The USDA Agricultural Mediation Program (AMP) is mandated by Subtitles A and B of Title V of the Agricultural Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-223), as amended. Under the program, USDA make grants to state-designated entities that provide mediation to agricultural producers, their lenders and others directly affected by the actions of certain USDA agencies.
The total annual burden hours on the public requested is 380 hours, and there is 20 burden hours increase in the request because the number of state-certified mediation programs has increased slightly in the past several years. The number of respondents increased by 5 from 35 in the previous request while the total responses decreased by 156 because the average time to respond by respondents has increased slightly since the last submission.
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:
(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;
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.