[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80688-80689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25600]


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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.

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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 request approval to revise and extend a currently 
approved information collection to gather data related to water usage 
for North Carolina agricultural operations that likely use between 
10,000 and 1,000,000 gallons per day. Revision to burden hours will be 
needed due to changes in the size of the sample frame and/or 
questionnaire length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 19, 2024 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0262, 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: 
Richard Hopper, 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: 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: Joseph L. Parsons, 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 
Richard Hopper, NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-2206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Water Use Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0262.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2024.
    Type of Request: 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 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.
    The Water Use survey program will collect information on water 
usage for North Carolina agricultural operations that likely use 
between 10,000 and 1,000,000 gallons per day. Agricultural operations 
who use over 1,000,000 gallons in any one day are required to report 
their water usage directly to North Carolina Department of

[[Page 80689]]

Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and are not included in this survey. The 
program will help the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and 
Consumer Services (NCDACS) and NCDEQ fulfill the requirements of North 
Carolina state legislation enacted in 2008 (SL2008-0143). All 
questionnaires included in this information collection will be 
voluntary. This project is conducted as a cooperative effort with the 
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Funding 
for this survey is being provided by NCDACS.
    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 (Public Law 104-113, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 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. NASS uses the information only for 
statistical purposes and publishes only tabulated total data.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is based on similar surveys with expected response time of 
30 minutes. The estimated sample size will be approximately 3,700. The 
frequency of data collection for the different surveys is annual. 
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.
    Respondents: North Carolina agricultural operations that likely use 
between 10,000 and 1,000,000 gallons annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,918 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 15, 2023.
Joseph L. Parsons,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-25600 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
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