This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this

section. 

# Notices Federal Register 

### 12143

Vol. 79, No. 42

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

**ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF**
**THE UNITED STATES**

**[OMB Control Number: 3002–0003]**

**Information Collection Request Submitted to Office of Management**  **and Budget (Renewal)**

**AGENCY :**  Administrative Conference of
the United States.

**ACTION :**  Sixty-day notice requesting

comments.

**SUMMARY :**  Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Administrative Conference of the
United States will submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting renewal of an existing and previously approved ICR (No. 3002–0003), substitute ‘‘Confidential Employment and Financial Disclosure Report.’’ This form is a simplified
substitute for the Office of GovernmentEthics (OGE) Form 450, which nongovernment members of the Conference would otherwise be required to file. OGE has approved the use of this substitute form. This proposed information collection was previously approved by OMB in 2011, with an expiration date of May 31, 2014. The changes proposed on the current form are minor in nature. Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Administrative Conference is inviting comments on the
information collection.

**DATES :**  Comments must be received by May 5, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  Interested persons may
submit written comments to either of the following:

(1) Online: http://www.info@acus.gov, with ICR Comments in the subject line.

(2) Mail: ICR Comments,
Administrative Conference of the United States, 1120 20th Street NW., Suite 706 South, Washington, DC 20036.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel, Administrative Conference of the United States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street NW., Washington, DC 20036; Telephone 202–480–2080, Email: smcgibbon@acus.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) will submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting renewal of an existing and previously approved ICR (No. 3002–0003), substitute ‘‘Confidential Employment and Financial Disclosure Report.’’ The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment on
the ICR renewal.

ACUS is charged with developing recommendations for the improvement of Federal administrative procedures (5 U.S.C. 591). Its recommendations are the product of a research process overseen by a small staff, but ultimately adopted by a membership of 101 experts, including approximately 45 non-government members—5 Council members and up to 40 others (5 U.S.C. 593(b) and 5 U.S.C. 595(b)). These individuals are deemed to be ‘‘special government employees’’ within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 202(a) and, therefore, are subject to confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act (5 U.S.C. App. 107) and regulations of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). The ACUS substitute ‘‘Confidential Employment and Financial Disclosure Report’’ submitted (‘‘Substitute Disclosure Form’’) is a shorter substitute for OGEForm 450, which ACUS nongovernment members would otherwise be required to file.

In addition to the non-government members of the Conference, the Chairman, with the approval of the
Council established under 5 U.S.C. 595(b), may appoint additional persons in various categories, for participation in Conference activities, but without voting privileges. These categories include senior fellows, special counsels, and liaison representatives from other government entities or professional
associations. The estimated maximum number of such individuals that may also be required to submit the Substitute Disclosure Form at any particular time

is 45.

Prior to the termination of funding for ACUS in 1995, the agency was authorized to use for this purpose a simplified form that was a substitute for OGE Form 450. The simplified substitute form was approved by OGE following a determination by the ACUS Chairman, pursuant to 5 CFR 2634.905(a), that greater disclosure is not required because the limited nature of the agency’s authority makes very remote the possibility that a real or apparent conflict of interest will occur. ACUS received OMB approval for the simplified substitute form in 1994.

ACUS was re-established in 2010. On June 10, 2010, OGE renewed its approval for this simplified substitute form, which ACUS must provide to its non-government members in advance of membership meetings. In 2011, ACUS received approval from OMB for use of this form for a 3-year period through May 31, 2011. ACUS is now requesting approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a renewal period of three years. The changes proposed to
the form are minor in nature.

Subsequent to OMB’s approval of the ICR in 2011, OGE clarified its opinion and stated that the forms need only be completed by the various types of ACUS non-government members prior to each plenary session they attend, but not prior to committee meetings they attend. This will greatly reduce the number of times individuals will have to complete
the form.

As required by the Ethics in Government Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 107(a); Executive Order 12674, sec. 201(d); and OGE regulations, 5 CFR 2634.901(d), copies of the substitute form submitted to ACUS by its members are confidential and may not be released to the public.

