[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 50 (Monday, March 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12116-12117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5711]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise and Extend 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. 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 approval to revise and extend a currently approved information 
collection, the Aquaculture Surveys.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 19, 2004 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Ginny McBride, NASS 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: Carol House, Associate Administrator, 
National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Aquaculture Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0150.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2006.
    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 Aquaculture Surveys collect 
information on trout and catfish inventory, acreage, and sales; catfish 
processed; and catfish feed. 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

[[Page 12117]]

major catfish producing States are surveyed in July for mid-year 
inventory. All twenty-six 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.
    New to this collection is a survey of twenty catfish millers in 
four States. They are surveyed monthly for the amount of feed delivered 
for food-size fish and fingerlings. 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 and mills.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
    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 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 at Washington, DC, February 26, 2004.
Carol House,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-5711 Filed 3-12-04; 8:45 am]
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