[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34149-34150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16127]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request an Extension of a Currently Approved 
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. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
intention the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to 
request an extension of a currently approved information collection, 
the Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops Surveys.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 31, 2001 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Rich Allen, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Room 4117 South Building, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-2001, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 34150]]

    Title: Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0039.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 09/30/01.
    Type of Request: To extend a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service is to prepare and issue state and national estimates 
of crop and livestock production. The Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops 
survey program collects information on acreage, yield, production, 
price, and value of citrus and non-citrus fruits and nuts and other 
specialty crops in States with significant commercial production. The 
program provides data needed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and 
other government agencies to administer programs and to set trade 
quotas and tariffs. State Departments of Agriculture and universities 
also use forecasts and estimates provided by these surveys.
    The Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops Program was last approved by 
OMB in1998 for a 3-year period. NASS intends to request that the survey 
be approved for another 3 years.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 17 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Producers, processors, and handlers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 17,000 hours.
    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.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, 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 
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: Ginny 
McBride, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 5330B South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 
D.C. 20250-2024 or [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record 
and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, May 22, 2001.
Rich Allen,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-16127 Filed 6-26-01; 8:45 am]
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