burden
associated with those programs exempted from the Paperwork Reduction
Act (as identified in Table B) has been removed.
[[Page 75961]]
Table C--Burden for Required Programs Under the Paperwork Reduction Act
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form Purpose Program(s) * Number submitted annually
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AD-1153 NRCS-CPA-1200.............. Application........... EWP, WPFPP, HFRP...... 750; Estimated time per
participant is .69 per
response.
AD-1154 NRCS-CPA-1202.............. Contract or Agreement. EWP, HFRP............. 150; Estimated time per
participant .69 per
response.
AD-1155 NRCS-CPA-1155.............. Schedule of Practices/ EWP, WPFPP, HFRP...... 300; Estimated time per
Costs and signature participant .75 per
sheet. response.
AD-1156 NRCS-CPA-1156.............. Schedule Modification. EWP, WPFPP, HFRP...... 25; Estimated time per
participant .60 per
response.
NRCS-LTP-13 NRCS-CPA-013........... Status/Contract Review EWP, WPFPP, HFRP...... 250; Estimated time per
participant .69 per
response.
NRCS-LTP-20 NRCS-CPA-260........... Warranty, Easement EWP, HFRP............. 150; Estimated time per
Deed Conservation, participant .69 per
Easement Deed. response.
AD-1157............................ Option to Purchase EWP, HFRP............. 165; Estimated time per
Easement. participant .69 per
response.
AD-1157A........................... Option to Purchase, EWP, HFRP............. 120; Estimated time per
Amendment. participant .69 per
response.
AD-1158............................ Subordination EWP, HFRP............. 100; Estimated time per
Agreement and Limited participant .69 per
Lien Waiver. response.
AD-1159............................ Notice of Intent to Not used by any non- ...........................
Continue. exempt program.
AD-1160............................ Compatible Use EWP, HFRP............. 200; Estimated time per
Application. participant .66 per
response.
AD-1161............................ Application for EWP, HFRP............. 200; Estimated time per
Payment. participant .58 per
response.
NRCS-LTP-151....................... Contract Violation HFRP, EWP............. 20; Estimated time per
Notification. participant .69 per
response.
NRCS-LTP-152....................... Transfer Agreement.... HFRP, EWP............. 5; Estimated time per
participant 1.0 per
response.
NRCS-LTP-153....................... Agreement Covering Non- HFRP, EWP............. 10; Estimated time per
Compliance With participant .69 per
Provisions of the response.
Contract.
NRCS-CPA-38........................ Request for Certified WC.................... 5,000; Estimated time per
Wetland Determination participant .83 per
or Delineation. response.
NRCS-CPA-68........................ Conservation Plan..... CTA, HFRP............. 2,700; Estimated time per
participant .69 per
response.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The number submitted annually provides the number of forms completed by respondents and the approximate number
of hours to complete each form. The response time is taken from the forms themselves as identified in the OMB
Disclosure Statement where available.
NRCS anticipates the total number of respondents will be 10,145
(previously 37,504 hours) and that the total burden hours will be 7,661
(previously 25,291 hours). The estimated burden per response depends
upon the specific form. This burden amount is identified by form in
Table C and ranges from .58 hour to 1 hour per respondent.
NRCS employees generally complete the remainder of the forms in the
collection and review the documents with the program participant for
concurrence and acceptance. The burden was estimated based on a
projected average of documents to be filed annually based on the
funding level for the authorized conservation programs. The burden
hours have been significantly reduced from the previous submission due
to the exemption of Conservation Programs under Title II of the 2008
Act from Chapter 35 of Title 44, U.S.C. (Paperwork Reduction Act). The
number of respondents was averaged from fiscal year (FY) 2008 through
FY 2010. The total annual cost to the respondents is $91,932. This
figure is computed based on 7,661 burden hours times a wage of $12.00
per hour.
Comments: Comments are requested 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 hours (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection
of information; (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 respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology. Comments will be summarized and included in the request for
OMB approval of this information collection, and they will also become
a matter of public record.
Signed this 2nd day of December, 2010 in Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-30674 Filed 12-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
