[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 234 (Thursday, December 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 73906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28758]


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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.

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, the Agricultural Labor 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 February 2, 2009 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0109, 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: 
David Hancock, 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: David Hancock, 
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 or Kevin Barnes, Chief, 
Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch, National 
Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 
720-6146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Agricultural Labor Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0109.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2009.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek 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, disposition, and prices. The 
Agricultural Labor Survey provides statistics on the number of 
agricultural workers, hours worked, and wage rates. Number of workers 
and hours worked are used to estimate agricultural productivity; wage 
rates are used in the administration of the ``H-2A'' Program and for 
setting Adverse Effect Wage Rates. Survey data are also used to carry 
out provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act. The current 
expiration date for this docket is April 30, 2009. NASS intends to 
request that the Agricultural Labor 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. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations 
at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995).
    Estimate of Burden: This information collection comprises four 
individual surveys, two of which are conducted annually and two which 
are conducted quarterly, for an estimated total of 72,000 responses. 
The public reporting burden for this information collection is 
estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farms and businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,300.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,500 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, 
at (202) 690-2388.
    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, through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, technological, or other forms of information 
technology collection techniques.
    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, November 19, 2008.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-28758 Filed 12-3-08; 8:45 am]
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