Certified Mediation Program (7 CFR part 785)

OMB Control No: 0560-0165	ICR Reference No: 202001-0560-003
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201703-0560-004
Agency/Subagency: USDA/FSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Certified Mediation Program (7 CFR part 785)
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/03/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	378	60
Time Burden (Hours)	2,898	380
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: 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.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 100 - 233 33 Name of Law: Agricultural Credit Act of 1987

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 55252	09/04/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 78113	12/03/2020
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 Agriculture Mediation Program SF-270 Request for Advance Reimbursement

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	378	60	0	318	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,898	380	0	2,518	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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 total annual burden on the public requested is 2,898 hours, which is an increase of 2,518 hours from the last approved information collection request. The number of responses and respondents increase by 318. The reasons for the increase from the previous submission are as follows: • The burden hours have increased because the number of state-certified mediation program has increased from 40 States to 42 States. • The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill expanded the areas of covered issues that Certified State Mediation Programs could mediate. With more issues to mediate, the time to report back to FSA has increased. • FSA recalculated the estimated number of unduplicated responses to average, four responses per respondent. Those unduplicated responses would include providing one mid-year report, one annual report, one request for Recertification, and submitting a Request for Advance or Reimbursement (SF-270), at least one time per fiscal year.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $131,544

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Mary Ann Ball 202-720-4283 [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: 12/03/2020

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