[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 1128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-80]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 5 / Friday, January 7, 2011 /
Notices
[[Page 1128]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
January 3, 2011.
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), [email protected] 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.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration
Title: USDA Race, Ethnicity and Gender Data Collection.
OMB Control Number: 0503-NEW.
Summary of Collection: Section 14006 and 14007 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 8701 (referred to as the
2008 Farm Bill) establishes a requirement for the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) to annually compile application and participation
rate data regarding socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers by
computing for each program of the USDA that serves agriculture
producers and landowners (a) raw numbers of applicants and participants
by race, ethnicity, and gender, subject to appropriate privacy
protection, as determined by the Secretary; and (b) the application and
participation rate, by race, ethnicity and gender as a percentage of
the total participation rate of all agricultural producers and
landowners for each county and State in the United States.
Need and Use of the Information: Data will be collected on a
voluntary basis through a questionnaire to determine the race,
ethnicity and gender of farmers and ranchers who apply for and who
participate in USDA programs and services. The data will enable the
Secretary and the Office of Advocacy and Outreach and the agencies'
outreach offices in reaching current and prospective socially
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in a linguistically appropriate
manner to focus resources in a particular county or region where low
participation is indicated by the data to improve the participation of
those farmers and ranchers in USDA programs. This is not a random
sampling and is in no way considered to be a statistically significant
analysis. The data is intended to be used as one indicator in targeting
and designing outreach activities and in assessing compliance with
civil rights laws in program delivery. The data may also be used as an
indicator in directing compliance reviews to geographic areas where
there are indications of low participation in USDA programs by
minorities and women, thus serving as an ``early warning system'' that
warrants further investigations. Failure to collect this information
will have a negative impact on USDA's outreach activities and could
result in an inability of the agencies to equitably deliver programs
and services to applicant and producers.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 3,200,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (once).
Total Burden Hours: 106,667.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-80 Filed 1-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-96-P