Information Collection Request; Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures, 12138-12139 [2015-05227]

Download as PDF 12138 Notices Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 44 Friday, March 6, 2015 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 Farm Service Agency Commodity Credit Corporation Information Collection Request; Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures Farm Service Agency and Commodity Credit Corporation. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved information collection that supports the FSA and CCC Debt Settlement Policies and Procedure regulations. DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by May 5, 2015. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your comments, include the date, volume, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, the OMB control number and the title of the information collection. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Thomas F. Harris II, Claims Program Specialist, Financial Management Division, Office of Budget and Finance, Farm Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0581, 355 E Street SW., Suite 11–181B, Washington, DC 20024. You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may be requested by contacting Thomas F. Harris at the above address. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:59 Mar 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas F. Harris II, (202) 772–6014. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (Voice only). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures. OMB Control Number: 0560–0146. Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2015. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: This information collection is required to enable FSA and CCC to effectively administer the regulations at 7 CFR part 792 (FSA) and 7 CFR part 1403 (CCC) pertaining to debt settlement policies and procedures and the identification of and settlement of outstanding claims. Collection of outstanding debts owed to FSA or to CCC can be effected by installment payments if a debtor furnishes satisfactory evidence of inability to pay a claim in full, and if the debtor specifically requests an installment agreement. Part of the requirement is that the debtor furnishes a financial statement or other information that would disclose the debtor’s assets and liabilities. This information is required in order to evaluate any proposed plan. Such requests for documentation furnished by the debtor are also used in the other collection tools employed by both FSA and CCC in managing debt settlement policies and procedures. If an installment agreement is approved, then a Promissory Note (CCC–279), or an approved alternative promissory note format, should be executed between the debtor and the FSA/CCC representative(s). During the past two years, $13,930,548.07 in debt collection for Farm Programs and for the Commodity Office was facilitated by the use of this requested information. Eighty four (84) Promissory Notes were established between debtors and FSA and CCC from 10/01/2013 to 10/01/2014. Total active Note amount for the past two years is presently 305 total Promissory Notes (includes beginning outstanding notes (213); total notes established (84); notes defaulted (1), notes paid off in full (25); notes paid, small balance loans (-25); notes written off (07) and notes PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 discharged in Bankruptcy (00)) with a beginning outstanding amount in 2014 of $31,131,509.78, and an ending outstanding amount of $13,930,584.07. Collections for FSA and CCC from FSA/ CCC offices, DOJ actions, and Voluntary Payments totaled $3,416,702.42. The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) requires the head of an agency to take all appropriate steps to collect delinquent debts before discharging the debts. The current information collection forms and formats have been successfully used for the past several years and have become familiar tools for both agency employees and producers. Thus, adequate forms and formats already exist and are in use. Developing new forms and formats would be costly and is not required to meet the demands of the DCIA. Public comment is requested on how the forms and process may be improved, as specified below. There are no changes to the information collection since the last OMB approval. The formula used to calculate the total burden hour is estimated average time per responses hours times total annual responses. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to average 0.66 hours per response. The average travel time, which is included in the total annual burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per respondent. Respondents: Producers participating in FSA and CCC programs. Estimated Number of Respondents: 300. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 300. Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.66. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200 Hours. We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information collection to help us to: (1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; E:\FR\FM\06MRN1.SGM 06MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 44 / Friday, March 6, 2015 / Notices (3) Evaluate the quality, utility, and clarity of the information technology; and (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who respond through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All comments received in response to this notice, including names and addresses where provided, will be made a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of the information collection. Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720–8681. 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. Signed on March 3, 2015. Val Dolcini, Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. Title: Colony Loss Surveys. OMB Control Number: 0535–NEW. Summary of Collection: The primary objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are to prepare and issue official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, disposition and prices, economic statistics, and environmental statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture and its follow-on surveys. Pollinators (honeybees) are vital to the agricultural industry for producing food for the world’s population. Ad hoc surveys showed a dramatic rise in the number of disappearances of honeybee colonies in North America in late 2006. The collapse or decline of honeybee colonies is significant economically because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by European honeybees. General authority for these data collection activities is granted under U.S.C. Title 7, Section 2204. Need and Use of the Information: To collect critical information NASS will use two surveys which will complement its existing Bee and Honey Collection (0535–0153) that focuses on bee keepers with 5 or more colonies. The Colony Loss Quarterly Survey will be administered quarterly to a subsample of bee keepers responding to the annual Bee and Honey Inquiry. The Colony Loss Annual Survey will be administered to bee keepers with fewer than 5 colonies. The data collected will include state of colony residence, the commercial movement of colonies between states, newly added or replacement colonies, colony losses, and presence of colony stress factors, such as pests or parasites. Description of Respondents: Farmers and Beekeepers. Number of Respondents: 23,300. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; One time. [FR Doc. 2015–05227 Filed 3–5–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES March 2, 2015. 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 April 6, 2015 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 20503. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:59 Mar 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 National Agricultural Statistics Service PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12139 Total Burden Hours: 8,353. Charlene Parker, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–05263 Filed 3–5–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–20–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Flathead National Forest, Montana; Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Flathead National Forest and an Amendment of the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National Forest Plans To Incorporate Relevant Direction From the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: As directed by the National Forest Management Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is preparing the Flathead National Forest’s revised land management plan (forest plan) and an amendment to provide relevant direction from the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the forest plans for the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark and Lolo National Forests. The Forest Service will prepare a single environmental impact statement (EIS) for its revised forest plan and the amendment. This notice briefly describes the proposed action based on the need to change the existing plans, the nature of the decision to be made, and information concerning public participation. This notice also provides estimated dates for filing the EIS, the name and address of the responsible agency officials, and the individuals who can provide additional information. Finally, this notice identifies the applicable planning rule that will be used for completing the plan revision and amendment. The revised Flathead forest plan will supersede the existing forest plan that was approved by the Regional Forester in 1986, and amended more than 20 times since. The existing Flathead forest plan will remain in effect until the revised forest plan takes effect. The management direction pertaining to grizzly bear within the current forest plans of the Helena National Forest, approved by the Regional Forester in 1986; Kootenai National Forest, approved by the Regional Forester in SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\06MRN1.SGM 06MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12138-12139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05227]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 44 / Friday, March 6, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 12138]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

