Justifcation 9 21 2009

September 21, 2009

OMB Control Number: 0560-0082

Title of Clearance: 7 CFR Part 701 –for Emergency Conservation Programs (ECP)

Agency Form Number affected by Change Worksheet: AD-245 and AD-1047 (0560-0263)

Other Changes: This request is to incorporate the information collection of OMB 0560-0263 for the CHST matching payment program (BCAP) into the existing OMB control number of 0560-0082. The information collection request was approved under the OMB control number 0560-0263 under emergency approval procedure in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This information collection activity is another conservation program to be included the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) under the OMB control number 0560-0082. The number of respondents of 5,600 added to the 0560-0082. The burden will increase by 38,700 and the total annual responses will increase by 28,000 in this request.

The description of information collection activity for the CHST matching payment program (BCAP) are included in the following:

The purpose of the CHST matching payment program is to assist eligible persons or entities with the collection, harvest, storage, and transportation of eligible material delivered for use in a CHST-qualified biomass conversion facility in advance of full implementation of BCAP. Through the CHST matching payment program CCC provides payments at a rate of $1 for each $1 per dry ton paid by the CHST-qualified biomass conversion facility to the owner for delivery of eligible material to the facility in an amount not to exceed $45 per dry ton. This program are available to eligible material owners for a period of two years. These matching payments may be made to persons delivering eligible material to a CHST qualified biomass conversion facility who possess the right to collect or harvest eligible material and are considered the owners of the eligible material.

The information are collected from eligible biomass owners by FSA County Office staff and entered into the electronic form AD-245 and stored in an electronic database. The information collected from biomass conversion facilities seeking to become CHST qualified are supplied directly from the biomass conversion facility staff and transmitted via fax to FSA headquarters staff in Washington, D.C. where it will be entered into an electronic database. Therefore, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) including the AD-1047, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters – Primary Covered Transactions, are executed between CCC and the biomass conversion facility. The MOU provides the BCAP provisions that are followed by the biomass conversion facility to ensure equitable treatment of eligible biomass owners.

The information recorded are used to produce reports, as needed, by FSA to inform the public how FSA has administered CHST funds at the state and county level and to establish a list of CHST Qualified biomass conversion facilities. When a biomass conversion facility meets these terms and enters into an MOU and AD-1047 with CCC, FSA county offices are periodically inform the public including agricultural and forest land owners and operators that matching payments may be available for deliveries of eligible material to CHST qualified biomass conversion facilities. FSA county offices also maintain a publicly available listing of CHST qualified biomass conversion facilities for general public access and distribution that may include general information about the facility and its eligible material needs to encourage the development of new and open markets for commercial eligible material sales transaction.