Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

Title: Conservation Reserve Program. OMB Control Number: 0560-0125. Expiration Date of Approval: February 29, 2000. Type of Request: Extension and Revision of Currently Approved Information Collection. Abstract: The information collected under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0560-0125, as identified above allows FSA to effectively administer the regulations under the CRP. The CRP regulations at 7 CFR Part 1410 and formerly at 7 CFR Part 704 set forth basic policies, program provisions, and eligibility requirements for owners and operators to enter into and carry out long-term CRP contracts with financial and technical assistance and for making cost- share and annual rental payments under the program. All information collection under 7 CFR Part 704 has ceased. This regulation was removed by the final CRP rule published February 19, 1997, which revised 7 CFR Part 1410. CRP information collection requirements will continue under 7 CFR Part 1410. Total public burden hours are based on the following assumptions: 1. Average size for contracts is 70.0 acres for general and 8.0 acres for continuous signup contracts. 2. Approximately 3.442 million acres are scheduled to expire under CRP on September 30, 1999. The Secretary has the authority to maintain 36.4 million acres in the program through 2002. The remaining enrollment authority through 2002 is 7,181,000 acres. 3. Twenty-five percent of the producers requesting early release will not release the entire contract. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .067691 hours per response. Respondents: Owners, operators, and other producers on eligible cropland. Estimated Number of Respondents: 575,140. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 38,932. Comments are sought on these requirements including: (a) whether the continued 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) enhancing the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimizing the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including using 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 Cheryl Zavodny, Chief, Conservation Programs Branch, Conservation and Environmental Programs Division, USDA, FSA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0513, Washington DC 20250-0513. Copies of the information collection may be obtained from Cheryl Zavodny at the above address. OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection(s) of information contained in these proposed regulations between 30 and 60 days after publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. 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.

Signed at Washington, DC, on October 18, 1999. Keith Kelly, Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 99-28035 Filed 10-26-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-05-P