Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 36456 [2014-15046]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 36456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15046]


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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 124 / Friday, June 27, 2014 / 
Notices

[[Page 36456]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 23, 2014.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (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 assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 regarding this information collection received by July 28, 
2014 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to 
submit their comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV 
or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) 
may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Emergency Conservation Program and Biomass Crop Assistance 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0082.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency (FSA), in 
cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Forest 
Service, and other agencies and organizations, provides eligible 
producers and landowners cost-share incentives and technical assistance 
through several conservation and environmental programs to help 
farmers, ranchers, and other eligible landowners and operators conserve 
soil, improve water quality, develop forests, and rehabilitate farmland 
severely damaged by natural disasters. The authorities to collect 
information for this collection are found under the Agricultural Credit 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201-2205), which provides emergency funds for 
sharing with agricultural producers the cost of rehabilitating farmland 
damaged by natural disaster, and for carrying out emergency water 
conservation measures during periods of severe drought. FSA is also 
managing the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) authorized by 
Section 9001 of the 2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-246) which amends Title 
IX of the Farm Security and Rural Investment of 2002 and adds section 
9011 for BCAP. BCAP regulations outlined the legislations parameters, 
program definitions and process for: (1) Establishing BCAP project 
areas; (2) Matching payment opportunity for eligible material owners 
and qualifying biomass conversion facilities; (3) Contracting acreage 
for producers in BCAP project areas; and (4) Establishment and annual 
production payments for producers in BCAP projects areas.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information using 
several forms. The collected information will be used to determine if 
the person, land, and practices are eligible for participation in the 
respective program and to receive cost-share assistance. Information 
collection from eligible biomass owners, biomass conversion facilities, 
and producers meeting the requirements for matching payments, annual 
production payment assistance, establishment payments and BCAP project 
area designation is necessary in order to ensure the financial 
accountability needed to operate and administer the BCAP. Without the 
information, FSA will not be able to make eligibility determinations 
and compute payments in a timely manner.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents: 70,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 82,764.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-15046 Filed 6-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P