Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
Citation | 85 FR 25385 |
Record Number | 2020-09272 |
Published date | 01 May 2020 |
Section | Notices |
Court | National Agricultural Statistics Service |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 85 (Friday, May 1, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 85 (Friday, May 1, 2020)] [Notices] [Pages 25385-25386] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2020-09272] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 to the currently approved information collection, the Honey and Honey Bee survey docket (0535- 0153. Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sample design, and the discontinuation of the Bee and Honey Survey for operations with less than five colonies. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 30, 2020 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535- 0153, by any of the following methods: Email: [email protected]. 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: Kevin L. Barnes, 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: Honey and Honey Bee Surveys. OMB Control Number: 0535-0153. Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2020. 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, livestock products, prices, and disposition; as well as economic statistics, environmental statistics related to agriculture, and also to conduct the Census of Agriculture. In this request for renewal of the Honey and Honey Bee (0535-0153) docket, NASS will keep the Bee and Honey Inquiry (operations with 5 or more colonies) and the Quarterly Colony Loss survey relatively the same. The samples are adjusted so that the same group of operators who qualify for the honey production survey also qualify for the colony loss survey. The Bee and Honey Production and Loss Inquiry (operations with less than 5 colonies) was discontinued and last published in 2018. As pollinators, honey bees are vital to the agricultural industry for producing food for the world's population. Additional data is needed to accurately describe the costs associated with pest/disease control, wintering fees, and replacement worker and queen bees. USDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with other relevant Federal partners, are scaling up efforts to address the decline of honey bee health with a goal of ensuring the recovery of this critical subset of pollinators. NASS supports the Pollinator Research Action Plan, published May 19, 2015, which emphasizes the importance of coordinated action to identify the extent and causal factors in honey bee mortality. 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 Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. [[Page 25386]] 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 this collection of information for operations with five or more colonies is estimated to average 20 minutes per response for the annual Bee and Honey survey and 15 minutes per respondent for the quarterly Colony Loss Survey. Operations with less than five colonies will be excluded from this renewal request which will reduce overall respondent burden by an estimated 2,100 hours. Publicity materials and instruction sheets 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. Respondents: Farmers. Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,200. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: With an estimated response rate of approximately 80%, we estimate the total burden to be approximately 7,500 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, April 23, 2020. Kevin L. Barnes, Associate Administrator. [FR Doc. 2020-09272 Filed 4-30-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-20-P