[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 61459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17302]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval to Conduct 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. 104-113) 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 conduct a new information collection, the Generic 
Clearance for Survey Research Studies.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 18, 2006 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, D.C. 20250-2024 or to 
[email protected] or faxed to (202) 720-6396.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Survey Research Studies.
    OMB Control Number: 0535--NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct an Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for generic 
clearance that will allow NASS to rigorously develop, test, and 
evaluate its survey instruments and methodologies. The primary 
objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service are to 
prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop production, 
livestock production, economic statistics, and environmental statistics 
related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture. This 
request is part of an on-going initiative to improve NASS surveys as 
recommended by both its own guidelines, as well as those of OMB.
    In the last decade, state-of-the art techniques have been 
increasingly instituted by NASS and other Federal agencies and are now 
routinely used to improve the quality and timeliness of survey data and 
analyses, while simultaneously reducing respondents' cognitive workload 
and burden. The purpose of this generic clearance is to allow NASS to 
continue to adopt and use these state-of-the-art techniques to improve 
its current data collections on agriculture. They will also be used to 
aid in the development of new surveys.
    NASS envisions using the following kinds of survey improvement 
techniques, as appropriate to the individual project under 
investigation: Focus groups, cognitive and usability laboratory and 
field techniques, exploratory interviews, behavior coding, respondent 
debriefing, pilot surveys, and split-panel tests.
    Following standard OMB requirements NASS will apply to OMB 
individually for each survey improvement project it undertakes under 
this generic clearance and provide OMB with a copy of the questionnaire 
(if one is used), and all other materials describing the project.
    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 these collections 
of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farms, agri-businesses, and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 500 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, September 28, 2006.
R. Ronald Bosecker,
NASS Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E6-17302 Filed 10-17-06; 8:45 am]
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