[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17296-17297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6506]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Request for New Information Collection on Genetic 
Resources for U.S. Food and Agriculture

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Foreign Agricultural 
Service's intention, in collaboration with the University of Illinois, 
to request a new information collection for genetic resources relevant 
to U.S. food and agriculture.

DATES: Comments and recommendations must be received on or before June 
2, 2008. Comments received after this date will not be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jennifer Long, Visiting Assistant 
Research Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of 
Illinois, 845 W. Taylor Street (MC 066), Chicago, IL 60607, e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Food and Agricultural Genetic Resources.
    OMB Number: To be assigned by OMB.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval date.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The Foreign Agricultural Service, in collaboration with 
the University of Illinois, will be gathering information on the 
international sources and uses of genetic resources relevant to U.S. 
food and agriculture. FAS and other USDA agencies would like to obtain 
information from a broad base of stakeholders on how the sources and 
uses of genetic resources may affect U.S. food and agricultural 
research and development activities. This information will assist FAS 
in further developing U.S. policy positions to be advanced in 
international forums such as the United Nations Food and Agricultural 
Organization (UN FAO) Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and 
Agriculture and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) 
Convention on Biological Diversity. Information collected from 
stakeholders will consist of an online survey, followed by a phone 
interview, to identify the sources and uses of genetic resources in the 
stakeholders' research and development activities. A maximum of two 
additional phone interviews may be held with respondents to clarify 
information from survey responses. Authority to collect this 
information falls under 7 U.S.C. Part 5693 and it is voluntary for 
stakeholders to participate. The data will be collected through a 
secure, online survey instrument and will be stored on a secure, 
password protected server at the University of Illinois. Only 
individuals with proper authorization (i.e., a password) will have 
access to the data.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.50 hours per response.
    Type of Respondents: Individual faculty and administrators in 
public and private U.S. universities, businesses, and individual 
researchers at federal agricultural research institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,000 per annum.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 5,900 per annum.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 9,900 per annum.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Copies of the information collection may be 
obtained from Tamoria Thompson-Hall, the Agency Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (202) 690-1690 or e-mail at [email protected]. 
Comments may be sent to Dr. Jennifer Long, Visiting Assistant Research 
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, 
845 West Taylor Street (MC 066), Chicago, IL 60607 or e-mail at 
[email protected] or to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20503. All comments received will be available for 
public inspection during regular business hours by contacting Peter

[[Page 17297]]

Tabor, Lead International Trade Specialist, at the Foreign Agricultural 
Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., South Building, Room 5930, Washington, DC 20250. Persons 
with disabilities who require an alternative means of communication of 
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact 
USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). All responses 
to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the proposed information collection. All comments will 
become a matter of public record.
    Government Paperwork Elimination Act: FAS is committed to 
compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, which 
requires Government agencies, in general, to provide the public the 
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically 
to the maximum extent possible.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on March 19, 2008.
Michael W. Yost,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-6506 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M