The proposed substitute ‘‘Confidential Employment and Financial Disclosure Report’’ and the Supporting Statement submitted to OMB may be viewed at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/

PRAMain . Select ‘‘Administrative
Conference of the United States’’ under ‘‘Currently Under Review’’; click on the ICR Reference Number; then click on either ‘‘View Information Collection (IC) List’’ or ‘‘View Supporting Statement
and Other Documents.’’ To see the corresponding documents for the currently approved version, select
‘‘Administrative Conference of the
United States’’ under ‘‘Current Inventory.’’


### 12144 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 42 / Tuesday, March 4, 2014 / Notices

The total annual burden on respondents for the renewal period is
estimated to be less than the 2011
estimate because the number of times the form has to be completed by each respondent has been greatly reduced.
ACUS estimates a total burden of 45 hours (down from 135 hours in 2011), based on estimates of 90 persons submitting the form an average of 2 times per year, requiring no more than 15 minutes per response.

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including its necessity, utility and clarity for the proper performance of the Conference’s
functions.

Dated: February 27, 2014.

Shawne C. McGibbon,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 2014–04752 Filed 3–3–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6110–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request** 

**DATED :**  February 20, 2014.

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.

Comments regarding this information collection received by April 3, 2014 will
be considered. Written comments
should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725—17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. Commenters are encouraged to submit
their comments to OMB via email to:

OIRA

_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720–8681.

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.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Title: Aquaculture Survey. OMB Control Number: 0535–0150. Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National Agricultural

Statistics Service is to estimate production and stocks of agricultural food, fiber, and specialty commodities. Congress has mandated the collection of basic data for aquaculture and provides funding for these surveys. Public Law 96–362 was passed to increase the overall effectiveness and productivity of federal aquaculture programs by improving coordination and communication among Federal agencies involved in those programs. Aquaculture is an alternative method to produce a high protein, low fat product demanded by the consumer. Aquiculture surveys provide
information on trout and catfish inventory, acreage and sales as well as catfish processed.

Need and Use of the Information: The survey results are useful in analyzing changing trends in the number of commercial operations and production levels by State. The information
collected is used to demonstrate the growing importance of aquaculture to
officials of Federal and State government agencies who manage and direct policy over programs in agriculture and natural resources. The type of information collected and reported provides extension educators
and research scientists with data that indicates important areas that require special educational and/or research efforts, such as causes for loss of fish and pond inventories of fish of various sizes. The data gathered from the various reports provide information to establish contract levels for fishing programs and to evaluate prospective loans to growers and processors.

Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 2,955. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly; Semi-annually; Annually. Total Burden Hours: 961.

National Agriculture Statistics Service

Title: Agricultural Surveys Program. OMB Control Number: 0535–0213. Summary of Collection: National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) primary functions are to prepare and
issue state and national estimates of crop and livestock production and
collect information on related
environmental and economic factors. The Agricultural Surveys Program is a series of surveys that contains basic agricultural data from farmers and ranchers throughout the Nation for preparing agricultural estimates and forecasts. The surveys results provide the foundation for setting livestock and poultry inventory numbers. Estimates derived from the surveys supply information needed by farmers to make decisions for both short and long-term planning. The General authority for these data collection is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204.

Need and Use of the Information: The surveys provide the basis for estimates of the current season’s crop and livestock production and supplies of grain in storage. Crop and livestock statistics help develop a stable economic atmosphere and reduce risk for production, marketing, and distribution operations. These commodities affect the well being of the nation’s farmers, commodities markets, and national and global agricultural policy. Users of agricultural statistics are farm organizations, agribusiness, state and national farm policy makers, and foreign buyers of agricultural products but the primary user of the statistical information is the producer. Agricultural statistics are also used to plan and administer other related federal and state programs in such areas as school lunch program, conservation, foreign trade, education, and recreation. Collecting the information less frequent would eliminate needed data to keep the government and agricultural industry abreast of changes at the state
and national levels.

Description of Respondents: Farms. Number of Respondents: 532,800. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; Semi-annually; Monthly; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 200,855.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Title: Equine Survey. OMB Control Number: 0535–0227. Summary of Collection: General authority for these data collection activities is granted under U.S.C. Title 7, Section 2204. The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics