[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 60671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24494]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 60671]]



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, 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 request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the List Sampling Frame Surveys. 
Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of 
the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length. 
Annually, NASS obtains lists of farm and ranch operators from different 
crop and livestock organizations. Historically we have averaged 500,000 
potential new operators each year from these lists. Before adding these 
names to our list of active operators we will contact the operators to 
collect basic farming information from them on the size and type of 
operation. These data will be used to eliminate any duplication we may 
have with names already on our list. Since the 2012 Census of 
Agriculture will be conducted in 2013, the sample sizes for 2014 and 
2015 will be greatly reduced. Additional questions may need to be added 
to the questionnaire during the next three years to accommodate any new 
trends or changes in the farming community that need to be identified 
(i.e. Organic farming, renewable energy production, expansion of 
acreage of alternative or specialty crops, etc.).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 3, 2012 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0140, by any of the following methods:
     Email: [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: List Sampling Frame Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0140.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2013.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Revise and Extend an 
Information Collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service is to prepare and issue State and national estimates 
of crop and livestock production, economic statistics, environmental 
statistics related to agriculture and also to conduct the Census of 
Agriculture. The List Sampling Frame Surveys are used to develop and 
maintain as complete a list as possible of farm operations. The goal is 
to produce for each State a relatively complete, current, and 
unduplicated list of names for statistical sampling for agricultural 
operation surveys and the Census of Agriculture. Data from these 
agricultural surveys are used by government agencies and educational 
institutions in planning, farm policy analysis, and program 
administration.
    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, (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of Management and Budget 
regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. 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),'' 72 FR 33362, Jun. 15, 2007.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15 minutes per respondent.
    Respondents: Farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: With an estimated 
response rate of approximately 80% we estimate the burden to be 40,000 
hours. Copies of this information collection and related instructions 
can be obtained without charge from David Hancock, NASS Clearance 
Officer, at [email protected] or 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.

    Signed at Washington, DC, September 24, 2012.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-24494 Filed 10-3-12; 8:45 am]
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