[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 107 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31342-31343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12469]


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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. No. 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 9, 2004 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ginny McBride, NASS Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250 or 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: Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0039.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/04.
    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, prices, and disposition. The Fruits, 
Nuts, and Specialty Crops survey program collects information on 
acreage, yield, production, price, and value of citrus and noncitrus 
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. Producers, processors, 
other industry representatives, 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 in 2001 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.

[[Page 31343]]

    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, DC 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 18, 2004.
Carol House,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-12469 Filed 6-2-04; 8:45 am]
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