[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73455-73456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25367]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

[Docket ID: FSA-2020-0010]


Information Collection Request; County Committee Elections

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comments.

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[[Page 73456]]

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested 
individuals and entities on an extension with a revision of a currently 
approved information collection associated with FSA county committee 
elections. The collection of information from FSA farmers and ranchers 
is used to receive nominations from eligible voters for the FSA county 
committee.

DATES: We will consider comments we receive by January 19, 2021.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments, identified by Docket ID: FSA-2020-0010, by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to: www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail, Hand Delivery, or Courier: Kyle Mansfield, Field 
Operations Specialist for the Deputy Administrator for Field 
Operations, Farm Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0542, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0542.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may 
be requested by contacting Kyle Mansfield at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, contact Kyle Mansfield at (706) 552-2502 
(voice). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 
(voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: County Committee Election.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0229.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2021.
    Type of Request: Revision.
    Abstract: This information collection is necessary to effectively 
allow farmers and ranchers to nominate potential candidates using the 
form FSA-669A for the FSA county committee election in accordance with 
the requirements as authorized by the Soil Conservation and Domestic 
Allotment Act, as amended. Specifically, FSA uses the information 
provided by the nominee annually or, if needed, throughout the year for 
special elections to create ballots for FSA county committee elections. 
Elections for FSA county committees are held each year; therefore, 
nominations for eligible nominees are requested each year. Any 
individual who meets the qualifications mentioned in form FSA-669A may 
be nominated by another person or by themselves. The form FSA-669A is 
used to collect the information for nominations; it requires the name 
and address of the nominee and the signatures of both the nominee and 
the person nominating the individual to be a nominee (only one 
signature is required for self-nominated individuals). The nominee must 
be eligible to vote in the designated FSA county committee election, 
eligible to hold the office of FSA county committee member, and willing 
to serve, if elected. For more information about FSA county committees, 
including elections, nominations, eligible voters, eligibility, and 
other related information, see the regulations in 7 CFR part 7. In 
addition, the form also includes a voluntary request for race, 
ethnicity, and gender information from the nominee. FSA is also using 
the form FSA-669A-3, Nomination Form for Urban Agriculture FSA 
Committee Election, to establish Urban Agriculture FSA County 
Committees in some cities.
    The number of respondents increased by 500 in this collection due 
to more respondents interested in participating in the FSA county 
committee's election by either becoming an eligible voter or a County 
FSA committee member. The travel times decreased by 4,075 hours that 
have been removed from the collection. The respondents go to the county 
offices to do regular and customary business with FSA; this means no 
travel time is required specifically for the information collection and 
therefore, it is no longer included in the burden hour reporting.
    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the 
formula used to calculate the total burden hours is the estimated 
average time per response multiplied by the estimated total annual of 
responses.
    Estimate of Average Time to Respond: Public reporting burden for 
collecting information under this notice is estimated to average 0.25 
hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data 
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information for 
all respondents.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals (eligible voters).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,500.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Reponses: 10,500.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.25 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,625 hours.
    FSA is requesting comments on all aspects of this information to 
help us to:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the quality, ability and clarity of the information 
technology; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
respond through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget Approval.

Richard Fordyce,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2020-25367 Filed 11-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P