80_FR_46080 80 FR 45932 - Notice of Intent To Request To Conduct a New Information Collection

80 FR 45932 - Notice of Intent To Request To Conduct a New Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 148 (August 3, 2015)

Page Range45932-45933
FR Document2015-18975

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 information collection to gather data related to the costs incurred by farmers to improve the pollination of their crops through the use of honey bees and other pollinators.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 148 (Monday, August 3, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 148 (Monday, August 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45932-45933]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18975]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request To Conduct a New Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 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 information collection 
to gather data related to the costs incurred by farmers to improve the 
pollination of their crops through the use of honey bees and other 
pollinators.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 2, 2015 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
NEW, by any of the following methods:
     Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. Include docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     eFax: (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: Renee Picanso, 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 Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Cost of Pollination Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535--NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to conduct a new 
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, prices, and disposition; as 
well as economic statistics, environmental statistics related to 
agriculture, and also to conduct the Census of Agriculture.
    Pollinators (honey bees, bats, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc.) are 
vital

[[Page 45933]]

to the agricultural industry for pollinating numerous food crops for 
the world's population. Concern for honey bee colony mortality has 
risen since the introduction of Varroa mites in the United States in 
the late 1980s and the appearance of Colony Collapse Disorder in the 
past decade.
    In the Pollinator Research Action Plan, the President's Pollinator 
Health Task Force identified nearly 200 tasks that need to be conducted 
and coordinated from across the government to research all aspects of 
pollinator health and to come up with suggestions for improving this 
vital part of our food system. The Task Force's plan will involve 
conducting research and collecting data for the following categories: 
Status & Trends, Habitats, Nutrition, Pesticides, Native Plants, 
Collections, Genetics, Pathogens, Decision Tools, and Economics. The 
pollinators have been classified into Honey Bee, Native Bee, Wasp, 
Moth/Butterfly, Fly, and Vertebrate. The departments that will conduct 
the bulk of the research are the Department of the Interior (DOI), the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Science Foundation 
(NSF), the Smithsonian Institute (SI), and the United States Department 
of Agriculture (USDA).
    NASS has been given the tasks of collecting economic data related 
to honey bees and quantifying the number of colonies that were lost or 
reduced. NASS was approved to conduct the Quarterly and Annual Colony 
Loss Surveys under OMB approval number 0535-0255. NASS plans to also 
collect the economic data under this new collection. NASS collects data 
from crop farmers who rely on pollinators for their crops (fruits, 
nuts, vegetables, etc.). Data relating to the targeted crops will be 
collected for the total number of acres that rely on honey bee 
pollination, the number of honey bee colonies that were used on those 
acres, and any cash fees associated with honey bee pollination. Crop 
Farmers will also be asked if beekeepers who were hired to bring their 
bees to their farm were notified of pesticides used on the target 
acres, how many acres they were being hired to pollinate, and how much 
they were being paid to pollinate the targeted crops.
    Authority: These data will be collected under the 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 the 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. 
33376.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response. Publicity 
materials and an instruction sheet for reporting via internet 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.
    Once a year, NASS will contact approximately 53,000 crop farmers 
who rely on honey bees to pollinate their fruit, nut, vegetable, and 
other crops. NASS will conduct the annual survey initially using a mail 
and internet approach. This will be followed up with phone and personal 
enumeration for non-respondents. NASS will attempt to obtain at least 
an 80% response rate.
    Respondents: Farmers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: With an estimated 
response rate of approximately 80%, we estimate the burden to be 13,400 
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, July 24, 2015.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-18975 Filed 7-31-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P

