Notices. Notice and request for comments
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BILLING CODE 6116-01-C AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Board for International Food and Agricultural Development; One Hundred and Fifty-Second Meeting; Notice of Meeting Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of the one hundred and fifty-second meeting of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD). The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on October 17, 2007 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown located at 700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.
The meeting venue is in the Marriott Hotel's Iowa Ballroom, Salons A, B, and C located on the second floor. Dr. Robert Easter, Interim Chairman of BIFAD will open the meeting. Dr. Easter is the Dean, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environment Sciences at the University of Illinois. Dean Easter was elected by the Board to serve in this capacity upon the April 3, 2007 resignation of Mr. Peter McPherson, former USAID Administrator. The business meeting will begin with a presentation of USAID's FY 2006 Title XII Report to Congress.
It is expected that the Board will be looking at ways to enhance Title XII input and collaboration on the preparation of the FY 2007 report. Following the Title XII Report, the Board will discuss operational and management issues concerning the Strategic Partnership for Agricultural Research and Education (SPARE), establishment of a new BIFAD sub-committee, USAID's revisions to the ADS 216 (policy guidance) relative to Title XII implementation, SPARE committee issues, and other actions.
Late in the morning the Board will shift its attention to “Big Picture” thinking when it discusses ideas and plans for defining BIFAD's Strategic Direction in 2008. Critical to this will be the role of BIFAD in supporting USAID in collaboration with the U.S. university network to address priority agricultural issues in the context of transformational development. The Board will be re-visiting its earlier resolution with regard to implementing recommendations advanced in the special study conducted by former USAID Assistant Administrator Richard E.
Bissell entitled: “Implementation of Title XII: Report to the BIFAD (June 2006)”. It is expected that the Board will re-affirm its commitment to advancing the recommendations made in the Bissell Report. Following the executive luncheon, which is closed to the public, the Board will continue its discussion on defining the Board's action agenda for 2008. The Board will be entertaining comments from the audience on identification of critical priorities for international agriculture.
It is the Board's intention to formulate several key recommendations which can be presented to the USAID Administrator. Incorporated into the afternoon deliberations will be discussion on several special initiatives including: facilitation of a Conference of Deans of Agriculture; conducting a study on “Defining a Title XII Activity”; and ideas related to formulating a new Center of Excellence for Technology Adaptation in Africa with possible links to the new U.S. military command AFRICOM.
After a mid-afternoon break the Board meeting shifts to several policy oriented presentations. First, Catherine Bertini, Professor of Public Administration, Maxwell School, Syracuse University will present a report on: “U.S. Funding for Higher Education in sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study.” Then in keeping with the theme of the World Food Prize symposium, there will be two papers presented on implications of Biofuels to development in Africa. These presentations, with open public discussion, will be given by Dr.
Kenneth Cassman, Professor, Agronomy & Horticulture, University of Nebraska and Dr. Youba Sokona, executive secretary, Sahara & Sahel Observatory, Tunis, Tunisia. The Board meeting is free and open to the public. Discussion and comments from the audience are especially welcome. Those wishing to attend the meeting or obtain additional information about BIFAD should contact Dr. Ronald S. Senykoff, the Designated Federal Officer for BIFAD. Write him in care of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Ronald Reagan Building, Office of Agriculture, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 2.11-085, Washington, DC 20523-2110 or telephone him at
(202)712-0218 or fax
(202)216-3010. Ronald S. Senykoff, USAID Designated Federal Officer for BIFAD, Office of Agriculture and Food Security, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture & Trade, U.S. Agency for International Development. [FR Doc. E7-19396 Filed 10-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6116-01-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request September 27, 2007. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding
(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 to be collected;
(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), *OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV* or fax
(202)395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling
(202)720-8681. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Agricultural Marketing Service *Title:* USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site. *OMB Control Number:* 0581-0224. *Summary of Collection:* The USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site operates pursuant to the authority of Section 32 of Public Law 320, Section 8 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1777) and the National School Lunch Program, 7 CFR Part 210. It was developed to assist the institutional food service community across the United States. The Web site focuses on providing information to institutional food service professions, as well as providing a platform for processors, distributors, and brokers to post information about their processed USDA supplied commodities and other commercial food products available for institutional food service purchase. The USDA Food and Commodity Connection Website provides food related associations a location to provide information on services and materials available from the organization. The Web site is a