Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 62146-62147 [2021-24394]

Download as PDF jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 62146 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 214 / Tuesday, November 9, 2021 / Notices sample design, provides the timeline for the survey activities, and the questionnaire. The review period for each individual survey is approximately 45 days, including a 30-day Federal Register notice period. 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 nonaggregated data provided by respondents. This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–113, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. All NASS employees and NASS contractors must also fully comply with all provisions of the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018, Title III of Pubic Law 115–435, codified in 44 U.S.C. ch. 35. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response. Up to 10 individual surveys are included in this generic clearance to be conducted annually (total of 30). The estimated sample size for each of the 30 surveys is approximately 7,500. Each of the 30 surveys are expected to be conducted once annually. This is an increase from the previous approval due as the previous burden request submitted was intended to be a one year burden request. The estimated number of responses per respondent is 1. Publicity materials and instruction sheets will account for approximately 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. NASS will conduct the surveys initially by mail and/or internet with phone follow-up for nonresponse. Face-to-face interviews may also be used in limited situations. Respondents: Farmers and ranchers, and others associated with the agricultural industry. Estimated Number of Respondents: 225,000. Frequency of Responses: Once annually for each individual survey. Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: The total estimated burden is 112,000 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:00 Nov 08, 2021 Jkt 256001 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, November 3, 2021. Kevin L. Barnes, Associate Administrator. [FR Doc. 2021–24401 Filed 11–8–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–20–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Agricultural Statistics Service Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: 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 Generic Clearance for Survey Research Studies. Burden hours and number of contacts will be increased to accommodate the proposed testing for the upcoming three year period. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 10, 2022 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535–0248, by any of the following methods: • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. 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. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • 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 ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Generic Clearance To Conduct Survey Research Studies. OMB Control Number: 0535–0248. Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved information collection for a period of three years. Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a generic clearance that will allow NASS to rigorously develop, test, and evaluate its survey instruments and methodologies. The primary objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service are to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop production, livestock production, economic statistics, and environmental statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture. This request is part of an on-going initiative to improve NASS surveys, as recommended by both its own guidelines and those of OMB. In the last decade, state-of-the art techniques have been increasingly instituted by NASS and other Federal agencies and are now routinely used to improve the quality and timeliness of survey data and analyses, while simultaneously reducing respondents’ cognitive workload and burden. The purpose of this generic clearance is to allow NASS to continue to adopt and use these state-of-the-art techniques to improve its current data collections efforts. These tests will also be used to aid in the development of new surveys. NASS envisions using a variety of survey improvement techniques, as appropriate to the individual project under investigation. These include focus groups, cognitive and usability laboratory and field techniques, exploratory interviews, behavior coding, respondent debriefing, pilot surveys, and split-panel tests. After obtaining participants’ permission, NASS plans to audio-record some cognitive interviews E:\FR\FM\09NON1.SGM 09NON1 jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 214 / Tuesday, November 9, 2021 / Notices and usability interviews, in order to allow for more complete and accurate summaries of these qualitative interviews. This is a standard procedure for cognitive interviews and usability interviews at many other survey organizations, including Federal agencies. The consent form would be used for audio recording some cognitive interviews and usability interviews for research purposes. For these types of interviews, there will be no collection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or any identifying information about the operator or operation. In addition to the testing techniques listed above NASS will be including parallel testing with this renewal request. NASS is investigating methodologies using additional sources of farm operators (including web scraping). These methodologies will be tested against the NASS’s current multiframe methodology. Following standard OMB requirements NASS will submit a change request to OMB individually for each survey improvement project it undertakes under this generic clearance and provide OMB with a copy of the questionnaire (if one is used), and all other materials describing the project. 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 (Pub. L. 104–13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. Participation in all surveys and studies conducted under this approval will be voluntary. 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 these collections of information is estimated to average from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours per respondent, dependent upon the survey and the technique used to test for that particular survey. The overall average is estimated to be 0.60 hours per response. Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, farm managers, farm contractors, agribusinesses, and households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,000. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:00 Nov 08, 2021 Jkt 256001 Frequency of Responses: On occasion. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 15,000 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, November 3, 2021. Kevin L. Barnes, Associate Administrator. [FR Doc. 2021–24394 Filed 11–8–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–20–P COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Notice of Public Meeting of the Florida Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. ACTION: Announcement of virtual business meeting. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, that the Florida Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a virtual business meeting via Webex at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, November 29, 2021. DATES: The meeting will take place on Monday, November 29, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET. Online Regisration (Audio/Visual): https://bit.ly/3nVNJgV. Telephone (Audio Only): Dial 800– 360–9505 USA Toll Free; Access code: 2763 894 1640. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Wojnaroski, DFO, at mwojnaroski@usccr.gov or (202) 618– 4158. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 62147 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Committee meetings are available to the public through the conference link above. Any interested member of the public may listen to the meeting. An open comment period will be provided to allow members of the public to make a statement as time allows. If joining via phone, callers can expect to incur regular charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, according to their wireless plan. The Commission will not refund any incurred charges. Individuals who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing may also follow the proceedings by first calling the Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 and providing the Service with the conference details found through registering at the web link above. To request additional accommodations, please email mwojnaroski@usccr.gov at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. Members of the public are also entitled to submit written comments; the comments must be received in the regional office within 30 days following the meeting. Written comments may be emailed to Liliana Schiller at lschiller@ usccr.gov. Persons who desire additional information may contact the Regional Programs Unit at (312) 353– 8311. Records generated from this meeting may be inspected and reproduced at the Regional Programs Coordination Unit Office, as they become available, both before and after the meeting. Records of the meeting will be available via www.facadatabase.gov under the Commission on Civil Rights, Florida Advisory Committee link. Persons interested in the work of this Committee are directed to the Commission’s website, https://www.usccr.gov, or may contact the Regional Programs Coordination Unit at the above email or street address. Agenda I. Welcome & Roll Call II. Voting Rights Review III. Public Comment IV. Next Steps V. Adjournment Dated: Thursday, November 4, 2021. David Mussatt, Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. [FR Doc. 2021–24484 Filed 11–8–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P E:\FR\FM\09NON1.SGM 09NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62146-62147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24394]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the Generic Clearance for Survey 
Research Studies. Burden hours and number of contacts will be increased 
to accommodate the proposed testing for the upcoming three year period.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 10, 2022 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0248, 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: 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: Generic Clearance To Conduct Survey Research Studies.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0248.
    Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a generic 
clearance that will allow NASS to rigorously develop, test, and 
evaluate its survey instruments and methodologies. The primary 
objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service are to 
prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop production, 
livestock production, economic statistics, and environmental statistics 
related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture. This 
request is part of an on-going initiative to improve NASS surveys, as 
recommended by both its own guidelines and those of OMB.
    In the last decade, state-of-the art techniques have been 
increasingly instituted by NASS and other Federal agencies and are now 
routinely used to improve the quality and timeliness of survey data and 
analyses, while simultaneously reducing respondents' cognitive workload 
and burden. The purpose of this generic clearance is to allow NASS to 
continue to adopt and use these state-of-the-art techniques to improve 
its current data collections efforts. These tests will also be used to 
aid in the development of new surveys.
    NASS envisions using a variety of survey improvement techniques, as 
appropriate to the individual project under investigation. These 
include focus groups, cognitive and usability laboratory and field 
techniques, exploratory interviews, behavior coding, respondent 
debriefing, pilot surveys, and split-panel tests. After obtaining 
participants' permission, NASS plans to audio-record some cognitive 
interviews

