Notice2024-29224
Notice of Request for an Extension of Existing Information Collection Package
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
December 12, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentNatural Resources Conservation Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that NRCS will request an extension for a currently approved information collection for Long-Term Contracting forms.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 100463-100464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29224]
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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
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2024 /
Notices
[[Page 100463]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
[Docket No. NRCS-24-0017]
Notice of Request for an Extension of Existing Information
Collection Package
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that NRCS will request an extension for a currently
approved information collection for Long-Term Contracting forms.
DATES: Written comments on this notice will be accepted until close of
business February 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: NRCS prefers comments be submitted electronically through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. You may submit comments, identified by
Docket ID No. NRCS-24-0017, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail to: Carrie Lindig, Easement Programs Division, Room
4526-S, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW,
Washington, DC 20250. Include docket number NRCS-24-0017 in your
comment.
All comments received, including those received by mail, will be
posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Lindig; telephone, (202) 720-
1882; email, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#791a180b0b101c571510171d101e390c0a1d18571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87e4e6f5f5eee2a9ebeee9e3eee0c7f2f4e3e6a9e0e8f1">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Long-Term Contracting.
OMB Number: 0578-0013.
Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2025.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The primary objective of NRCS is to work in partnership
with the American people and the farming and ranching community to
protect, conserve and sustain our nation's 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 long-
term contracts provide for making land use changes and installing
conservation measures and practices to protect, 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. The conservation programs in
this information collection that are subject to the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act are listed in Table A. No changes or
adjustments are proposed at this time, this notice is limited to the
request for an extension of the currently approved information
collection package used by NRCS for Long-Term Contracting for the
programs listed in Table A. Table B shows the burden for those programs
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Table A--Conservation Programs Subject to the Requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description
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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.
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 in 2008.
The Agricultural Act of 2014
made minor changes to HFRP land
eligibility and funding.
Resource Conservation and Development The RC&D was initiated in 1962
Program (RC&D). and was administered by NRCS.
Through this program, NRCS
assisted multi-county areas in
enhancing conservation, water
quality, wildlife habitat,
recreation, and rural
development. The R&D Program
provided technical and limited
financial assistance for the
planning and installation of
approved projects.
[[Page 100464]]
Watershed Protection and Flood WPFPP was initiated in 1954 and
Prevention Program (WRFPP) (7 CFR is administered by NRCS. It
part 622). 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.
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Table B--Burden for Required Programs Under the Paperwork Reduction Act
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Number submitted
Form Purpose Program(s) annually
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AD-1153.............................. Application............ EWP, WPFPP, HFRP....... 750; Estimated time per
participant is 0.30
per response.
AD-1154.............................. Contract or Agreement.. EWP, HFRP.............. 150; Estimated time per
participant is 0.37
per response.
AD-1155, AD-1155A.................... Schedule of Practices/ EWP, WPFPP, HFRP....... 300; Estimated time per
Costs and signature participant is 0.373
sheet. per response.
AD-1156.............................. Schedule Modification.. EWP, WPFPP, HFRP....... 25; Estimated time per
participant is 0.375
per response.
AD-1157.............................. Option Agreement to EWP, HFRP.............. 170; Estimated time per
Purchase. participant is 0.40
per response.
AD-1157A............................. Option Agreement to EWP, HFRP.............. 170; Estimated time per
Purchase Amendment. participant is 0.40
per response.
AD-1158.............................. Subordination Agreement EWP, HFRP.............. 100; Estimated time per
and Limited Lien participant is 0.495
Waiver. per response.
AD-1159.............................. Notice of Intent to Not used by any non- .......................
Continue. exempt pro-grams.
AD-1160.............................. Compatible Use EWP, HFRP.............. 200; Estimated time per
Authorization. participant is 0.40
per response.
AD-1161.............................. Application for Payment CTA, EWP, HFRP......... 200; Estimated time per
participant is 0.30
per response.
NRCS-CPA-68.......................... Conservation Plan...... EWP, WPFPP, HFRP....... 2,700; Estimated time
per participant is
0.75 per response.
NRCS-LTP-13.......................... Status/Contract Review. EWP, HFRP.............. 250; Estimated time per
participant is 0.375
per response.
NRCS-LTP-20, NRCS-CPA-260............ Warranty Easement Deed, EWP, HFRP.............. 170; Estimated time per
Conservation Easement participant is 0.40
Deed. per response.
NRCS-LTP-70.......................... Agreement for the HFRP................... 50; Estimated time per
Purchase of participant is 0.69
Conservation Easement. per response.
NRCS-LTP-80.......................... Agreement for the EWP.................... 120; Estimated time per
Purchase of participant is 0.69
Conservation Easement. per response.
NRCS-LTP-151......................... Contract Violation EWP, HFRP.............. 20; Estimated time per
Notification. participant is 0.495
per response.
NRCS-LTP-152......................... Transfer Agreement..... EWP, HFRP.............. 5; Estimated time per
participant is 0.495
per response.
NRCS-LTP-153......................... Agreement Covering Non- EWP, HFRP.............. 10; Estimated time per
Compliance With participant is 1.5 per
Provisions of the response.
Contract.
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Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.30 to 1.5 hours per response.
Type of Respondents: Program participants.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,390.
Estimated Number of Responses: 5,390.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,058 hours.
Comments are invited on:
(1) 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) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed 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
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to Carrie Lindig, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Easement Programs Division, 1400 Independence
Ave. SW, Room 4526-S, Washington, DC 20250. All comments received will
be available for public inspection during regular business hours at the
same address.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
Louis Aspey,
Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-29224 Filed 12-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
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