Emergency Memo Request

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United States
Department of
Agriculture
Marketingand
Regulatory
Programs
Agricultural

Marketing
Service
Washington, DC
20250

TO:

Nathan Frey
Desk Officer
Office of Management and Budget

THROUGH: Charlene Parker
Departmental Clearance Officer
Office of the ChiefInfonnation Officer.
FROM:

David R. Shipman

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Associate Administra~r

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cf ty---jUL G ~2008
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Agricultural Marketing Service

SUBJECT:

Request for Emergency Review and Approval for a New Infonnation
Collection Request

Weare requesting emergency review and approval of a new infonnation collection. A
burden is being imposed on eligible S~te departments of agriculture for the collectionof
reporting requirements under section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of
2004 (7 USC 1621 note); amended by Section 10109 of the of the Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill).
The 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 infonnation collectionby July 16, 2008, so that the
Department can allocate the grant funds as required by 2008 Farm Bill.
The infonnation collection under review pertains to the amendments made in the 2008
Fann Bill which adds four new grant applicants,Guam, American Samoa, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth ofthe Northern Mariana Islands. In addition
the 2008 Faim B-illrequires new applicationprocedUresto include a plan for conducting a
competitive grant process, as well as conductingoutreach to socially disadvantagedand
beginning fanners.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is publishing an interim final rule which would
establish eligibility and application requirements, the review and approval process, and
grant administration procedures for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

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Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB). The SCBGP-FB is executed in accordance with applicable

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parts of USDA's Unifonn Federal Assistance Regulations (7 CPR 3015 et~.
program is administered by AMS.

This

As previously stated, because this action was mandated by Congress under the 2008 Farm
Bill and the Department needs to allocate $10 million in grant funds by the end of the
fiscal year, we request emergency approval of the infonnation collection by July 16,2008.
In compliance with UMB regulations (5 CPR Part 1320) which implement the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (pub. L. 104-13), the infonnation collection and recordkeeping
requirements that may be imposed by this action are submitted to OMB for emergency
review and approval. The additional reporting requirements would not become effective
prior to OMB review.
Attached are the OMB 83-1, the Supporting Statement, and AMS-71 spreadsheet.

Attachments