[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 51253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24052]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 6, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 51253]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


 Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 1, 2009.

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity 
of the information to be collected; 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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), [email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to 
Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, 
DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are 
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of 
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 
calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

    Title: USDA Race, Ethnicity and Gender Data Collection.
    OMB Control Number: 0503-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Section 14006 and 14007 of the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 8701 (referred to as the 
2008 Far Bill) establishes a requirement for the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) to annually compile application and participation 
rate data regarding socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers by 
computing for each program of the USDA that serves agriculture 
producers and landowners (a) raw numbers of applicants and participants 
by race, ethnicity, and gender, subject to appropriate privacy 
protection, as determined by the Secretary; and (b) the application and 
participation rate, by race, ethnicity and gender as a percentage of 
the total participation rate of all agricultural producers and 
landowners for each county and State in the United States.
    Need and Use of the Information: Data will be collected through a 
questionnaire to determine the race, ethnicity and gender of farmers 
and ranchers who apply for and who participate in USDA programs and 
services. The data is also necessary to provide USDA and its agencies 
with sound data on the demographics of its constituents. The data will 
enable USDA to (a) develop a baseline on its applicants and 
participants, (b) assist in planning for and implementing appropriate 
responses to the needs of its constituents, and (c) in the conduct of 
oversight and evaluation of civil rights compliance. The information 
will be used by the Office of Advocacy and Outreach and the agencies' 
outreach offices to determine if socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers are being equitably served by USDA programs. Failure to 
collect this information will have a negative impact on USDA's outreach 
activities and could result in an inability of the agencies to 
equitably deliver programs and services to applicant and producers.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 14,000,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (once).
    Total Burden Hours: 462,000.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-24052 Filed 10-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P