80_FR_75279 80 FR 75049 - Notice of Intent To Request Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Information Collection

80 FR 75049 - Notice of Intent To Request Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 230 (December 1, 2015)

Page Range75049-75050
FR Document2015-30451

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request extension without change of a currently approved information collection, the Generic Clearance for Survey Research Studies. There are no revisions to burden hours or the number of responses under this information collection request.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75049-75050]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30451]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request Extension, Without Change, 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 extension without change of a currently 
approved information collection, the Generic Clearance for Survey 
Research Studies. There are no revisions to burden hours or the number 
of responses under this information collection request.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 1, 2016 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0248, 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: 
David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 5336

[[Page 75050]]

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: R. 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--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Survey Research Studies.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0248.
    Type of Request: To extend a currently approved information 
collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a generic 
clearance that will allow NASS to rigorously develop, test, and 
evaluate its survey instruments and methodologies. The primary 
objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service are to 
prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop production, 
livestock production, economic statistics, and environmental statistics 
related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture. This 
request is part of an on-going initiative to improve NASS surveys, as 
recommended by both its own guidelines and those of OMB.
    In the last decade, state-of-the art techniques have been 
increasingly instituted by NASS and other Federal agencies and are now 
routinely used to improve the quality and timeliness of survey data and 
analyses, while simultaneously reducing respondents' cognitive workload 
and burden. The purpose of this generic clearance is to allow NASS to 
continue to adopt and use these state-of-the-art techniques to improve 
its current data collections efforts. These tests will also be used to 
aid in the development of new surveys.
    NASS envisions using a variety of survey improvement techniques, as 
appropriate to the individual project under investigation. These 
include focus groups, cognitive and usability laboratory and field 
techniques, exploratory interviews, behavior coding, respondent 
debriefing, pilot surveys, and split-panel tests. After obtaining 
participants' permission, NASS plans to audio-record some cognitive 
interviews and usability interviews, in order to allow for more 
complete and accurate summaries of these qualitative interviews. This 
is a standard procedure for cognitive interviews and usability 
interviews at many other survey organizations, including Federal 
agencies. The consent form would be used for audio recording some 
cognitive interviews and usability interviews for research purposes. 
For these types of interviews, there will be no collection of 
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or any identifying 
information about the operator or operation.
    Following standard OMB requirements NASS will submit a change 
request to OMB individually for each survey improvement project it 
undertakes under this generic clearance and provide OMB with a copy of 
the questionnaire (if one is used), and all other materials describing 
the project.
    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, 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. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations 
at 5 CFR part 1320. Participation in all surveys and studies conducted 
under this approval will be voluntary.
    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.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for these collections 
of information is estimated to average from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours per 
respondent, dependent upon the survey and the technique used to test 
for that particular survey. The overall average is estimated to be 0.6 
hours per response.
    Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, farm managers, farm contractors, 
agri-businesses, and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,000.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 15,000 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; 
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 20, 2015.
R. Renee Picanso,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-30451 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 230 / Tuesday, December 1, 2015 / Notices 75049 Signed at Washington, DC, November 20, OMB Control Number: 0535–0003. Comments: Comments are invited on: 2015. Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, (a) Whether the proposed collection of R. Renee Picanso, 2016. information is necessary for the proper Associate Administrator. Type of Request: Intent to Seek performance of the functions of the [FR Doc. 2015–30445 Filed 11–30–15; 8:45 am] Approval to Revise and Extend an agency, including whether the BILLING CODE 3410–20–P Information Collection for 3 years. information will have practical utility; Abstract: The primary objective of the (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate National Agricultural Statistics Service of the burden of the proposed collection DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (NASS) is to prepare and issue State and of information including the validity of national estimates of crop and livestock the methodology and assumptions used; National Agricultural Statistics Service production, prices, and disposition; as (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, well as economic statistics, and clarity of the information to be Notice of Intent to Request Revision environmental statistics related to collected; and (d) ways to minimize the and Extension of a Currently Approved agriculture and also to conduct the burden of the collection of information Information Collection. Census of Agriculture. on those who are to respond, through The Agricultural Prices surveys the use of appropriate automated, AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics provide data on the prices received by Service, USDA. electronic, mechanical, technological or farmers and prices paid by them for other forms of information technology ACTION: Notice and request for production goods and services. NASS comments. collection methods. estimates based on these surveys are All responses to this notice will used as a Principle Economic Indicator become a matter of public record and SUMMARY: In accordance with the of the United States. These price Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this will be summarized in the request for estimates are also used to compute OMB approval. notice announces the intention the Parity Prices in accordance with National Agricultural Statistics Service requirements of the Agricultural Signed at Washington, DC, November 20, (NASS) to request revision and Adjustment Act of 1938 as amended 2015. extension of a currently approved (Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301(a)). In R. Renee Picanso, information collection, the Agricultural addition, price data are used by the Associate Administrator. Prices Surveys. Revision to burden Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to [FR Doc. 2015–30448 Filed 11–30–15; 8:45 am] hours will be needed due to changes in help determine payment rates, program BILLING CODE 3410–20–P the size of the target population, option levels, and disaster programs. sampling design, and/or questionnaire length. Authority: These data will be collected under authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204(a). DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DATES: Comments on this notice must be Individually identifiable data collected under received by February 1, 2016 to be this authority are governed by Section 1770 National Agricultural Statistics Service assured of consideration. of the Food Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford Notice of Intent To Request Extension, ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data Without Change, of a Currently identified by docket number 0535–0003, provided by respondents. This Notice is Approved Information Collection by any of the following methods: submitted in accordance with the Paperwork • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–113) and AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Include docket number above in the Office of Management and Budget regulations Service, USDA. subject line of the message. at 5 CFR part 1320. ACTION: Notice and request for • E-fax: (855) 838–6382. NASS also complies with OMB comments. • Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– Implementation Guidance, ROM submissions to: David Hancock, SUMMARY: In accordance with the ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this of the E-Government Act, Confidential Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 notice announces the intention of the Information Protection and Statistical South Building, 1400 Independence National Agricultural Statistics Service Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’ Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250– Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June (NASS) to request extension without 2024. 15, 2007, p. 33362. change of a currently approved • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand Estimate of Burden: Public reporting information collection, the Generic deliver to: David Hancock, NASS burden for this information collection is Clearance for Survey Research Studies. Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of based on more than 30 individual There are no revisions to burden hours Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, surveys with expected responses of 5– or the number of responses under this 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 20 minutes and frequency of 1–12 times information collection request. Washington, DC 20250–2024. per year. Estimated number of responses DATES: Comments on this notice must be per respondent is approximately 2.6 received by February 1, 2016 to be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R. times per year. assured of consideration. Renee Picanso, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Respondents: Farmers and farm- ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) related businesses. identified by docket number 0535–0248, Estimated Number of Respondents: by any of the following methods: 720–2707. Copies of this information 75,000. • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. collection and related instructions can tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Estimated Total Annual Burden on Include docket number above in the be obtained without charge from David Respondents: 33,000 hours. subject line of the message. Hancock, NASS-OMB Clearance Officer, Copies of this information collection • E-fax: (855) 838–6382. at (202) 690–2388 or at ombofficer@ and related instructions can be obtained • Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– nass.usda.gov. without charge from David Hancock, ROM submissions to: David Hancock, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 690– NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Title: Agricultural Prices. 2388. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:35 Nov 30, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01DEN1.SGM 01DEN1