public Web site and the information provided is considered as public information. *Need and Use of the Information:* The USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site will collect all information electronically at one time upon registration. Each new user must create their individual login and password. There are five types of users; institutional food service professionals, processors, distributors, brokers and food related associations. The Food and Commodity Connection Web site is designed as a central location in which institutional food service professionals, who provide meals in institutional settings, can locate processors who manufacture foods utilizing USDA provided commodities, distributors who distribute the manufactured food, brokers who represent the processors, and food related associations. No information is collected from a user when they access the Web site as a guest. *Description of Respondents:* Business or other for-profit; farms. *Number of Respondents:* 850. *Frequency of Responses:* Reporting: Other (one time). *Total Burden Hours:* 280. Agricultural Marketing Service *Title:* Domestic Origin Verification System Questionnaire. *OMB Control Number:* 0581-0234. *Summary of Collection:* The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)) requires and directs the Department to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out voluntary inspection and grading services on a fee for service basis. The collection of information regarding the requirement for companies to ensure domestic origin of the products they deliver to the USDA Purchase Program is provided for in the “General Terms and Conditions for Procurement of Agricultural Commodities of Services,” (USDA-1). The Domestic Origin Verification System Program
(DOVS)is a voluntary audit and verification user-fee service available to suppliers, processors, and any financially interested party. It is designed to provide validation of the applicant's domestic origin verification system prior to bidding on contracts to supply food products to the Department's Feeding programs, and/or may be conducted after a contract is awarded. Participation in DOVS does not relieve a company of its contractual requirements to provide only domestic origin product to the USDA. *Need and Use of the Information:* An interested company requests a DOVS questionnaire, and once completed it contains the applicants procedures to ensure fruit, nut or vegetable components or products can be traced back to their domestic origin; use of a segregation plan to keep all non-domestic components or products separate from domestic products; for taking corrective action on nonconformities and deficiencies; for checking the adequacy of their internal system of ensuring domestic origin; instructing employees in the domestic origin requirement and for maintaining records relating to the applicant's domestic origin verification system. These elements should be in place whether or not the applicant is on the DOVS program or providing a trace-back on every contract. DOVS assists companies to meet the domestic origin requirement for the USDA Purchase Program efficiently and eliminates the redundancy of the trace paperwork that is required for every USDA contract. *Description of Respondents:* Business or other for-profit. *Number of Respondents:* 100. *Frequency of Responses:* Reporting: Annually. *Total Burden Hours:* 100. Charlene Parker, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7-19437 Filed 10-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request September 27, 2007. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding
(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 to be collected;
(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), *OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV* or fax
(202)395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling
(202)720-8958. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Food and Nutrition Service *Title:* Direct Verification Evaluation Study. *OMB Control Number:* 0584-NEW. *Summary of Collection:* The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265) expanded authorization for local education agencies to directly verify eligibility for the National School Lunch Program
(NSLP)without contacting households, using data from other means-tested programs such as the Food Stamp Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Direct verification is intended to reduce burden on households and Local education agencies (LEAs), improve program operations, and reduce the number of children losing NSLP benefits due to household nonresponse to verification requests. *Need and Use of the Information:* The Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS)will collect information to understand the methods of direct verification and their effectiveness, the Direct Verification Pilot Study will systematically collect data from eight states. FNS proposes to conduct four data collection activities: Interviews with State CN and Medicaid agencies; survey of LEAs; administrative data collection from LEAs and State agencies; and telephone interviews with LEAs. Without the data FNS will not be able to assess the effectiveness of NSLP direct verification, and FNS will not be able to disseminate information about DV-M implementation to assist agencies that do not currently use DV-M. *Description of Respondents:* State, Local, or Tribal Government. *Number of Respondents:* 364. *Frequency of Responses:* Recordkeeping; Report: Annually. *Total Burden Hours:* 379. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7-19439 Filed 10-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Docket No. AMS-FV-07-0120; FV-07-331] Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the intention of the Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS)to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection in support of the Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Related Products. DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before December 3, 2007. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Terry B. Bane, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0247; fax
