[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 2497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1041]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Revise and Extend 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 (Public 
Law 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 of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to 
request revision to and extension of a currently approved information 
collection, the Aquiculture Surveys.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 24, 2003, to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Ginny McBride, NASS OMB Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250 or sent electronically 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Allen, Associate Administrator, 
National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Aquiculture Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0150.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2003.
    Type of Request: Intent to revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The objective of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service is to prepare and issue state and national estimates of crop 
and livestock production and prices. The Aquiculture Surveys collect 
information on trout and catfish inventory, acreage, and sales and 
catfish processed. Survey results are used by government agencies in 
planning farm programs.
    Twenty states are in the trout growers survey. In January, previous 
year trout sales data are collected from farmers and distributed fish 
data are collected from state and federal hatcheries.
    Thirteen states are in the catfish growers survey. Data are 
collected from farmers in January for January inventory, water area, 
and previous year sales. In addition, farmers in the four major catfish 
producing states are surveyed in July for mid-year inventory numbers.
    All 26 catfish processing plants across the nation are in the 
catfish processing survey. Plants are surveyed monthly for amount 
purchased, prices paid, amount sold, and prices received.
    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 15 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,100.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 900 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, NASS 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. All responses to 
this notice will become a matter of public record and be summarized in 
the request for OMB approval.

    Signed in Washington, DC, November 19, 2002.
Rich Allen,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-1041 Filed 1-16-03; 8:45 am]
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