75050 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 230 / Tuesday, December 1, 2015 / Notices South Building, 1400 Independence and split-panel tests. After obtaining performance of the functions of the Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250– participants’ permission, NASS plans to agency, including whether the 2024. audio-record some cognitive interviews information will have practical utility; • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand and usability interviews, in order to (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate deliver to: David Hancock, NASS allow for more complete and accurate of the burden of the proposed collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of summaries of these qualitative of information including the validity of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, interviews. This is a standard procedure the methodology and assumptions used; 1400 Independence Avenue SW., for cognitive interviews and usability (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, Washington, DC 20250–2024. interviews at many other survey and clarity of the information to be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R. organizations, including Federal collected; and (d) ways to minimize the Renee Picanso, Associate Administrator, agencies. The consent form would be burden of the collection of information National Agricultural Statistics Service, used for audio recording some cognitive on those who are to respond, through U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) interviews and usability interviews for the use of appropriate automated, 720–2707. Copies of this information research purposes. For these types of electronic, mechanical, technological or collection and related instructions can interviews, there will be no collection of other forms of information technology be obtained without charge from David Personally Identifiable Information (PII) collection methods. Hancock, NASS—OMB Clearance or any identifying information about the All responses to this notice will Officer, at (202) 690–2388 or at operator or operation. become a matter of public record and be ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. Following standard OMB summarized in the request for OMB requirements NASS will submit a approval. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: change request to OMB individually for Signed at Washington, DC, November 20, Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct each survey improvement project it 2015. Survey Research Studies. OMB Control Number: 0535–0248. undertakes under this generic clearance R. Renee Picanso, Type of Request: To extend a and provide OMB with a copy of the Associate Administrator. currently approved information questionnaire (if one is used), and all [FR Doc. 2015–30451 Filed 11–30–15; 8:45 am] collection for a period of three years. other materials describing the project. Authority: These data will be BILLING CODE 3410–20–P Abstract: The National Agricultural collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. Statistics Service (NASS) of the United 2204(a). Individually identifiable data States Department of Agriculture DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE collected under this authority are (USDA) will request approval from the governed by Section 1770 of the Food Office of Management and Budget Foreign-Trade Zones Board Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C. 2276, (OMB) for a generic clearance that will which requires USDA to afford strict [Order No. 1990] allow NASS to rigorously develop, test, confidentiality to non-aggregated data and evaluate its survey instruments and Approval of Subzone Status, provided by respondents. This Notice is methodologies. The primary objectives Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC, submitted in accordance with the of the National Agricultural Statistics Calvert, Alabama Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. Service are to prepare and issue State L. 104–13) and Office of Management and national estimates of crop Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign- and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part production, livestock production, Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as 1320. Participation in all surveys and economic statistics, and environmental amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), the Foreign- studies conducted under this approval statistics related to agriculture and to Trade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the will be voluntary. following Order: conduct the Census of Agriculture. This NASS also complies with OMB request is part of an on-going initiative Implementation Guidance, Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones Act to improve NASS surveys, as ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V provides for ‘‘. . . the establishment recommended by both its own of the E-Government Act, Confidential . . . of foreign-trade zones in ports of guidelines and those of OMB. Information Protection and Statistical entry of the United States, to expedite In the last decade, state-of-the art and encourage foreign commerce, and Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’ techniques have been increasingly for other purposes,’’ and authorizes the Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June instituted by NASS and other Federal Foreign-Trade Zones Board to grant to 15, 2007, p. 33362. agencies and are now routinely used to Estimate of Burden: Public reporting qualified corporations the privilege of improve the quality and timeliness of burden for these collections of establishing foreign-trade zones in or survey data and analyses, while information is estimated to average from adjacent to U.S. Customs and Border simultaneously reducing respondents’ 15 minutes to 1.5 hours per respondent, Protection ports of entry; cognitive workload and burden. The dependent upon the survey and the Whereas, the Board’s regulations (15 purpose of this generic clearance is to technique used to test for that particular CFR part 400) provide for the allow NASS to continue to adopt and survey. The overall average is estimated establishment of subzones for specific use these state-of-the-art techniques to to be 0.6 hours per response. uses; improve its current data collections Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, farm Whereas, the City of Mobile, grantee efforts. These tests will also be used to managers, farm contractors, agri- of Foreign-Trade Zone 82, has made aid in the development of new surveys. businesses, and households. application to the Board for the NASS envisions using a variety of Estimated Number of Respondents: establishment of a subzone at the tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES survey improvement techniques, as 25,000. facility of Outokumpu Stainless USA, appropriate to the individual project Frequency of Responses: On occasion. LLC, located in Calvert, Alabama (FTZ under investigation. These include Estimated Total Annual Burden: Docket B–62–2015, docketed September focus groups, cognitive and usability 15,000 hours. 10, 2015); laboratory and field techniques, Comments: Comments are invited on: Whereas, notice inviting public exploratory interviews, behavior coding, (a) Whether the proposed collection of comment has been given in the Federal respondent debriefing, pilot surveys, information is necessary for the proper Register (80 FR 56962, September 21, VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:35 Nov 30, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01DEN1.SGM 01DEN1


Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:10:13
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:10:13
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 February 1, 2016 to be assured of consideration.
ContactR. 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--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388 or at [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 75049 
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