81 FR 33461 - Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 102 (May 26, 2016)

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 Nursery Production Survey and the Nursery and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey. Revision to burden hours will be needed due to the discontinuation of the Nursery and Christmas Tree Production Survey and the Nursery and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey, along with minor changes in the size of the target population, and/or questionnaire length for the two remaining surveys (Oregon Nursery Survey and the Oregon Christmas Tree Survey).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33461-33462]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12493]


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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.

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 revision and

[[Page 33462]]

extension of a currently approved information collection, the Nursery 
Production Survey and the Nursery and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey. 
Revision to burden hours will be needed due to the discontinuation of 
the Nursery and Christmas Tree Production Survey and the Nursery and 
Floriculture Chemical Use Survey, along with minor changes in the size 
of the target population, and/or questionnaire length for the two 
remaining surveys (Oregon Nursery Survey and the Oregon Christmas Tree 
Survey).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 25, 2016 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0244, 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 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: Nursery and Christmas Tree Production Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0244.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2016.
    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, prices, and disposition, as 
well as economic statistics, environmental statistics related to 
agriculture and also to conduct the Census of Agriculture. The Nursery 
and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey (NFCUS) was created to develop a 
database of chemicals and cropping practices for this particular 
industry. The survey was conducted every three years for the reference 
periods of 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2009. The Nursery and Christmas Tree 
Production Survey (NCTPS) was conducted in conjunction with the 
chemical use survey for the years 2000, 2003, and 2006. For the 2009 
reference year the Census of Horticulture replaced this survey. The 
Census of Horticulture (OMB # 0535-0236) is now conducted every five 
years and has filled the need for nursery production data. With the 
creation of the NFCUS database and current budget constraints the NFCUS 
and NCTPS surveys have been discontinued. Historically, the Oregon 
Nursery Survey and the Oregon Christmas Tree Survey have been conducted 
under cooperative agreements with the state of Oregon. This information 
collection package will now only include these two remaining surveys.

    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 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995).
    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: The retirement of the Nursery and Christmas 
Tree Production Surveys along with the Nursery and Floriculture 
Chemical Use Survey will reduce the burden estimate by approximately 
4,200 hours from the previous approval. Respondent burden for the two 
remaining surveys will be approximately 900 hours. The questionnaires 
are estimated to take the respondents approximately 20 to 30 minutes to 
complete. Publicity materials and the instruction sheet will account 
for about 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: Producers of nursery, greenhouse, and floriculture 
products.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: The Oregon Nursery 
Production Survey and the Oregon Christmas Tree Production Survey have 
a combined sample size of approximately 1,800.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Approximately 900 
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, May 18, 2016.
R. Renee Picanso,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-12493 Filed 5-25-16; 8:45 am]
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