[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14643-14644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07218]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Create a New 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 approval to conduct a new survey. The Irrigation 
Organizations Survey will be conducted in early 2020 referencing 2019 
as the target year. A similar survey was last conducted by the U.S. 
Census Bureau in 1978. The new survey supports the call for Federal 
research and data on drought resiliency under the National Drought 
Resilience Partnership (NDRP) initiative, providing valuable input to 
Federal agencies and other stakeholders involved in resource 
assessment, conservation, and analysis. This survey will be conducted 
through a cooperative agreement between the USDA National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) and the Economic Research Service (ERS).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 10, 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 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: 2019 Irrigation Organizations Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Previous Approval: None.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to create a New 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: The 2019 Irrigation Operations Survey will be conducted 
through a cooperative agreement between the USDA National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) and the Economic Research Service (ERS). This 
agreement is for the development and implementation of a survey of 
irrigation organizations--defined to include irrigation districts and 
other entities that supply water (primarily surface water) directly to 
agricultural users, as well as groundwater management districts that 
may influence the supply of groundwater for irrigation. While NASS 
regularly surveys agricultural producers who irrigate every five years 
through the Irrigation and Water Management Surveys (formerly called 
the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey), the last census of irrigation 
organizations was conducted in 1978 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The 
sector has undergone substantial change in the past forty years, with 
consolidation in surface water organizations, particularly among ditch 
companies, and many new organizations overseeing groundwater access. A 
new survey of irrigation organizations would collect local, district-
scale information, including the adoption of alternative types of water 
allocation institutions and conservation policies that impact farm-
level drought resilience and adaptation to long-run water scarcity. The 
work supports the call for Federal research and data on drought 
resiliency under the National Drought Resilience Partnership (NDRP) 
initiative, providing valuable input to Federal agencies and other 
stakeholders involved in resource assessment, conservation, and 
analysis. The development of this important economic agricultural 
database serves the best interest of USDA, the agricultural community, 
and the Nation.
    The project develops a nationally representative survey of 
irrigation water-supply management organizations. Data collected 
through the survey would include information compiled under the 1978 
Census--such as organizational and governance structure, land area and 
farms, storage and conveyance facilities and services, water volumes by 
source, and costs and revenues. Additional data collected would involve 
water allocation institutions and drought mitigation measures. The 
survey of irrigation organizations would extend the scope of 
organizations to encompass groundwater management districts. The survey 
questionnaire would be developed by NASS and ERS, with input from 
Federal agency partners and other stakeholders.
    Authority: A foundation for coordinated action on climate change 
preparedness and resilience across the Federal Government was 
established by Executive Order 13514 of October 5, 2009 (Federal 
Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance), and the 
Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force led by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy (OSTP), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA). In addition,

[[Page 14644]]

through the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), established 
by section 103 of the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15 U.S.C. 
2933), and agency programs and activities, the Federal Government will 
continue to support scientific research, observational capabilities, 
and assessments necessary to improve our understanding of and response 
to climate change and its impacts on the Nation.
    Individually identifiable data that will be 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 respondents that their individual information 
will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for 
statistical purposes and publishes only aggregate data. These data are 
used by Congress when developing or changing farm programs. Many 
national and state programs are designed or allocated based on census 
data, i.e., soil conservation projects, funds for cooperative extension 
programs, and research funding. Private industry uses the data to 
provide more effective production and distribution systems for the 
agricultural community.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 45 minutes per response. Publicity 
materials and instruction sheets will account for about 5 minutes of 
additional burden per respondent. Respondents who refuse to complete 
the survey will be allotted 2 minutes of burden per attempt to collect 
the data.
    Respondents: Water district managers and other entities that 
provide irrigation water to farmers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,000 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; 
(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; and (e) comments relating to 
the proposed name change.
    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, March 26, 2019.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-07218 Filed 4-10-19; 8:45 am]
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