[[Page 62147]]

and usability interviews, in order to allow for more complete and 
accurate summaries of these qualitative interviews. This is a standard 
procedure for cognitive interviews and usability interviews at many 
other survey organizations, including Federal agencies. The consent 
form would be used for audio recording some cognitive interviews and 
usability interviews for research purposes. For these types of 
interviews, there will be no collection of Personally Identifiable 
Information (PII) or any identifying information about the operator or 
operation.
    In addition to the testing techniques listed above NASS will be 
including parallel testing with this renewal request. NASS is 
investigating methodologies using additional sources of farm operators 
(including web scraping). These methodologies will be tested against 
the NASS's current multi-frame methodology.
    Following standard OMB requirements NASS will submit a change 
request to OMB individually for each survey improvement project it 
undertakes under this generic clearance and provide OMB with a copy of 
the questionnaire (if one is used), and all other materials describing 
the project.
    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 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations 
at 5 CFR part 1320. Participation in all surveys and studies conducted 
under this approval will be voluntary.
    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 these collections 
of information is estimated to average from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours per 
respondent, dependent upon the survey and the technique used to test 
for that particular survey. The overall average is estimated to be 0.60 
hours per response.
    Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, farm managers, farm contractors, 
agri-businesses, and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,000.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 15,000 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, November 3, 2021.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-24394 Filed 11-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.