Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of Currently Approved Information Collections

AGENCY:

Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC).

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by March 6, 2006 to be assured of consideration.

Additional Information or Comments: Contact Director, Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1042, (202) 720-4327.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops.

OMB Number: 0551-0038.

Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2006.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collections.

Abstract: This information is needed to administer CCC's Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program. The information will be gathered from applicants desiring to receive grants under the program to determine the viability of requests for funds. Regulations governing the program appear at 7 CFR part 1487 and are available on the Foreign Agricultural Service's Web site.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 32 hours per respondent.

Respondents: U.S. government agencies, State government agencies, non-profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, and private companies.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,600 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimberly Chisley, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 720-2568.

Request for Comments: Send comments regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 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; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments may be sent to Director, Marketing Operations Staff, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1042, Washington, DC 20250-1042 and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Facsimile submissions may be sent to (202) 720-9361 and electronic mail submissions should be addressed to: mosadmin@fas.usda.gov.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.