[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 6692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2041]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request 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, this 
notice announces the intent of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the Livestock Slaughter 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 April 7, 2008 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0005, 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: NASS 
Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, Mail 
Stop 2024, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-2024.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: NASS Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, 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: Livestock Slaughter Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0005.
    Approval Expires: August 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Intent to Request Approval to Revise and Extend an 
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 2005; NASS intends to 
request that the survey be approved for another 3 years.
    Authority: 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. This 
Notice is submitted 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).
    Estimate of Burden: The Livestock Slaughter Survey includes a 
weekly survey of 900 Federally Inspected (FI) slaughter plants and 
monthly/quarterly surveys of approximately 2,000 Non-Federally 
Inspected (NFI) slaughter facilities. Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 7 minutes per 
response for an estimated annual average burden of 370 minutes per 
respondent.
    Respondents: Farmers, USDA inspectors, and custom/state inspected 
slaughter plants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,900.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 18,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-
2448.
    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, January 16, 2008.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-2041 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P