Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (2008 Farm Bill)

OMB Control No: 0581-0248	ICR Reference No: 200806-0581-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: USDA/AMS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (2008 Farm Bill)
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 07/16/2008
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/22/2008
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 07/07/2008
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	04/30/2009	6 Months From Approved
Responses	510	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	1,439	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The proposed program is intended to accomplish the goal of enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is authorized under section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note, amended under section 10109 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.) Section 10109 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to States to be used by State departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

Emergency Justfication: The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available $10 million in fiscal year 2008. Given the limited time remaining in this fiscal year, State departments of agriculture are mandated by the 2008 Farm Bill to develop appropriate grant applications for the 2008 fiscal year program and the Department is mandated to adequately evaluate these new proposals and obligate the funds. Accordingly, we request emergency approval of the information collection by July 16, 2008, so that the Department can allocate the grant funds as required by 2008 Farm Bill.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 1621, amended under Sec. 10109 Name of Law: Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: US Code: 7 USC 1621 note Name of Law: Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 PL: Pub.L. 110 - 234 10109 Name of Law: Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0581-ZA08	Final or interim final rulemaking	73 FR 51585	09/04/2008

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name SCBGP (Farm Bill) AD-1047, SF-424A, SF LLL, AD-1049, SF-424B, SF-424, SF-270, SF-269, SF-269A, AD-1048 Application for Federal Assistance ,   Budget Information (Non-Construction Programs) ,   Assurances (Non-Construction Programs) ,   Request for Advance or Reimbursement ,   Financial Status Report (Short Form) ,   Financial Status Report (Long Form) ,   Disclosure of Lobbying Activities ,   Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, & Other Responsibility Matters ,   Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility & Voluntary Exclusion ,   certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (grants) Alternative I

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	510	0	510	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,439	0	1,439	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new collection. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available $10 million in fiscal year 2008. The State departments of agriculture and the Department of Agriculture have a limited amount of time to develop and evaluate new proposals within the remaining FY 2008 as mandated by the 2008 Farm Bill to obligate the funds for FY 2008.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $399,500

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: 07/07/2008

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