[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 151 (Friday, August 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39608-39609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18927]


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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 the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the Cold Storage Survey. Revision to 
burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target 
population, expected increases in response rates, and modes of data 
collection. The questionnaires have had some minor modifications to 
accommodate changes in the products stored by the industry, and to make 
the questionnaires easier to complete. The entire target population for 
cold storage operators will be contacted for this data on a monthly 
basis. Fruit storage operations are contacted on a seasonal basis. The 
capacity survey is conduced once every other year. These surveys are 
voluntary, except for operations that store certain manufactured dairy 
products that are required by Public Law No. 106-532 and 107-171 to 
respond.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 6, 2009 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0001, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Cold Storage Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0001.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2009.
    Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to collect, prepare and issue State and 
national estimates of crop and livestock production, prices, and 
disposition; as well as economic statistics, environmental statistics 
related to agriculture and also to conduct the Census of Agriculture.
    The monthly Cold Storage Survey provides information on national 
supplies of food commodities in refrigerated storage facilities. A 
biennial survey of refrigerated warehouse capacity is also conducted to 
provide a benchmark of the capacity available for refrigerated storage 
of the nation's food supply. Information on stocks of food commodities 
facilitates proper price discovery and orderly marketing, processing, 
and distribution of agricultural products.
    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 as 
amended, 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, 1985). NASS also complies 
with OMB Implementation Guidance, ``Implementation Guidance for Title V 
of the E-Government Act, Confidential Information Protection and 
Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),'' Federal Register, Vol. 
72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 33376.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is based on 5 individual surveys with expected responses of 
10-30 minutes. The Refrigerated Capacity Survey is conducted once every 
2 years, the other surveys are conducted 8-12 times per year.
    Respondents: Refrigerated storage facilities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: With an estimated 
response rate of approximately 80%, we estimate the burden to be 7,600 
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 methods.
    All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record 
and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.


[[Page 39609]]


    Signed at Washington, DC, July 7, 2009.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-18927 Filed 8-6-09; 8:45 am]
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