Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise and Extend an Information Collection

AGENCY:

National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

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 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request approval to revise and extend a currently approved information collection, the Aquaculture Surveys.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by May 19, 2004 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to Ginny McBride, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250 or sent electronically to gmcbride@nass.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carol House, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Aquaculture Surveys.

OMB Control Number: 0535-0150.

Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2006.

Type of Request: Intent to revise and extend a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service is to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop and livestock production and prices. The Aquaculture Surveys collect information on trout and catfish inventory, acreage, and sales; catfish processed; and catfish feed. Survey results are used by government agencies in planning farm programs.

Twenty States are in the trout growers survey. In January, previous year trout sales data are collected from farmers and distributed fish data are collected from State and Federal hatcheries.

Thirteen States are in the catfish growers survey. Data are collected from farmers in January for January inventory, water area, and previous year sales. In addition, farmers in the four major catfish producing States are surveyed in July for mid-year inventory. All twenty-six catfish processing plants across the nation are in the catfish processing survey. Plants are surveyed monthly for amount purchased, prices paid, amount sold, and prices received.

New to this collection is a survey of twenty catfish millers in four States. They are surveyed monthly for the amount of feed delivered for food-size fish and fingerlings. 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 15 minutes per response.

Respondents: Farms and mills.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 900 hours.

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 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.