[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46375-46376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18952]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent to Seek Approval To Conduct 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 intention of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to seek approval to conduct a new information 
collection, the 2013 Residue and Biomass Field Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 2, 2012 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
NEW, 2013 Residue and Biomass Field Survey by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include docket number and 
title 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 5336A, Mail Stop 2024, 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: Residue and Biomass Field Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535--NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct a new 
Information Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will 
request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the 
Residue and Biomass Field Survey.
    The Residue and Biomass Field Survey will use as a sampling 
universe fields in the South Fork watershed in central Iowa (Buckeye, 
IA). This study will investigate the effect crop residue removal has on 
soil and water quality. With the respondent's permission, measurements 
of crop residues will be compared with remote sensed data to measure 
crop residue cover and soil tillage intensity for the entire watershed. 
The survey will be conducted in several phases. The farm operator will 
only be involved in part of the survey. With the farmers permission the 
field enumerators will return several times during the growing season 
to measure and collect samples from the target areas.
    The primary objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service are to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop 
production, livestock production, economic statistics, and 
environmental statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the 
Census of Agriculture and it's follow-on surveys. This project is 
conducted as a cooperative effort with USDA's Agricultural Research 
Service (ARS).

    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 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

[[Page 46376]]

Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 
FR 44978, August 29, 1995).
    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 collection of 
information is estimated to average a total of 70 minutes per 
respondent for the complete survey cycle.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN03AU12.004

    Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, and farm managers in the South Fork 
Watershed in Central Iowa.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 65 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from the NASS OMB Clearance Officer, at 
(202) 720-2248.
    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.

    Signed at Washington, DC, July 25, 2012.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-18952 Filed 8-2-12; 8:45 am]
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