Notice of Proposed Change to Section IV of the Virginia State Technical Guide, 13447-13448 [05-5456]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 53 / Monday, March 21, 2005 / Notices
substantially increased funding for the
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) as well as other
conservation programs; a portion of the
technical assistance funds for
conservation programs has been
allocated for use in assessing the
environmental benefits of these
conservation practices. The assessment
will be used to report progress annually
on Farm Bill implementation to
Congress and the general public.
NRCS is leading a multi-agency effort
to estimate the environmental benefits
of conservation practices. Benefit
measures will include soil quality
enhancement, erosion reduction,
reduction in nutrient and sediment
losses from farm fields, soil carbon
sequestration, water use efficiency, and
reductions in in-stream nutrient and
sediment concentrations. Investments
are being made in additional model
development to address benefits
associated with reductions in pesticide
losses, air quality, and wildlife habitat.
The assessment is designed to be
national and regional in scope. A
sampling and modeling approach has
been adopted to avoid the high costs
associated with expanded reporting by
NRCS field staff.
Benefits will be estimated by applying
transport models and other physical
process models at sample sites
associated with the National Resources
Inventory (NRI) sampling frame. The
NRI is a scientifically-based,
longitudinal panel survey designed to
assess conditions and trends of soil,
water, and related resources of the
Nation’s non-federal lands. The NRI is
conducted for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture by NRCS in cooperation
with the Iowa State University Center
for Survey and Statistical Methods and
provides critical information to address
agri-environmental issues at national,
regional, and State levels.
Data gathered in the NRI are linked to
NRCS soil survey and climate databases.
These linked data, along with NRI’s
historical data for 1982–2002, form the
basis for unique modeling applications
and analytical capabilities. The NRI
sampling frame will be used for this
project because it captures the diversity
of the Nation’s agricultural resource
base (soils, topography, and climate),
which is a critical factor in estimating
benefits of conservation practices. Also
critical are the historical and linked data
that already exist for each NRI sample
site. The assessment of benefits is not
possible, however, without augmenting
these existing data with additional
information on land management and
conservation practice adoption.
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NASS will collaborate with NRCS in
the acquisition of this additional
information by conducting a survey for
a sub-sample of NRI sample units in the
contiguous 48 States. The survey will
utilize personal interviews to administer
a questionnaire that is designed to
obtain from farm operators field-specific
data associated with the selected sample
units. Specific questions are asked about
physical characteristics of the field,
pesticide and fertilizer applications, and
technical aspects of conservation
practices associated with the field.
Several other questions deal with
production activities before and after
implementation of specific conservation
practices and with the operator’s
participation in conservation programs.
The survey design calls for
conducting 7,500–12,000 interviews
annually. The number of samples for a
given year reflects changes in the
budget. Approximately 30,000
completed responses will be ‘‘pooled’’
using statistical time series procedures.
Interviews have already been conducted
in the fall of 2003 and 2004 using this
survey process. The 2005 survey
represents the third year of this data
collection effort. Each year’s data
collection will be for a different set of
agricultural land units. If analysis
indicates that more samples are needed
to adequately estimate the benefits of
conservation practices nationally, then
data collection will be extended to
include 2007.
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.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 70 minutes per
response.
Respondents: Farm operators.
Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 12,000 maximum
potential respondents.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 14,000 hours maximum.
Copies of this information collection
and related instructions can be obtained
without charge from Ginny McBride,
NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 720–
5778.
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
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13447
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, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
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, February 22,
2005.
Rich Allen,
Deputy Administrator Program and Products.
[FR Doc. 05–5505 Filed 3–18–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–20–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Notice of Proposed Change to Section
IV of the Virginia State Technical Guide
Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of
proposed changes in the Virginia NRCS
State Technical Guide for review and
comment.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: It has been determined by the
NRCS State Conservationist for Virginia
that changes must be made in the NRCS
State Technical Guide specifically in
practice standards: #386, Field Border;
#393, Riparian Herbaceous Cover; and
#393, Filter Strip Facility. These
practices will be used to plan and install
conservation practices on cropland,
pastureland, woodland, and wildlife
land.
Comments will be received for a
30-day period commencing with the
date of this publication.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Inquire in writing to M. Denise Doetzer,
State Conservationist, Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), 1606
Santa Rosa Road, Suite 209, Richmond,
Virginia 23229–5014; Telephone
number (804) 287–1665; Fax number
(804) 287–1736. Copies of the practice
standards will be made available upon
written request to the address shown
above or on the Virginia NRCS Web site
https://www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/
draftstandards.html.
DATES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 53 / Monday, March 21, 2005 / Notices
Section
343 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996
states that revisions made after
enactment of the law to NRCS State
technical guides used to carry out
highly erodible land and wetland
provisions of the law shall be made
available for public review and
comment. For the next 30 days, the
NRCS in Virginia will receive comments
relative to the proposed changes.
Following that period, a determination
will be made by the NRCS in Virginia
regarding disposition of those comments
and a final determination of change will
be made to the subject standards.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: March 9, 2005.
