82 FR 26903 - Notice of Request for a New Information Collection; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Programs

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 111 (June 12, 2017)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request feedback from the general public on the ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Programs''. This collection was developed as part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback from the public on service delivery. This notice announces our intent to submit this collection to OMB for approval and solicits comments on specific aspects for the proposed information collection.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 111 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26903-26904]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12121]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection; Generic 
Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Programs

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 feedback from the general public on the 
``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on 
Agency Programs''. This collection was developed as part of a Federal 
Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback 
from the public on service delivery. This notice announces our intent 
to submit this collection to OMB for approval and solicits comments on 
specific aspects for the proposed information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 11, 2017 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: 
     Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.

[[Page 26904]]

     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: R. Renee Picanso, 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 
David Hancock, NASS--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback 
on Agency Programs.
    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 proposed information collection activities provides a 
means to obtain qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an 
efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Administration's 
commitment to improving the quality and timeliness of survey data and 
its analysis. The qualitative feedback will provide useful insights on 
perceptions and opinions, but are not rigorous statistical surveys that 
yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the study 
population. This feedback will provide insights into customer or 
stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early 
warning of issues with data collection efforts, and focus attention on 
areas where communication, training or changes in operations might 
improve NASS surveys and publications. These collections will allow for 
ongoing, collaborative and actionable communications between the Agency 
and its customers and stakeholders.
    The information collections will target areas such as: Timeliness, 
usefulness of summarized information, perceptions of products or 
services, accuracy of information, efficiency and ease of reporting 
data, and the ease and understandability of data collection 
instruments. Responses will be assessed to plan and inform efforts to 
improve or maintain the quality of data collected and reported to the 
public. If this information is not collected, vital feedback from 
customers and stakeholders on the Agency's services will be 
unavailable.
    The Agency will only submit a collection for approval under this 
generic clearance if it meets the following conditions:
     The collections are voluntary;
     The collections are low-burden for respondents (based on 
considerations of total burden hours, total number of respondents, or 
burden-hours per respondent) and are low-cost for both the respondents 
and the Federal Government;
     The collections are non-controversial and do not raise 
issues of concern to other Federal agencies;
     Any collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions 
from respondents who have experience with NASS surveys or data, or may 
reasonably be expected to have experience with the surveys or data in 
the near future;
     Information gathered will be used only internally for 
improving data collection efforts, products and services, and the 
summarization and publication of data, and is not intended for release 
outside of the agency;
     Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of 
substantially informing influential policy decisions; and
     Information gathered will yield qualitative information; 
the collections will not be designed or expected to yield statistically 
reliable results or used as though the results are generalizable to the 
study population.
    This generic clearance for qualitative information will not be used 
for quantitative information collections that are designed to yield 
reliably actionable results, such as monitoring trends over time or 
documenting program performance. Depending on the degree of influence 
the results are likely to have, such collections may still be eligible 
for submission for other generic mechanisms that are designed to yield 
quantitative results.
    As a general matter, information collections will not result in any 
new system of records containing privacy information and will not ask 
questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, 
religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered 
private.
    Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, agri-businesses and data users.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150,000.
    Below we provide projected average estimates for the next three 
years:
    Average Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Total Responses: 150,000 (30,000 completed responses and 120,000 
refusals).
    Frequency of Responses: Once per request.
    Average Minutes per Response: 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the 
survey.
    Total Estimated Burden Hours: 8,250.
    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, including 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 31, 2017.
Hubert Hamer,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-12121 Filed 6-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P