80 FR 12138 - Information Collection Request; Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
Commodity Credit Corporation

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 44 (March 6, 2015)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved information collection that supports the FSA and CCC Debt Settlement Policies and Procedure regulations.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12138-12139]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05227]


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 44 / Friday, March 6, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 12138]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

Commodity Credit Corporation


Information Collection Request; Debt Settlement Policies and 
Procedures

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and Commodity Credit Corporation.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
are requesting comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on an extension of a currently approved information 
collection that supports the FSA and CCC Debt Settlement Policies and 
Procedure regulations.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by May 5, 2015.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include the date, volume, and page number of this issue of 
the Federal Register, the OMB control number and the title of the 
information collection. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Thomas F. Harris II, Claims Program Specialist, 
Financial Management Division, Office of Budget and Finance, Farm 
Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0581, 355 E Street SW., Suite 11-181B, 
Washington, DC 20024.
    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 Thomas F. Harris at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas F. Harris II, (202) 772-6014. 
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact 
the USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice only).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0146.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2015.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is required to enable FSA and 
CCC to effectively administer the regulations at 7 CFR part 792 (FSA) 
and 7 CFR part 1403 (CCC) pertaining to debt settlement policies and 
procedures and the identification of and settlement of outstanding 
claims. Collection of outstanding debts owed to FSA or to CCC can be 
effected by installment payments if a debtor furnishes satisfactory 
evidence of inability to pay a claim in full, and if the debtor 
specifically requests an installment agreement. Part of the requirement 
is that the debtor furnishes a financial statement or other information 
that would disclose the debtor's assets and liabilities. This 
information is required in order to evaluate any proposed plan. Such 
requests for documentation furnished by the debtor are also used in the 
other collection tools employed by both FSA and CCC in managing debt 
settlement policies and procedures. If an installment agreement is 
approved, then a Promissory Note (CCC-279), or an approved alternative 
promissory note format, should be executed between the debtor and the 
FSA/CCC representative(s).
    During the past two years, $13,930,548.07 in debt collection for 
Farm Programs and for the Commodity Office was facilitated by the use 
of this requested information. Eighty four (84) Promissory Notes were 
established between debtors and FSA and CCC from 10/01/2013 to 10/01/
2014. Total active Note amount for the past two years is presently 305 
total Promissory Notes (includes beginning outstanding notes (213); 
total notes established (84); notes defaulted (1), notes paid off in 
full (25); notes paid, small balance loans (-25); notes written off 
(07) and notes discharged in Bankruptcy (00)) with a beginning 
outstanding amount in 2014 of $31,131,509.78, and an ending outstanding 
amount of $13,930,584.07. Collections for FSA and CCC from FSA/CCC 
offices, DOJ actions, and Voluntary Payments totaled $3,416,702.42. The 
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) requires the head of an 
agency to take all appropriate steps to collect delinquent debts before 
discharging the debts. The current information collection forms and 
formats have been successfully used for the past several years and have 
become familiar tools for both agency employees and producers. Thus, 
adequate forms and formats already exist and are in use. Developing new 
forms and formats would be costly and is not required to meet the 
demands of the DCIA. Public comment is requested on how the forms and 
process may be improved, as specified below. There are no changes to 
the information collection since the last OMB approval.
    The formula used to calculate the total burden hour is estimated 
average time per responses hours times total annual responses.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is estimated to average 0.66 hours per response. The average 
travel time, which is included in the total annual burden, is estimated 
to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Producers participating in FSA and CCC programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 300.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.66.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200 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;

[[Page 12139]]

    (3) Evaluate the quality, utility, 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 technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses where provided, will be made a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the information collection.

    Signed on March 3, 2015.
 Val Dolcini,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2015-05227 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P