[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 148 (Thursday, August 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51266-51267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16530]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 this 
notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the Honey and Honey Bee surveys. 
Revision to burden hours may be needed due to changes in the size of 
the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length. 
Burden for a second mailing is included.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 2, 2023 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: 
     Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     Efax: (855) 838-6382.
     Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions to: 
Richard Hopper, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 5336

[[Page 51267]]

South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2024.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: Richard Hopper, 
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 
Richard Hopper, NASS--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-2206 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Honey and Honey Bee Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0153.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2023.
    Type of Request: Intent to revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue state and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production, livestock products, prices, 
and disposition; as well as economic statistics, environmental 
statistics related to agriculture, and also to conduct the Census of 
Agriculture.
    In this request for renewal of the Honey and Honey Bee (0535-0153) 
Information Collection Request (ICR), NASS has added a 2nd mailing to 
both the Bee and Honey Inquiry and the Quarterly Colony Loss Survey. 
The requested change will increase burden by 478 hours from the 
previous approved amount.
    As pollinators, honey bees are vital to the agricultural industry 
for producing food for the world's population. Additional data is 
needed to accurately describe the costs associated with pest/disease 
control, wintering fees, and replacement worker and queen bees. USDA 
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with 
other relevant Federal partners, are scaling up efforts to address the 
decline of honey bee health with a goal of ensuring the recovery of 
this critical subset of pollinators. NASS supports the Pollinator 
Research Action Plan, published May 19, 2015, which emphasizes the 
importance of coordinated action to identify the extent and causal 
factors in honey bee mortality.
    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) and Office of Management and Budget regulations 
at 5 CFR part 1320.
    All NASS employees and NASS contractors must also fully comply with 
all provisions of the Confidential Information Protection and 
Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018, title III of Public Law 
115-435, codified in 44 U.S.C. ch. 35. CIPSEA supports NASS's pledge of 
confidentiality to all respondents and facilitates the agency's efforts 
to reduce burden by supporting statistical activities of collaborative 
agencies through designation of NASS agents, subject to the limitations 
and penalties described in CIPSEA.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information for operations with five or more colonies is estimated to 
average 20 minutes per response for the annual Bee and Honey survey and 
15 minutes per respondent for the quarterly Colony Loss Survey. 
Publicity materials and instruction sheets will account for 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.
    Respondents: Farmers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,225.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: With an estimated 
response rate of approximately 80%, we estimate the total burden to be 
approximately 7,920 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, June 29, 2023.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-16530 Filed 8-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P