[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26611-26612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10710]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 88 / Tuesday, May 7, 2013 / Notices  

[[Page 26611]]



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 Pesticide Safety Practices Among Pennsylvania Farms 
Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 8, 2013 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
NEW, Pesticide Safety Practices Among Pennsylvania Farms 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: Pesticide Safety Practices Among Pennsylvania Farms Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct a New 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: The primary objectives of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) 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 its follow-on surveys. This 
project is conducted as a cooperative effort with the National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal 
Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Funding for this pilot survey 
is being provided by NIOSH. The pilot survey will be conducted in the 
fall of 2014, referencing the growing season for 2014.
    NASS will request approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for the Pesticide Safety Practices Among Pennsylvania Farms 
Survey.
    The Pesticide Safety Practices Among Pennsylvania Farms Survey will 
use a sampling universe defined as crop growers in Pennsylvania. To be 
eligible for study, they must have personally applied herbicides, 
growth regulators, or any other type of pesticides in the past 6 months 
using a method other than helicopters, airplanes, or equipment pulled 
by enclosed cab tractors or ATVs. The primary goals of the project are: 
(1) to determine the extent to which Pennsylvania crop growers use 
appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) practices; appropriate 
PPE practices include the correct type of PPE and using it properly, 
(2) when applicable, to identify the factors that cause incorrect PPE 
practices, and (3) when applicable, identify the factors that would 
motivate a crop grower to start using correct practices. Findings will 
lead to improved training efforts and other actions to improve PPE 
practices among Pennsylvania crop growers. In the future, this survey 
may be administered in other states depending on the results and future 
funding.
    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 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),'' Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 
33376.
    Estimate of Burden: This survey will be conducted in a two step 
process. First, the screening phase will consist of an information 
letter, blank screening form, and a postage paid return envelope, which 
will be mailed out to the selected sample (approximately 3,000 crop 
growers). Finally, we will select approximately 300 operations from the 
screening phase to conduct the Pesticide Safety Practices Among 
Pennsylvania Farms Survey.
    Public reporting burden for collecting this information is 
estimated to average 15 minutes per respondent for a completed 
screening questionnaire, and an average of 50 minutes per respondent 
for the follow-up survey for the subsample. NASS will attempt to 
achieve a minimum response rate of 80% completed reports for each phase 
of the survey. Additional burden will be added to account for the pre-
survey materials.
    Respondents: Pennsylvania crop producers who applied pesticides in 
the past 6 months using a method other than helicopters, airplanes, or 
equipment pulled by enclosed cab tractors or ATVs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,100 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

[[Page 26612]]

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, April 24, 2013.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-10710 Filed 5-6-13; 8:45 am]
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