Information Collection: Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistance Instruments, 56575-56576 [2020-20195]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 178 / Monday, September 14, 2020 / Notices khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the FSA’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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. All comments received in response to this document, including names and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office of Management and Budget approval. Environmental Review The environmental impacts for STRP have been considered in a manner consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347), the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), and the FSA regulation for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part 799). As previously stated, the intent of STRP is to provide financial assistance to commercial fishermen for expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic markets for U.S. commercially caught and sold seafood, because seafood commodities have been impacted by trade actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of exports. The limited discretionary aspects of STRP (for example, determining AGI and payment limitations) were designed to be consistent with established FSA and CCC programs, but also take into account certain differences associated with seafood production from crop production. These discretionary aspects do not have the potential to impact the human environment as they are administrative. Accordingly, the following Categorical Exclusions in 7 CFR part 799.31 apply: • § 799.31(b)(6)(iii) applies to financial assistance to supplement income, manage the supply of agricultural commodities, or influence the cost and supply of such commodities; and • § 799.31(b)(6)(iv) applies to individual farm participation in FSA programs where no ground disturbance or change in land use occurs as a result of the proposed action or participation. No Extraordinary Circumstances (§ 799.33) exist. As such, the implementation of STRP and the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:51 Sep 11, 2020 Jkt 250001 participation in STRP do not constitute major Federal actions that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment, individually or cumulatively. Therefore, CCC will not prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement for this action and this document serves as documentation of the programmatic environmental compliance decision for this federal action. Federal Assistance Programs The title and number of the Federal assistance programs, as found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this document applies is 10.131—Seafood Trade Relief Program. Richard Fordyce, Administrator, Farm Service Agency. Robert Stephenson, Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 2020–20143 Filed 9–9–20; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Information Collection: Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistance Instruments Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice; request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the adoption of a new form to replace multiple versions of a currently approved information collection, OMB 0596–0217, Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistance Instruments. SUMMARY: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 13, 2020 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Jacqueline Henry, USDA Forest Service, Director for Office of Grants and Agreements, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mailstop 1138, Washington, DC 20250. Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 703–605–4776 or by email to: jacqueline.henry@usda.gov. The public may inspect comments received at USDA Forest Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250, during normal business DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56575 hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 703–605–4776 to facilitate entry to the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Henry, Director for Office of Grants and Agreements, telephone 703– 605–4776. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistant Instruments. OMB Number: 0596–0217. Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/ 2017. Type of Request: Renewal with change. Abstract: In order to perform specific Forest Service activities, Congress created several authorities to assist the Agency in carrying out its mission. The Forest Service issues partnership agreements under specific authorities exempt from the Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act (FGCAA). This collection is for a new form that will be used to enter into the following agreement types by the Forest Service: (1) Participating Agreements (replaces FS–1500–16 and 16A through 16G), (2) Cost-Reimbursable Agreement (replaces FS–1500–12), (3) Joint Venture Agreement (replaces FS–1500–14 and 14A), (4) Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (replaces FS1500–13 through 13B); and, (5) Challenge Cost-Share Agreement (replaces FS–1500–10 and 10A through 10C). In addition to Federal Financial Assistance (FFA), Congress created specific authorizations for acts outside the scope of the FGCAA. Appropriations language was developed to convey authority for the Forest Service to enter into relationships that are outside the scope of the FGCAA. The Forest Service implements these authorizations using instruments such as collection agreements, FGCAA exempted agreements, memorandums of understanding, and other agreements which mutually benefit participating parties. These instruments fall outside the scope of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and often require financial plans and statements of work. Forest Service employees collect information from cooperating parties from the pre-award to the closeout stage via telephone calls, emails, postal mail, and person-to-person meetings to create, develop, and administer these funded E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM 14SEN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 56576 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 178 / Monday, September 14, 2020 / Notices and non-funded agreements. The multiple means for respondents to communicate their responses include forms, non-forms, electronic documents, face-to-face, telephone, and internet. The scope of information collected varies; however, it typically includes the project type, project scope, financial plan, statement of work, and cooperator’s business information. The Forest Service would not be able to create, develop, and administer these funded and non-funded agreements without the collected information. The Agency would also be unable to develop or monitor projects, make or receive payments, or identify financial and accounting errors. Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 to 4 hours annually per person. Type of Respondents: Non-profit and for profit institutions; institutions of higher education; State, local, and Native American tribal governments, individuals; foreign governments; and organizations. Estimated Annual Number of Respondents for New Form: 1,875. Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 to 4. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,500 hours. Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of 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 when provided, will be a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office of Management and Budget approval. Jacqueline Henry, Director, Grants and Agreements Policy. [FR Doc. 2020–20195 Filed 9–11–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:51 Sep 11, 2020 Jkt 250001 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Purpose and Need for Action Forest Service The purpose of the Twin Mountain II Timber Sale is to implement the 2016 Forest Plan direction to move the project area toward the desired future conditions described in the plan. More specifically, the purpose is to manage the timber resource for production of sawtimber and other wood products and to meet multiple resource objectives. There is a need to provide a sustainable level of forest products to contribute to the economic sustainability of the region. Providing old-growth timber would preserve a viable timber industry by providing timber volume in an economically efficient manner while providing jobs and opportunities for Southeast Alaska residents. Tongass National Forest, Thorne Bay Ranger District; Alaska; Twin Mountain II Timber Sale AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA). Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ACTION: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Twin Mountain II Timber Sale, which proposes to offer timber for harvest in the Staney and Red Bay areas within the Thorne Bay Ranger District, Tongass National Forest. The Proposed Action would offer for harvest about 42 million board feet of timber from approximately 3,000 acres. In addition, transportation management activities such as road construction, reconstruction, maintenance and decommissioning are proposed. SUMMARY: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by [October 14, 2020. The draft EIS is expected December 2020 and the final EIS is expected May 2021. DATES: Send written comments to the Thorne Bay Ranger District, Attn: Twin Mountain II Timber Sale, P.O. Box 19001, Thorne Bay, Alaska, 99919. Comments may also be sent electronically to https://cara.ecosystem management.org/Public/ CommentInput?Project=58626, or via facsimile to 907–828–3309. In all correspondence, include your name, address, and organization name if you are commenting as a representative of an organization. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy Maldonado, Planning Staff, Thorne Bay Ranger District, P.O. Box 19001, Thorne Bay, Alaska 99919 or by phone at 907–828–3250. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. This EIS will tier to and incorporate by reference the 2016 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) Amendment Final EIS. The project area is located on Prince of Wales Island, approximately 75 to 100 miles west of Ketchikan, Alaska, within the Staney and Red Bay areas of the Thorne Bay Ranger District, Tongass National. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Proposed Action The Forest Service proposes to make approximately 42 million board feet (MMBF) of old growth timber available to offer for harvest and construct and reconstruct roads in the Staney and Red Bay areas within the Thorne Bay Ranger District. Timber would be made available to offer for harvest up to 3,000 acres of old-growth forest in the Modified Landscape and Timber Production land use designation areas, using one or more timber sales that would be implemented over the course of 5 to 10 years. The proposed action includes about 1,800 acres of even-aged management and about 1,200 acres of uneven-aged management, with estimated volume for even-aged management being 32.4 MMBF and 9.6 MMBF for uneven-aged management. The proposed action includes approximately 3 miles of new National Forest System road construction, 11 miles of new temporary road construction, and the reconditioning of approximately 35 miles of existing roads. Existing rock quarries would be used as available or new quarries would be developed as necessary to provide materials for road construction. Existing log transfer facilities at El Capitan, Exchange Cove, Lab Bay, Naukati, and Winter Harbor could be used. Under the proposed action, no young growth timber is proposed to be made available for harvest and no activities would occur within designated roadless areas. No special timber cutting prescriptions around communities are included in the proposed action. Responsible Official The Responsible Official for this project is the Tongass Forest Supervisor, Earl Stewart. E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM 14SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 178 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56575-56576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20195]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Federal and Non-Federal Financial 
Assistance Instruments

