[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 99 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27956-27957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12972]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Conduct an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. No. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 
5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces 
the intent of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to 
request approval for a new information collection, the Fruit and 
Vegetable Agricultural Practices Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 28, 1999, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rich Allen, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4117, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-2000, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Fruit and Vegetable Agricultural Practices Survey.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct a new 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: The Fruit and Vegetable Agricultural Practices Survey 
will be conducted in 14 states. States included in the survey are 
Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, 
Washington, and Wisconsin. This survey is in compliance with President 
Clinton's October 1997 directive entitled ``Initiative to Ensure the 
Safety of Imported and Domestic Fruits and Vegetables.'' The purpose of 
the survey is to analyze data on agricultural practices related to 
microbial food safety. Data on sources of microbial contamination on 
produce, including water; manure; worker, field and facility 
sanitation; and crop identification systems will be collected.
    NASS conducted a pilot Agricultural Practices Survey in California 
and New York during the spring of 1999. The purpose of the pilot was to 
test survey procedures and questionnaire design and to analyze survey 
results in preparation for the 14-state survey.
    NASS will summarize the 14-state survey data and publish estimates 
of frequency of operations carrying out basic agricultural practices. 
Summarized data will be made available to the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA). FDA will use the data to analyze current agricultural practices 
and to develop a baseline to evaluate changes in agricultural 
practices. USDA will use the data to develop educational outreach 
materials for growers and packers. These data will be collected under 
the authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204(a). Individually identifiable data 
collected under this authority are governed by Section 1770 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford 
strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Fruit and vegetable growers and fruit and vegetable 
packinghouses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 13,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Larry Gambrell, the Agency OMB 
Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-5778.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the

[[Page 27957]]

methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Larry 
Gambrell, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4162, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-2000.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., May 12, 1999.
Rich Allen,
Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 99-12972 Filed 5-21-99; 8:45 am]
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