Specialty Crop block Grant Program

OMB Control No: 0581-0239	ICR Reference No: 200609-0581-001
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 200604-0581-001
Agency/Subagency: USDA/AMS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Specialty Crop block Grant Program
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Withdrawn	Conclusion Date: 10/05/2006
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 09/07/2006
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date		36 Months From Approved
Responses	0	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	0	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is being implemented to provide State assistance for specialty crops to accomplish the goals of increasing fruit, vegetable, and nut consumption and improving the competitiveness of United State specialty crop producers.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 1621 note Name of Law: Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0581-AC59	Final or interim final rulemaking	71 FR 76	04/20/2003

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	71 FR 76	04/20/2006
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	71 FR 76	04/20/2006
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 7

IC Title Form No. Form Name Request for Grant Period Extension Letter Annual Performance Report Audit Report/Executive Summary State Plan (Narrative) Final Performance Report Specialty Crop block Grant Program SF-424, 424B, 269 SF-424 Application for federal Assistance (approved under OMB #4040-0004) ,   SF-424 B Assurances-Non-Construction Program (Approved under OMB #0348-0040) ,   SF-269A Financial Status Report (Short form) (Approved under OMB# 0348-0038 Grant Agreement

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Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The information collection requirements in this request are needed for the implementation of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), which operates pursuant to the authority of Section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 USC 1621 note). Section 101 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to “make grants to States for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to be used by State Departments of Agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.” The SCBGP mission is to accomplish the goals of increasing fruit, vegetable, and nut consumption and improving the competitiveness of United States specialty crop producers. The 2006 Appropriations Bill authorized funding and directed the USDA to provide $7 million in specialty crop block grants to states. The Program is voluntary. Each State that applies for the Program is to receive $100,000 to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. In addition, States would receive an amount representing the proportion of the value of specialty crop production in the State to the national value of specialty crop production for the previous calendar year in all States whose applications are accepted. All fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are eligible to participate. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is establishing eligibility and application requirements, the review and approval process, and grant administration procedures for the SCBGP. The SCBGP is executed in accordance with applicable parts of USDA's Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations (7 CFR 3015 et seq).

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $7,000,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Trista Etzig 202 690-4942 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 09/07/2006

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