Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals

Federal Register: July 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 132)

Notices

Page 39278

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr09jy08-33

Notices

Federal Register

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.

Page 39278

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 3, 2008.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) whether the 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 burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk

Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO,

Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Title: Livestock Slaughter.

OMB Control Number: 0535-0005.

Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National

Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, disposition and prices. General authority for data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. This statute specifies the ``The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all information concerning agriculture which he can obtain * *

* by the collection of statistics * * * and shall distribute them among agriculturists''. Information from federally and non-federally inspected slaughter plants are used to estimate total red meat production. NASS will use a Federally- and non-Federally-inspected livestock slaughter survey to collect data.

Need and Use of the Information: NASS will combine the survey information collected from both types of plants to estimate total red meat production, consisting of the number of head slaughtered plus live and dressed weights of cattle, calves, hogs and sheep. Accurate and timely livestock estimates provide USDA and the livestock industry with basic data to project future meat supplies and producer prices.

Agricultural economists in both the public and private sectors use this information in economic analysis and research.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.

Number of Respondents: 1,800.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Weekly, Monthly.

Total Burden Hours: 1,640.

Charlene Parker,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.

FR Doc. E8-15600 Filed 7-8-08; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 3410-20-P