[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39749-39750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17692]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 17, 2017.
    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 
are requested regarding (1) 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; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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 
September 21, 2017 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 20502. 
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-
8958.
    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.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

    Title: USDA Race, Ethnicity and Gender Data Collection.
    OMB Control Number: 0503-0019.
    Summary of Collection: Section 14006 and 14007 of the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 8701 (referred to as the 
2008 Farm Bill) establishes a requirement for the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) to annually compile application and participation 
rate data regarding socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers by 
computing for each program of the USDA that serves agriculture 
producers and landowners (a) raw numbers of applicants and participants 
by race, ethnicity, and gender, subject to appropriate privacy 
protection, as determined by the Secretary; and (b) the application and 
participation rate, by race, ethnicity and gender as a percentage of 
the total participation rate of all agricultural producers and 
landowners for each county and State in the United States.
    Need and Use of the Information: Data will be collected on a 
voluntary basis through a questionnaire to determine the race, 
ethnicity and gender of farmers and ranchers who apply for and who 
participate in USDA programs and services. The data will enable the 
Secretary and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
and the agencies' outreach offices in reaching current and prospective 
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in a linguistically 
appropriate manner to focus resources in a particular county or region 
where low participation is indicated by the data to improve the 
participation of those farmers and ranchers in USDA programs. The data 
is

[[Page 39750]]

intended to be used as one indicator in targeting and designing 
outreach activities and in assessing compliance with civil rights laws 
in program delivery. The data may also be used as an indicator in 
directing compliance reviews to geographic areas where there are 
indications of low participation in USDA programs by minorities and 
women, thus serving as an ``early warning system'' that warrants 
further investigations. Failure to collect this information will have a 
negative impact on USDA's outreach activities and could result in an 
inability of the agencies to equitably deliver programs and services to 
applicant and producers.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 3,200,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (once).
    Total Burden Hours: 106,667.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-17692 Filed 8-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-9R-P