Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared or Have Been Declared Incompetent

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 intention of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to request the extension of a currently approved information collection. This information collection is used by CCC to document or determine whether heirs or beneficiaries of a producer are entitled to receive payments earned by a producer who dies, disappears, or is declared incompetent before receiving payments or other disbursements.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received on or before June 21, 2004 to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Contact David Tidwell, Agricultural Program Specialist, Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0517, telephone (202) 720-4542.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0026.

Expiration Date: September 30, 2004.

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

Abstract: Persons desiring to claim payment due a person who has died, disappeared, or has been declared incompetent must do so on Form FSA-325, “Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent”. This information is used by FSA county office employees to document the relationship of heirs or beneficiaries and determine the order of precedence for disbursing payments to heirs or beneficiaries of the person who has died, disappeared, or been declared incompetent.

Information is obtained only when a producer eligible to receive a payment or disbursement dies, disappears, or is declared incompetent, and documentation is needed to determine if any heirs or beneficiaries are entitled to receive such payments or disbursements.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .5 hours (1/2 hour) per response.

Respondents: Individual producers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,000.

Proposed topics for comment include: (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 collected; or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the 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 should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 and to David Tidwell, Agricultural Program Specialist, Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0517, (202) 720-4542.

Copies of the information collection may be obtained from David Tidwell, at the above address.