Notice2023-17952
Information Collection Request; Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 21, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFarm Service Agency
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a revision of currently approved information collection associated with the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). The revision will include new forms related to ECP that will accompany new software to be implemented fiscal year 2024. The existing forms for prior ECP contracts will remain in use until contracts executed prior to fiscal year 2024 are closed.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 160 (Monday, August 21, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56792-56793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17952]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
[Docket ID: FSA-2023-0016]
Information Collection Request; Emergency Conservation Program
(ECP) and Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)
AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Farm
Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested
individuals and organizations on a revision of currently approved
information collection associated with the Emergency Conservation
Program (ECP) and Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). The revision
will include new forms related to ECP that will accompany new software
to be implemented fiscal year 2024. The existing forms for prior ECP
contracts will remain in use until contracts executed prior to fiscal
year 2024 are closed.
DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by October 20, 2023.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this Notice. You may
submit comments, identified by Docket ID: FSA-2023-0016, by any of the
following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail, Hand Delivery, or Courier: Shanita Landon, ECP
Program Manager, Conservation Division, Farm Service Agency, United
States Department of Agriculture, STOP 0513, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20250-0513.
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 Shanita Landon.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to
collection activities, Shanita London, (202) 578-9928 (work mobile);
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2918a838c8b9683cc8e838c868d8ca297918683cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e09388818e899481ce8c818e848f8ea095938481ce878f96">[email protected]</span></a>. Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of Information Collection
Title: Emergency Conservation Program and Biomass Crop Assistance
Program.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0082.
Expiration Date: July 31, 2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: The collection of this information is necessary to allow
FSA to:
(1) Effectively administer the regulations under ECP, which are set
forth at 7 CFR part 701, so as to provide funding and technical
assistance for farmers and ranchers to restore farmland
[[Page 56793]]
damaged by natural disasters, and for emergency water conservation
measures in severe droughts; and
(2) Effectively administer the regulations for BCAP, which are set
forth at 7 CFR part 1450, so as to provide financial assistance to
owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest
land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks.
This information is collected in support of, respectively, sections
401-407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-334), as
amended, and section 9011 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act
of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171), as amended.
Activity related to BCAP did not change since the last Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) submission due to the lack of BCAP funding.
Activity related to ECP requests, approvals, and payments has increased
due to major storm systems that caused catastrophic damage across the
nation, from 2022-2023. Hurricane Fiona and Ian occurred in 2022.
Multiple wildfires in 2022 and flood events in 2023 all contributed to
the increase in activity. The new Cost-Share Request form for ECP is
included in this request. The number of responses increased to 560,000
while the burden hours increased by 18,497 to cover the new Cost-Share
Request form. The number of respondents remains 140,000 in the request.
For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the
formula used to calculate the total burden hours is the estimated
average time per response multiplied by the estimated total annual of
responses.
Estimate of Average Time to Respond: Public reporting burden for
collecting information under this notice is estimated to average 0.0688
hours per responses, including the time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data
needed, completing and reviewing the collection of information for all
respondents.
Type of Respondents: Owners, operators and other eligible
agricultural producers on eligible farmland.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 140,000.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.04.
Estimated Total Annual Reponses: 945,445.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 67,852 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;
(3) Evaluate the quality, ability 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.
All responses to this notice, including names and addresses when
provided, will be summarized and included in the request for OMB
approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.
USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (for example, braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Agency or USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 or (844)
433-2774 (toll-free nationwide). Additionally, program information may
be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint">https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint</a> and
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form
or letter to USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6e212f2d2e1b1d0a0f40090118"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="47080604073234232669202831">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Zach Ducheneaux,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2023-17952 Filed 8-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 21, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.