[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 12139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05263]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 2, 2015.
    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 (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) 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.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by April 6, 
2015 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 
725--17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. Commenters are encouraged 
to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8681.
    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.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Colony Loss Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The primary objectives of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are to prepare and issue 
official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, 
disposition and prices, economic statistics, and environmental 
statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of 
Agriculture and its follow-on surveys. Pollinators (honeybees) are 
vital to the agricultural industry for producing food for the world's 
population. Ad hoc surveys showed a dramatic rise in the number of 
disappearances of honeybee colonies in North America in late 2006. The 
collapse or decline of honeybee colonies is significant economically 
because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by European 
honeybees. General authority for these data collection activities is 
granted under U.S.C. Title 7, Section 2204.
    Need and Use of the Information: To collect critical information 
NASS will use two surveys which will complement its existing Bee and 
Honey Collection (0535-0153) that focuses on bee keepers with 5 or more 
colonies. The Colony Loss Quarterly Survey will be administered 
quarterly to a subsample of bee keepers responding to the annual Bee 
and Honey Inquiry. The Colony Loss Annual Survey will be administered 
to bee keepers with fewer than 5 colonies. The data collected will 
include state of colony residence, the commercial movement of colonies 
between states, newly added or replacement colonies, colony losses, and 
presence of colony stress factors, such as pests or parasites.
    Description of Respondents: Farmers and Beekeepers.
    Number of Respondents: 23,300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; One time.
    Total Burden Hours: 8,353.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-05263 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P