[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19681-19682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09544]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Post-Hurricane Research and Assessment of 
Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Communities in the U.S. Caribbean

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Emergency Clearance Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is submitting a request to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval under the emergency processing 
procedures for a new information collection request, Post-Hurricane 
Research and Assessment of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Communities 
in the U.S. Caribbean, and is seeking comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations.

DATES: Comments on this proposal for emergency review must be received 
in writing on or before June 4, 2018 to be assured of consideration. 
Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent 
practicable. The USDA Forest Service is requesting OMB to take action 
by May 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this information collection should be 
addressed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: Desk Officer for the USDA Forest Service, 
725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, or sent via electronic mail 
to: [email protected] or via facsimile to 202-395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be made to Kathleen McGinley, Social Scientist, USDA Forest 
Service, by electronic mail to [email protected], via facsimile 919-
513-2978, or phone 919-513-3331. Individuals who use telecommunication 
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, 
including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Post-Hurricane Research and Assessment of Agriculture, 
Forestry, and Rural Communities in the U.S. Caribbean.
    OMB Number: 0596-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: New request for emergency review and clearance.
    Abstract: In September 2017, two major hurricanes passed through 
the Caribbean, causing catastrophic damage to communities, 
infrastructure, farms, and forests across Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin 
Islands, and many neighboring islands, significantly compromising local 
livelihoods, food security, and economic stability throughout the 
region. To date, there is limited information on the impacts of 
Hurricanes Irma and Maria, particularly in terms of agricultural and 
forestry systems and the people who depend on them, and likewise, 
limited information about the effectiveness of related conservation 
practices or mitigation and adaptation strategies. Such information is 
critical to the design and implementation of ongoing recovery work and 
to longer-term resilience efforts in the U.S. Caribbean and in other 
regions affected by hurricanes or other major disturbances.
    USDA, Forest Service seeks review and approval under the emergency 
processing procedures from Office of Management and Budget to collect 
information about the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on 
agriculture, forestry, and rural communities in the U.S. Caribbean and 
the internal and external factors that

[[Page 19682]]

affected their vulnerabilities or resilience. This information is 
essential to the Department of Agriculture's mandate to support 
agriculture and natural resources that are productive, sustainable, and 
provide benefits for the American public under the Rural Development 
Policy Act of 1980, and to Forest Service's mandate to provide expert 
advice and conduct research on the management of forests outside the 
National Forest system through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act 
of 1978. Additionally, the importance of gathering, analyzing, and 
sharing this type of information is reflected in the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as 
amended, and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act 
of 1978.
    Information will be collected through focus groups and interviews 
with participants selected purposively in line with the collection 
objectives. This collection will generate scientifically-based, up-to-
date information that can be used to inform ongoing post-hurricane 
recovery efforts and related risk reduction and mitigation and 
adaptation strategies by USDA, Forest Service, other Federal agencies, 
local government, civil society, and the private sector.
    Affected Public: Individuals and Households, Private Sector 
Businesses, Non-Profit/Governmental Organizations, State/Local 
Government.
    Estimated Annualized Burden Hours for Respondents and Non-
Respondents for Six Month Emergency Approval Period: 376 hours.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents for Six Month Emergency 
Approval Period: 220 (120 focus group participants; 100 interview 
respondents).
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 response/
respondent is anticipated.

Comment Is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, 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 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. USDA Forest Service will consider the comments received and 
amend the information collection as appropriate. All comments received 
in response to this notice, including names and addresses when 
provided, will be a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 16, 2018.
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-09544 Filed 5-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P