[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 86 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23840-23841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8982]


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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 (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 
seek approval to revise and extend a currently approved information 
collection, the Livestock Slaughter Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 6, 2005 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 20250-2024 or to 
[email protected] or faxed to (202) 720-6396.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Livestock Slaughter Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0005.
    Approval Expires: July 31, 2005.
    Type of Request: Intent to revise and 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 
livestock survey program collects information on livestock slaughter. 
Slaughter data are used to estimate U.S. red meat production and 
reconcile inventory estimates which provide producers and the rest of 
the industry with current and future information on market supplies. 
This data is also used in preparing production, disposition, and income 
statistics which facilitate more orderly production, marketing, and 
processing of livestock and livestock products. The livestock program 
was approved by OMB for a 3-year period in 2002; 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 440 minutes.
    Respondents: Farmers, USDA inspectors, and custom/state inspected 
slaughter plants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,700.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,500 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

[[Page 23841]]

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, NASS Clearance Officer, 
at (202) 720-5778.
    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, March 24, 2005.
Carol House,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-8982 Filed 5-2-05; 2:34 pm]
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