Kenneth E. Carter,
Assistant State Conservationist (Programs),
Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Richmond, Virginia.
[FR Doc. 05–5456 Filed 3–18–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce has
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35).
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: Prohibited Species Donation
Program.
Form Number(s): None.
OMB Approval Number: 0648–0316.
Type of Request: Regular submission.
Burden Hours: 229.
Number of Respondents: 21.
Average Hours Per Response: 7
minutes (0.12 hours).
Needs and Uses: A prohibited species
donation (PSD) program for salmon and
halibut was approved by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) and implemented by the
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS). This program has effectively
reduced regulatory discard of salmon
and halibut by allowing fish that would
otherwise be discarded to be donated to
needy individuals through tax-exempt
organizations. The vessels and
processing plants participating in the
donation program voluntarily retain and
process salmon and halibut bycatch. An
authorized, tax-exempt, distributor,
chosen by NMFS is responsible for
monitoring the retention and processing
of fish donated by vessels and
processors. The authorized distributor
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also coordinates the processing, storage,
transportation, and distribution of
salmon and halibut. The PSD program
requires a collection-of-information so
that NMFS can monitor the authorized
distributors’ ability to effectively
supervise program participants and
ensure that donated fish are properly
processed, stored, and distributed.
Affected Public: Not-for-profit
institutions; Business or other for-profit
organizations; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Frequency: Triennially and on
occasion.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain benefits.
OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker,
(202) 395–3897.
Copies of the above information
collection proposal can be obtained by
calling or writing Diana Hynek,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance
Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of
Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20230 (or via the Internet at
dHynek@doc.gov).
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk
Officer, FAX number (202) 395–7285, or
David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov.
Dated: March 16, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05–5522 Filed 3–18–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Current Population Surveys (CPS)
Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS)
ACTION:
Proposed collection; comment
request.
SUMMARY: The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Submit written comments on or
before May 20, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
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Department of Commerce, Room 6625,
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at DHynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Dennis Clark, U.S. Census
Bureau, FOB 3, Room 3340,
Washington, DC 20233–8400, (301) 763–
3806.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau is requesting
clearance for the collection of data
concerning the HVS. The current
clearance expires October 31, 2005. The
HVS has been conducted in conjunction
with the CPS since 1956 and serves a
broad array of data users as described
below.
We conduct the HVS interviews with
landlords or other knowledgeable
people concerning vacant housing units
identified in the monthly CPS sample
and meeting certain criteria. The HVS
provides the only quarterly and annual
statistics on rental vacancy rates and
home ownership rates for the United
States, the four census regions, the 50
states and the District of Columbia, and
the 100 largest metropolitan areas
(MAs). Private and public sector
organizations use these rates extensively
to gauge and analyze the housing market
with regard to supply, cost, and
affordability at various points in time.
In addition, the rental vacancy rate is
a component of the index of leading
economic indicators published by the
Department of Commerce. Policy
analysts, program managers, budget
analysts, and congressional staff use
these data to advise the executive and
legislative branches of government with
respect to the number and
characteristics of units available for
occupancy and the suitability of
housing initiatives. Several other
government agencies use these data on
a continuing basis in calculating
consumer expenditures for housing as a
component of the gross national
product; to project mortgage demands;
and to measure the adequacy of the
supply of rental and homeowner units.
In addition, investment firms use the
HVS data to analyze market trends and
for economic forecasting.
II. Method of Collection
Field representatives collect this HVS
information by personal-visit interviews
in conjunction with the regular monthly
CPS interviewing. We collect HVS data
concerning units that are vacant and
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 53 (Monday, March 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13447-13448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5456]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice of Proposed Change to Section IV of the Virginia State
Technical Guide
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department
of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of proposed changes in the Virginia NRCS
State Technical Guide for review and comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: It has been determined by the NRCS State Conservationist for
Virginia that changes must be made in the NRCS State Technical Guide
specifically in practice standards: 386, Field Border;
393, Riparian Herbaceous Cover; and 393, Filter Strip
Facility. These practices will be used to plan and install conservation
practices on cropland, pastureland, woodland, and wildlife land.
DATES: Comments will be received for a 30-day period commencing with
the date of this publication.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquire in writing to M. Denise
Doetzer, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS), 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 209, Richmond, Virginia 23229-5014;
Telephone number (804) 287-1665; Fax number (804) 287-1736. Copies of
the practice standards will be made available upon written request to
the address shown above or on the Virginia NRCS Web site https://
www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/draftstandards.html.
[[Page 13448]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 states that revisions made after
enactment of the law to NRCS State technical guides used to carry out
highly erodible land and wetland provisions of the law shall be made
available for public review and comment. For the next 30 days, the NRCS
in Virginia will receive comments relative to the proposed changes.
Following that period, a determination will be made by the NRCS in
Virginia regarding disposition of those comments and a final
determination of change will be made to the subject standards.
Dated: March 9, 2005.
Kenneth E. Carter,
Assistant State Conservationist (Programs), Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Richmond, Virginia.
[FR Doc. 05-5456 Filed 3-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
