[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13597-13598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5770]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Request for an Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection; County Committee Elections

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is seeking comments from all interested 
individuals and entities on an extension of a currently approved 
information collection associated with the FSA County Committee 
Elections. The collection of information from FSA farmers and ranchers 
is used to receive nominations from eligible voters for the County 
Committee.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by May 13, 2011.
    Additional Information: We invite you to submit comments on this 
Notice. In your comment, include volume, date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the 
following methods:
    Mail: Kenneth Nagel, Field Operations Manager for the Deputy 
Administrator for Field Operations, Farm Service Agency, USDA, STOP 
0542, 1400 Independence Avenue, Washington, DC 20250.
    E-mail: Send comments to: [email protected].
    Fax: (202) 720-6974.
    Comments also should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Nagel, Field Operations 
Manager, telephone (202) 720-7890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 13598]]

    Title: County Committee Election.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0229.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2011.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: This information collection is necessary to effectively 
allow farmers and ranchers to nominate potential candidates for the 
county committee election. FSA also requires reporting the 
participation rate of disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and the 
election result to USDA Secretary and the Congress, as specified in 
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act. Specifically, FSA county 
offices use the information annually or if needed through-out the year 
for special elections to create ballots for county committee elections.
    FSA county offices compile information for ballots and reports from 
FSA-669A, Nomination Form for County FSA Committee Election, that an 
individual completes to nominate themselves or nominate any other 
person who is interested to serve on a FSA county committee, if 
eligible. The individuals also voluntarily specify their race, 
ethnicity, and gender on FSA-669A.
    Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes per 
response. The average travel time, which is included in the total 
burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Any individual with farming interest in the Local 
Administrative Area (LAA) (eligible voters).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual of Responses: 10,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,700.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (4) 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 received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses, when provided, will be a matter of public records. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval of the information collection.

    Signed in Washington, DC on March 8, 2011.
Carolyn B. Cooksie,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-5770 Filed 3-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P