(202)690-1527; or e-mail “ *terry.bane@usda.gov* ”. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Title:* “Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Related Products—7 CFR 52”. *OMB Number:* 0581-0123. *Expiration Date of Approval:* February 29, 2008. *Type of Request:* Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection. *Abstract:* The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621— *et seq.* )
(AMA)directs and authorizes the Department to develop standards of quality, grades, grading programs, and other services to facilitate trading of agricultural products and assure consumers of quality products which are graded and identified under USDA programs. Section 203(h) of the AMA specifically directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to inspect, certify, and identify the grade, class, quality, quantity, and condition of agricultural products under such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, including assessment and collection of fees for the cost of the service. The regulations for such services for processed fruits and vegetables and related products may be found at 7 CFR Part 52. AMS also provides other types of voluntary services under the same regulations, e.g., contract and specification acceptance services, facility assessment services and certifications of quantity and quality. Grading services are available on a resident basis or a lot-fee basis. Respondents may request resident service on a continuous basis or on an as-needed basis. The service is paid for by the user (user-fee). The AMA and these regulations do not mandate the use of these services; they are provided only to those entities that request or apply for a specific service. In order for the Agency to satisfy those requests for service, the Agency must request certain information from those who apply for service. The information collected is used only by Agency personnel and is used to administer services requested by the respondents. The information request requires personal data, such as, name of the product, name and address of the packer or plant, location of the product, type and size of containers, and designation of services requested. Affected public may include any partnership, association, business trust, corporation, organized group, and State, County or Municipal government, and any authorized agent that has a financial interest in the commodity involved and requests service. *Estimate of Burden:* Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.05 hours per response (1124 total hours divided by 21,068 total annual responses). *Respondents:* Applicants who are applying for grading and inspection services. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 1,437. *Estimated Number of Responses:* 21,068. *Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:* 0.07. *Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:* 1,124. 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 Mr. Terry B. Bane, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0247; fax
(202)690-1527; or e-mail “ *terry.bane@usda.gov* ”. 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. Dated: September 27, 2007. Kenneth C. Clayton, Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. E7-19418 Filed 10-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Newspapers Used for Publication of Legal Notice of Appealable Decisions for the Northern Region; Northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and portions of South Dakota and Eastern Washington AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice lists the newspapers that will be used by all Ranger Districts, Forests, Grasslands, and the Regional Office of the Northern Region to publish legal notices for public comment and decisions subject to appeal and predecisional administrative review under 36 CFR 215, 217, and 218. The intended effect of this action is to inform interested members of the public which newspapers will be used to publish legal notices for public comment or decisions; thereby allowing them to receive constructive notice of a decision, to provide clear evidence of timely notice, and to achieve consistency in administering the appeals process. DATES: Publication of legal notices in the listed newspapers will begin with decisions subject to appeal that are made on or after October 1, 2007. The list of newspapers will remain in effect until another notice is published in the **Federal Register.** FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Acting Regional Appeals Coordinator; Northern Region; P.O. Box 7669; Missoula, Montana 59807. Phone:
(406)329-3381. The newspapers to be used are as follows: Northern Regional Office Regional Forester decisions in Montana: The Missoulian, Great Falls Tribune, and The Billings Gazette. Regional Forester decisions in Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington: Coeur d'Alene Press and Lewiston Tribune. Regional Forester decisions in North Dakota: Bismarck Tribune. Regional Forester decisions in South Dakota: Bismarck Tribune. *Beaverhead/Deerlodge NF* - Montana Standard. *Bitterroot NF* - Ravalli Republic. *Clearwater NF* - Lewiston Tribune. *Custer NF* - Billings Gazette (Montana). Rapid City Journal (South Dakota). *Dakota Prairie Grasslands* - Bismarck Tribune (North and South Dakota). *Flathead NF* - Daily Inter Lake. *Gallatin NF* - Bozeman Chronicle. *Helena NF* - Independent Record. *Idaho Panhandle NFs* - Coeur d'Alene Press. *Kootenai NF* - Daily Inter Lake. *Lewis & Clark NF* - Great Falls Tribune. *Lolo NF* - Missoulian. *Nez Perce NF* - Lewiston Tribune. Supplemental notices may be placed in any newspaper, but time frames/deadlines will be calculated based upon notices in newspapers of record listed above. Dated: September 25, 2007. Kathleen A. McAllister, Deputy Regional Forester. [FR Doc. 07-4847 Filed 10-1-07; 8:45 am]
Connectionstraces to 3
Traces to 3 documents
5 references not yet in our index
- Pub. L. 104-13
- 7 CFR 210
- Pub. L. 108-265
- 7 CFR 52
- 36 CFR 215
Citation graph
cites case law
Notices
Notice and request for comments
Pub. L.Pub. L. 104-13
Cite7 CFR 210
Pub. L.Pub. L. 108-265
Cite7 CFR 52
Cite36 CFR 215
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