[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63468-63469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26657]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request To Conduct a New Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

[[Page 63469]]


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 approval to conduct a new information collection 
for surveys funded by NASS's many cooperators (Federal agencies, State 
governments, land grant universities, and other organizations). Results 
from these surveys are important for the cooperators in carrying out 
their missions, as well as of general interest to the agricultural 
community. This generic clearance will allow NASS to conduct surveys in 
a timely manner for the cooperating institutions providing funding for 
the surveys.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 8, 2019 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
NEW, 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: Kevin L. Barnes, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 202-720-4333. 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: Quick Response for Cooperator-Funded Surveys Generic 
Clearance.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to conduct a new 
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. 
In addition, NASS has many cooperators from other Federal agencies, 
State governments, land grant universities, and other organizations 
that seek NASS's assistance in collecting agricultural data through 
surveys. Results from these surveys are important for the cooperators 
in carrying out their missions, as well as of general interest to the 
agricultural community. Results from these surveys will be made 
available to the public by NASS or the cooperators who fund them. This 
generic clearance seeks approval for NASS to conduct a variety of 
agricultural surveys which will be paid for entirely by cooperators. 
NASS anticipates the cooperator-funded surveys will cover topics such 
as: (1) Farm management practices, (2) food safety, (3) workplace 
safety, (4) conservation and land use practices, (5) chemical use 
management practices, (6) crop quality, (7) agri-tourism, (8) local 
foods, and (9) other agricultural-related topics. This generic 
clearance is subject to the regular clearance process at OMB with a 60-
day notice and a 30-day notice as part of the 120-day review period. 
Each individual cooperator-funded survey is then subject to a clearance 
process with an abbreviated clearance package which justifies the 
particular content of the survey, describes the sample design, provides 
the timeline for the survey activities, and the questionnaire. The 
review period for each individual survey is approximately 45 days, 
including a 30-day Federal Register notice period.
    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 (Pub. L. 104-113, 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 information 
collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response. Up to 15 
individual surveys are included in this generic clearance to be 
conducted annually. The estimated sample size for each of the 15 
surveys is approximately 5,000. Each of the 15 surveys are expected to 
be conducted once annually. The estimated number of responses per 
respondent is 1. Publicity materials and instruction sheets will 
account for approximately 5 minutes of additional burden per 
respondent. Respondents who refuse to complete a survey will be 
allotted 2 minutes of burden per attempt to collect the data. NASS will 
conduct the surveys initially by mail and/or internet with phone 
follow-up for non-response. Face-to-face interviews may also be used in 
limited situations.
    Respondents: Farmers and ranchers, and others associated with the 
agricultural industry.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 225,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Once annually for each individual survey.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: The total estimated burden 
is 112,000 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, 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, November 26, 2018.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-26657 Filed 12-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P