[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 210 (Monday, October 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 75373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26153]


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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 Cotton Ginning Survey. Revision to 
burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target 
population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 30, 2016 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0220, by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     E-fax: (855) 838-6382.
     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: R. Renee Picanso, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-2707. Copies of this information 
collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from 
David Hancock, NASS--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Cotton Ginning Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0220.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2017.
    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 (NASS) is to collect, prepare and issue State and 
national estimates of crop and livestock production, prices, and 
disposition as well as economic statistics, environmental statistics 
related to agriculture and also to conduct the Census of Agriculture. 
The Cotton Ginning surveys provide cotton ginning statistics from 
August through May by State. Data collected consists of bales of cotton 
ginned to date, cotton to be ginned, lint cotton produced, cottonseed 
produced, cottonseed sold to oil mills, cottonseed used for other uses, 
number of gins by type, bales produced by county of origin, and 
cottonseed prices received by producers. The forecasting procedure 
involves calculating a weighted percent ginned to date as well as an 
allowance for cross-state movement and bale weight adjustments. 
Production by State allows adjustments for year-end State and county 
estimates. Total pounds of lint cotton produced, is used to derive an 
actual bale weight which increases the precision of production 
estimates.
    Authority: These data will be collected under 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, Public Law 104-13 (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),'' Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 
33362.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to be between 10 to 15 minutes per respondent 
per survey.
    Respondents: Active Cotton Gins.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 650.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,250 hours.
    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, including 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, October 18, 2016.
R. Renee Picanso,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-26153 Filed 10-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P