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###### Department of Agriculture

###### National Agricultural Statistics Service

# 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 approval to revise and extend a currently approved information collection to gather data related to water usage for North Carolina agricultural operations that likely use between 10,000 and 1,000,000 gallons per day. Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the sample frame and/or questionnaire length.

# DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by January 19, 2024 to be assured of consideration.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-0262, 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: Richard Hopper, 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:                          Richard Hopper, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2024.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph L. Parsons, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-4333. Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from Richard Hopper, NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-2206.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

*Title:*                     Water Use Survey.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     0535-0262.                

*Expiration Date of Approval:*                     June 30, 2024.                

*Type of Request:*                     To revise and extend a currently approved information collection for a period of three years.                

*Abstract:*                     The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to collect, prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition; as well as economic statistics, environmental statistics related to agriculture and also to conduct the Census of Agriculture.                

                    The Water Use survey program will collect information on water usage for North Carolina agricultural operations that likely use between 10,000 and 1,000,000 gallons per day. Agricultural operations who use over 1,000,000 gallons in any one day are required to report their water usage directly to North Carolina Department of                           ( print page 80689)                        Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and are not included in this survey. The program will help the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDACS) and NCDEQ fulfill the requirements of North Carolina state legislation enacted in 2008 (SL2008-0143). All questionnaires included in this information collection will be voluntary. This project is conducted as a cooperative effort with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Funding for this survey is being provided by NCDACS.                

*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 non-aggregated data provided by respondents. This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 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 (CIPSEA) of 2018, title III of Public Law 115-435, codified in 44 U.S.C. ch. 35. CIPSEA supports NASS's pledge of confidentiality to all respondents and facilitates the agency's efforts to reduce burden by supporting statistical activities of collaborative agencies through designation of NASS agents, subject to the limitations and penalties described in CIPSEA. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes only tabulated total data.

*Estimate of Burden:*                     Public reporting burden for this information collection is based on similar surveys with expected response time of 30 minutes. The estimated sample size will be approximately 3,700. The frequency of data collection for the different surveys is annual. 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.                

*Respondents:*                     North Carolina agricultural operations that likely use between 10,000 and 1,000,000 gallons annually.                

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*                     4,000.                

*Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:*                     1,918 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 15, 2023.

Joseph L. Parsons,

Associate Administrator.

[FR Doc. 2023-25600 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]

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