[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 6834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03142]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 32 / Thursday, February 15, 2018 / 
Notices  

[[Page 6834]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Reinstatement of 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 reinstatement of an information collection, the 
2018 Census of Aquaculture. Revision to previous burden hours may 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 April 16, 2018 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0237, by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include the 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: Kevin L. Barnes, 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: 2018 Census of Aquaculture.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0237.
    Type of Request: Statement to Seek Reinstatement of an Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The population for the 2018 Census of Aquaculture will 
include all operations in each State that produced and sold or had the 
potential to sell $1,000 or more of aquaculture or aquaculture products 
during 2018. The aquaculture census will provide data on the number of 
farms, acreage, method of production, production and sales by 
aquaculture species, and sales outlets. Census data are used by the 
farmers, their representatives, the government, and many other groups 
of people concerned with the aquaculture industry. The census will 
provide a comprehensive inventory of aquaculture farms and their 
production. Results from the census will be used to evaluate new 
programs, disburse Federal funds, analyze market trends, and help 
determine the economic impact aquaculture has on the economy. The 
aquaculture census will provide the only source of dependable, 
comparable data by State.
    Authority: The census of agriculture and subsequent follow-on 
censuses are required by law under the ``Census of Agriculture Act of 
1997,'' Public Law 105-113, 7 U.S.C. 2204(g). 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. The law guarantees farm operators that their individual 
information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only 
for statistical purposes and publishes only tabulated total data.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per positive response, 2 
minutes per screen-out, and 2 minutes per refusal. The sample will 
equal the number of respondents who reported positive aquaculture data 
in the 2017 Census of Agriculture.
    Respondents: Farmers and Farm Managers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,000 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, February 2, 2018.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-03142 Filed 2-14-18; 8:45 am]
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