Commodity Credit Corporation


Information Collection Request; Debt Settlement Policies and 
Procedures

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and Commodity Credit Corporation.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
are requesting comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on an extension of a currently approved information 
collection that supports the FSA and CCC Debt Settlement Policies and 
Procedure regulations.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by May 5, 2015.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include the date, volume, and page number of this issue of 
the Federal Register, the OMB control number and the title of the 
information collection. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Thomas F. Harris II, Claims Program Specialist, 
Financial Management Division, Office of Budget and Finance, Farm 
Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0581, 355 E Street SW., Suite 11-181B, 
Washington, DC 20024.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may 
be requested by contacting Thomas F. Harris at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas F. Harris II, (202) 772-6014. 
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact 
the USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice only).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0146.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2015.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is required to enable FSA and 
CCC to effectively administer the regulations at 7 CFR part 792 (FSA) 
and 7 CFR part 1403 (CCC) pertaining to debt settlement policies and 
procedures and the identification of and settlement of outstanding 
claims. Collection of outstanding debts owed to FSA or to CCC can be 
effected by installment payments if a debtor furnishes satisfactory 
evidence of inability to pay a claim in full, and if the debtor 
specifically requests an installment agreement. Part of the requirement 
is that the debtor furnishes a financial statement or other information 
that would disclose the debtor's assets and liabilities. This 
information is required in order to evaluate any proposed plan. Such 
requests for documentation furnished by the debtor are also used in the 
other collection tools employed by both FSA and CCC in managing debt 
settlement policies and procedures. If an installment agreement is 
approved, then a Promissory Note (CCC-279), or an approved alternative 
promissory note format, should be executed between the debtor and the 
FSA/CCC representative(s).
    During the past two years, $13,930,548.07 in debt collection for 
Farm Programs and for the Commodity Office was facilitated by the use 
of this requested information. Eighty four (84) Promissory Notes were 
established between debtors and FSA and CCC from 10/01/2013 to 10/01/
2014. Total active Note amount for the past two years is presently 305 
total Promissory Notes (includes beginning outstanding notes (213); 
total notes established (84); notes defaulted (1), notes paid off in 
full (25); notes paid, small balance loans (-25); notes written off 
(07) and notes discharged in Bankruptcy (00)) with a beginning 
outstanding amount in 2014 of $31,131,509.78, and an ending outstanding 
amount of $13,930,584.07. Collections for FSA and CCC from FSA/CCC 
offices, DOJ actions, and Voluntary Payments totaled $3,416,702.42. The 
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) requires the head of an 
agency to take all appropriate steps to collect delinquent debts before 
discharging the debts. The current information collection forms and 
formats have been successfully used for the past several years and have 
become familiar tools for both agency employees and producers. Thus, 
adequate forms and formats already exist and are in use. Developing new 
forms and formats would be costly and is not required to meet the 
demands of the DCIA. Public comment is requested on how the forms and 
process may be improved, as specified below. There are no changes to 
the information collection since the last OMB approval.
    The formula used to calculate the total burden hour is estimated 
average time per responses hours times total annual responses.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is estimated to average 0.66 hours per response. The average 
travel time, which is included in the total annual burden, is estimated 
to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Producers participating in FSA and CCC programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 300.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.66.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200 Hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;

[[Page 12139]]

    (3) Evaluate the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
technology; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
respond through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses where provided, will be made a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the information collection.

    Signed on March 3, 2015.
 Val Dolcini,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2015-05227 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P
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