45932 Notices Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 148 Monday, August 3, 2015 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Notice and request for ACTION: contains documents other than rules or Lynn Wright, RAC Coordinator, by comments. proposed rules that are applicable to the phone at 707–441–3562 or via email at public. Notices of hearings and investigations, hwright02@fs.fed.us. SUMMARY: In accordance with the committee meetings, agency decisions and Individuals who use Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 this rulings, delegations of authority, filing of telecommunication devices for the deaf notice announces the intention of the petitions and applications and agency National Agricultural Statistics Service statements of organization and functions are (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 (NASS) to seek approval to conduct a examples of documents appearing in this section. between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., new information collection to gather Eastern Standard Time, Monday data related to the costs incurred by through Friday. farmers to improve the pollination of DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The their crops through the use of honey purpose of the meeting is to: bees and other pollinators. Forest Service • Provide updates regarding status of DATES: Comments on this notice must be Secure Rural Schools Title II program received by October 2, 2015 to be Del Norte County Resource Advisory and funding; and assured of consideration. Committee • Review and recommend potential ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. projects eligible for funding. identified by docket number 0535– The meeting is open to the public. NEW, by any of the following methods: ACTION: Notice of meeting. The agenda will include time for people • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. SUMMARY: The Del Norte County to make oral statements of three minutes Include docket number above in the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) or less. Individuals wishing to make an subject line of the message. will meet in Crescent City, California. oral statement should request in writing • eFax: (855) 838–6382 The committee is authorized under the by August 21, 2015 to be scheduled on • Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– Secure Rural Schools and Community the agenda. Anyone who would like to ROM submissions to: David Hancock, Self-Determination Act (the Act) and bring related matters to the attention of NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. operates in compliance with the Federal the committee may file written Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 Advisory Committee Act. The purpose statements with the committee staff South Building, 1400 Independence of the committee is to improve before or after the meeting. Written Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250– collaborative relationships and to comments and requests for time to make 2024. provide advice and recommendations to oral comments must be sent to Lynn • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand the Forest Service concerning projects Wright, RAC Coordinator, Six Rivers NF deliver to: David Hancock, NASS and funding consistent with title II of Office, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of the Act. Additional RAC information, 95501; by email to hwright02@fs.fed.us, Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, including the meeting agenda and the or via facsimile to 707–445–8677. 1400 Independence Avenue SW., meeting summary/minutes can be found Meeting Accommodations: If you are Washington, DC 20250–2024. at the following Web site: http:// a person requiring reasonable FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: www.fs.usda.gov/main/srnf/ accommodation, please make requests Renee Picanso, Associate Administrator, workingtogether/advisorycommittee. in advance for sign language National Agricultural Statistics Service, DATES: The meeting will be held interpreting, assistive listening devices U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) September 1, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. or other reasonable accommodation for 720–2707. Copies of this information All RAC meetings are subject to access to the facility or proceedings by collection and related instructions can cancellation. For status of meeting prior contacting the person listed in the be obtained without charge from David to attendance, please contact the person section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, at listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All reasonable (202) 690–2388. CONTACT. accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Title: Cost of Pollination Survey. the Del Norte County Unified School Dated: July 25, 2015. OMB Control Number: 0535—NEW. District, Redwood Room, 301 West Merv George Jr., Type of Request: Intent to seek Washington Boulevard, Crescent City, Forest Supervisor. approval to conduct a new information California. [FR Doc. 2015–18937 Filed 7–31–15; 8:45 am] collection for a period of three years. Written comments may be submitted BILLING CODE 3411–15–P Abstract: The primary objective of the as described under SUPPLEMENTARY National Agricultural Statistics Service INFORMATION. All comments, including (NASS) is to prepare and issue state and DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES names and addresses when provided, national estimates of crop and livestock are placed in the record and are production, prices, and disposition; as available for public inspection and National Agricultural Statistics Service well as economic statistics, copying. The public may inspect environmental statistics related to Notice of Intent To Request To comments received at Six Rivers agriculture, and also to conduct the Conduct a New Information Collection National Forest (NF) Office. Please call Census of Agriculture. ahead to facilitate entry into the AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Pollinators (honey bees, bats, building. Service (NASS), USDA. butterflies, hummingbirds, etc.) are vital VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Jul 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 148 / Monday, August 3, 2015 / Notices 45933 to the agricultural industry for respondents. This Notice is submitted in DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE pollinating numerous food crops for the accordance with the Paperwork world’s population. Concern for honey Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–113) Rural Housing Service bee colony mortality has risen since the and the Office of Management and introduction of Varroa mites in the Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. Notice of Solicitation of Applications United States in the late 1980s and the NASS also complies with OMB (NOSA) for the Multifamily appearance of Colony Collapse Disorder Implementation Guidance, Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) in the past decade. ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V Demonstration Program Under Section In the Pollinator Research Action of the E-Government Act, Confidential 514, Section 515, and Section 516 for Plan, the President’s Pollinator Health Information Protection and Statistical Fiscal Year 2015 Task Force identified nearly 200 tasks Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’ AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA. that need to be conducted and Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June coordinated from across the government ACTION: Notice. 15, 2007, p. 33376. to research all aspects of pollinator Estimate of Burden: Public reporting SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service health and to come up with suggestions burden for this collection of information (Agency) announces the timeframe to for improving this vital part of our food is estimated to average 15 minutes per submit applications to participate in a system. The Task Force’s plan will response. Publicity materials and an demonstration program to preserve and involve conducting research and instruction sheet for reporting via revitalize existing Rural Rental Housing collecting data for the following internet will account for 5 minutes of (RRH) projects under Section 514, categories: Status & Trends, Habitats, additional burden per respondent. Section 515, and Section 516 of the Nutrition, Pesticides, Native Plants, Respondents who refuse to complete a Housing Act of 1949, as amended. Collections, Genetics, Pathogens, survey will be allotted 2 minutes of Under this demonstration program, Decision Tools, and Economics. The burden per attempt to collect the data. existing Section 515 Multi-Family pollinators have been classified into Once a year, NASS will contact Housing (MFH) loans and Sections 514/ Honey Bee, Native Bee, Wasp, Moth/ approximately 53,000 crop farmers who 516 Off-Farm Labor Housing (FLH) Butterfly, Fly, and Vertebrate. The rely on honey bees to pollinate their loans will be restructured to ensure departments that will conduct the bulk fruit, nut, vegetable, and other crops. sufficient resources are available to of the research are the Department of the NASS will conduct the annual survey preserve the ability of rental projects to Interior (DOI), the Environmental initially using a mail and internet provide safe and affordable housing for Protection Agency (EPA), the National approach. This will be followed up with very low-, low-, or moderate-income Science Foundation (NSF), the phone and personal enumeration for residents. Projects participating in this Smithsonian Institute (SI), and the non-respondents. NASS will attempt to program will be expected to be United States Department of Agriculture obtain at least an 80% response rate. revitalized to extend their affordable use (USDA). Respondents: Farmers. NASS has been given the tasks of without displacing tenants because of Estimated Number of Respondents: increased rents. No additional Agency collecting economic data related to 53,000. honey bees and quantifying the number Rental Assistance (RA) will be made Estimated Total Annual Burden on of colonies that were lost or reduced. available under this program. Respondents: With an estimated NASS was approved to conduct the response rate of approximately 80%, we DATES: For Fiscal Year 2015, the Agency Quarterly and Annual Colony Loss estimate the burden to be 13,400 hours. will facilitate use of the Fiscal Year Surveys under OMB approval number Comments: Comments are invited on: 2015 Multifamily Preservation and 0535–0255. NASS plans to also collect (a) Whether the proposed collection of Revitalization (MPR) funding tools by the economic data under this new information is necessary for the proper holding a competitive application round collection. NASS collects data from crop performance of the functions of the for MPR applications requesting other farmers who rely on pollinators for their agency, including whether the MPR funding tools, in addition to the crops (fruits, nuts, vegetables, etc.). Data information will have practical utility; available MPR deferral assistance, and relating to the targeted crops will be (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate by adding a continuous open collected for the total number of acres of the burden of the proposed collection application process for any transfer that rely on honey bee pollination, the of information including the validity of applications that request only the MPR number of honey bee colonies that were the methodology and assumptions used; loan deferral assistance. Application used on those acres, and any cash fees (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, deadlines for these opportunities are: associated with honey bee pollination. and clarity of the information to be (1) For MPR applications requesting Crop Farmers will also be asked if collected; and (d) ways to minimize the debt deferral of eligible Section 514 or beekeepers who were hired to bring burden of the collection of information Section 515 loans, plus other MPR their bees to their farm were notified of on those who are to respond, through funding tools, complete applications pesticides used on the target acres, how the use of appropriate automated, must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. many acres they were being hired to electronic, mechanical, technological, or Eastern Time,120 calendar days after pollinate, and how much they were other forms of information technology August 3, 2015, and being paid to pollinate the targeted collection methods. (2) For any MPR applications crops. All responses to this notice will requesting debt deferral only for eligible Authority: These data will be become a matter of public record and be Section 514 or Section 515 loans, mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. summarized in the request for OMB complete applications may be submitted 2204(a). Individually identifiable data approval. on an ongoing basis through COB 5:00 collected under this authority are p.m. Eastern Time, December 31, 2015. governed by Section 1770 of the Food Signed at Washington, DC, July 24, 2015. The pre-application closing deadline Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7 Joseph T. Reilly, is firm as to date and hour. The Agency U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to Administrator. will not consider any pre-application afford strict confidentiality to non- [FR Doc. 2015–18975 Filed 7–31–15; 8:45 am] that is received after the closing aggregated data provided by BILLING CODE 3410–20–P deadline. Applicant’s intending to mail VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Jul 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1


Document Created: 2018-02-23 10:52:00
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 10:52:00
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice and request for comments.
DatesComments on this notice must be received by October 2, 2015 to be assured of consideration.
ContactRenee Picanso, 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 Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388.
FR Citation80 FR 45932 
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