[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27284-27285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9240]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request Revision and 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, this 
notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection comprising the Nursery and Christmas 
Tree Production Survey and the Nursery and Floriculture Chemical Use 
Survey. Revision to burden hours may be needed due to changes in the 
size of the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire 
length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 16, 2007 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0244, by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 720-6396.
     Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions to: 
Ginny McBride, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-2024.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: Ginny McBride, 
NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South 
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2024.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Nursery and Christmas Tree Production Survey and Nursery and 
Floriculture Chemical Use Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0244.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2007.
    Type of Request: 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

[[Page 27285]]

production, prices, and disposition, as well as environmental 
statistics. This includes estimates of production and value of key 
nursery products and chemical use by nursery and floriculture 
production operations.
     As nursery production continues to be one of the fastest 
growing segments of American agriculture, the Nursery Production and 
Christmas Tree Survey will update the production and economic 
contribution of the nursery industry to U.S. agriculture every 3 years 
by conducting a census of nursery and greenhouse operations with sales 
over $10,000 in the 17 major producing States. These operations will 
receive the production questionnaire by mail with telephone and 
personal interview follow-up for non-response.
     The Nursery and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey, also 
conducted every 3 years, measures chemical use related to the 
production of nursery and floriculture crops in six major producing 
States. The resulting publication, part of the NASS series on 
Agricultural Chemical Usage, summarizes rates of application, total 
amount of active ingredients applied, and use of pest management 
practices. NASS collects on-farm chemical use data to enhance the 
quality of information used in the evaluation of issues related to 
agricultural chemicals, including pesticide registrations. Pest 
management data are used to measure integrated pest management adoption 
levels and evaluate the impact of alternative pesticide regulations, 
policies, and practices. A sample of nursery and floriculture 
operations with sales over $10,000 in the major States will be 
personally interviewed, since chemical use data are not accurately 
collected by telephone or mail.
     A separate nursery production survey is conducted every 
year only in Oregon.
    Authority: These data will be collected under 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. This Notice is submitted in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A), and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995).
    Estimate of Burden: Based on previous data collected, the Nursery 
and Christmas Tree Production Survey questionnaire is expected to 
average 35 minutes per respondent. Based on previous data, the Nursery 
and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey questionnaire is estimated 
questionnaire average 45 minutes per respondent.
    Respondents: Producers of nursery, greenhouse, and floriculture 
products.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: (Nursery Production Survey 
at 13,000 respondents x annual frequency of 1/3) + (Chemical Use Survey 
at 4,200 x frequency of 1/3) + (Oregon Production Survey at 700 x 
frequency of 1.0) = approximately 6,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,000 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 included in the request for OMB approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, April 20, 2007.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-9240 Filed 5-14-07; 8:45 am]
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