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the adoption of a new form to replace multiple 
versions of a currently approved information collection, OMB 0596-0217, 
Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistance Instruments.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 13, 
2020 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to 
Jacqueline Henry, USDA Forest Service, Director for Office of Grants 
and Agreements, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mailstop 1138, Washington, 
DC 20250.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 703-605-4776 or by 
email to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at USDA Forest Service, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250, during normal business 
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 703-605-4776 to 
facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Henry, Director for Office 
of Grants and Agreements, telephone 703-605-4776.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistant Instruments.
    OMB Number: 0596-0217.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/2017.
    Type of Request: Renewal with change.
    Abstract: In order to perform specific Forest Service activities, 
Congress created several authorities to assist the Agency in carrying 
out its mission. The Forest Service issues partnership agreements under 
specific authorities exempt from the Federal Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements Act (FGCAA). This collection is for a new form that will be 
used to enter into the following agreement types by the Forest Service:
    (1) Participating Agreements (replaces FS-1500-16 and 16A through 
16G),
    (2) Cost-Reimbursable Agreement (replaces FS-1500-12),
    (3) Joint Venture Agreement (replaces FS-1500-14 and 14A),
    (4) Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (replaces 
FS1500-13 through 13B); and,
    (5) Challenge Cost-Share Agreement (replaces FS-1500-10 and 10A 
through 10C).
    In addition to Federal Financial Assistance (FFA), Congress created 
specific authorizations for acts outside the scope of the FGCAA. 
Appropriations language was developed to convey authority for the 
Forest Service to enter into relationships that are outside the scope 
of the FGCAA. The Forest Service implements these authorizations using 
instruments such as collection agreements, FGCAA exempted agreements, 
memorandums of understanding, and other agreements which mutually 
benefit participating parties. These instruments fall outside the scope 
of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and often require 
financial plans and statements of work. Forest Service employees 
collect information from cooperating parties from the pre-award to the 
closeout stage via telephone calls, emails, postal mail, and person-to-
person meetings to create, develop, and administer these funded

[[Page 56576]]

and non-funded agreements. The multiple means for respondents to 
communicate their responses include forms, non-forms, electronic 
documents, face-to-face, telephone, and internet. The scope of 
information collected varies; however, it typically includes the 
project type, project scope, financial plan, statement of work, and 
cooperator's business information.
    The Forest Service would not be able to create, develop, and 
administer these funded and non-funded agreements without the collected 
information. The Agency would also be unable to develop or monitor 
projects, make or receive payments, or identify financial and 
accounting errors.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 to 4 hours annually per person.
    Type of Respondents: Non-profit and for profit institutions; 
institutions of higher education; State, local, and Native American 
tribal governments, individuals; foreign governments; and 
organizations.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents for New Form: 1,875.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 to 4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,500 hours.
    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of 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 when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

Jacqueline Henry,
Director, Grants and Agreements Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-20195 Filed 9-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P


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