[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 9481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04831]



[[Page 9481]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 12, 2019.
    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 April 
15, 2019 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.

Economic Research Service

    Title: Generic Clearance for Survey Research Studies.
    OMB Control Number: 0536-0073.
    Summary of Collection: The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture is requesting approval for a generic 
clearance that will allow them to conduct research to improve the 
quality of data collection by developing, testing, and evaluating its 
survey instruments, methodologies, technology, interview processes, and 
respondent recruitment protocols. The primary objective of ERS is 
providing timely research and analysis to public and private decision 
makers on topics related to agriculture, food, the environment, and 
rural America. Data collection for this collection is authorized by the 
7 U.S.C. 2204(a).
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will be 
used by staff from the ERS and sponsoring agencies to evaluate and 
improve the quality of the data in the surveys and censuses that are 
ultimately conducted. Specifically, the information will be used to 
reduce respondent burden while simultaneously improving the quality of 
the data collected in these surveys. This clearance involves one-time 
questionnaire and/or procedural development activities for each survey 
that is connected to the clearance. If this project were not carried 
out, the quality of the data collected in the surveys would suffer.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,815.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,630.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-04831 Filed 3-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-18-P