### 36513 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 22, 2011 / Notices

and a reassignment of surplus cane sugar allotment to imports. The OAQ
was increased due to an increase in estimated sugar demand since the FY 2011 OAQ was established in August 2010. The beet sugar allotment is now 5,108,900 STRV, and the cane sugar allotment is 3,366,100 STRV. The FY
2011 cane sector allotment and cane state allotments after the OAQ increase were larger than could be fulfilled by domestically-produced cane sugar; so the surplus was reassigned to raw sugar imports, as required by law. Upon review of the domestic sugarcane processors’ sugar marketing allocations relative to their FY 2011 expected raw sugar supplies, CCC determined that all sugarcane processors had surplus allocation. Therefore, all sugarcane states’ sugar marketing allotments are reduced with this reassignment. The new cane state allotments are Florida, 1,464,666 STRV; Louisiana, 1,526,050 STRV; Texas, 147,138 STRV; and Hawaii, 228,246 STRV. The FY 2011 sugar marketing allotment program will not prevent any domestic sugarcane processors from marketing all of their FY 2011 sugar supply.

On August 5, 2010, USDA established the FY 2011 TRQ for raw cane sugar at 1,231,497 STRV (1,117,195 metric tons raw value, MTRV*), the minimum to
which the United States is committed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Uruguay Round Agreements. On April 11, 2011, USDA announced a reassignment of surplus sugar under domestic cane sugar allotments of 325,000 STRV (294,835 MTRV) to imports, and increased the FY 2011 raw sugar TRQ by the same amount.
Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 5 to Chapter 17 of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Section 359k of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, the Secretary of Agriculture today further increased the quantity of raw cane sugar imports of the HTS subject to the lower tier of duties during FY 2011 by 120,000 STRV (108,862 MTRV). With this increase, the overall FY 2011 raw sugar TRQ is now 1,676,497 STRV (1,520,892 MTRV). Raw cane sugar under this quota must be accompanied by a certificate for quota eligibility and may be entered under subheading 1701.11.10 of the HTS until September 30, 2011. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will allocate this increase among supplying countries
and customs areas.

This action is being taken after a determination that additional supplies of raw cane sugar are required in the U.S. market. USDA will closely monitor stocks, consumption, imports and all sugar market and program variables on an ongoing basis, and may make further program adjustments during FY 2011 if
needed.

* Conversion factor: 1 metric ton =
1.10231125 short tons.

Dated: June 16, 2011.

Michael T. Scuse, Acting Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Acting President, Commodity Credit Corporation.

[FR Doc. 2011–15521 Filed 6–21–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–10–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Agricultural Research Service**

**Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive**

**License**

**AGENCY :**  Agricultural Research Service,

USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice of intent.

**SUMMARY :**  Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to New Varieties Development & Management Corporation of Lakeland, Florida, an exclusive license to the variety of citrus claimed in U.S. Plant Patent Application Serial No. 12/931,765, ‘‘Mandarin Tree Named US Early Pride,’’ filed on February 10, 2011.

**DATES :**  Comments must be received on or before July 22, 2011.

**ADDRESSES :**  Send comments to: USDA, ARS, Office of Technology Transfer, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Rm. 4–1174, Beltsville, Maryland 20705–5131.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  June Blalock of the Office of Technology Transfer at the Beltsville address given above; telephone: 301–504–5989.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The Federal Government’s rights in this plant variety are assigned to the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture. It is in the public interest to so license this variety as New Varieties Development & Management Corporation of Lakeland, Florida has submitted a complete and sufficient application for a license. The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will comply with
the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective exclusive license may be granted unless, within thirty (30) days from the date of this published Notice, the Agricultural
Research Service receives written evidence and argument which establishes that the grant of the license
would not be consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37

CFR 404.7.

Richard J. Brenner,

Assistant Administrator.

[FR Doc. 2011–15468 Filed 6–21–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–03–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Economic Research Service**

**Notice of Intent to Request New**
**Information Collection**

**AGENCY :**  Economic Research Service,

USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice and request for

comments.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to send comments regarding any aspect of this proposed
information collection. This is a new
collection for the Rural Establishment Innovation Survey.

**DATES :**  Written comments on this notice must be received on or before August 22, 2011 to be assured of consideration.

**ADDRESSES :**  Address all comments concerning this notice to Tim Wojan, Resource and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M St., NW., Room N4110, Washington, DC 20036–5801. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to the attention of Tim Wojan at 202–694–5756 or via e-mail to twojan@ers.usda.gov. Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http:// www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.

All written comments will be open for public inspection at the office of the Economic Research Service during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) at 1800 M St., NW., Room N4110, Washington,

DC 20036–5801.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments and replies will be a matter of public record. 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 shall 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


### 36514 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 22, 2011 / Notices

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 use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For further information contact Tim Wojan at the address in the preamble. Tel. 202–

694–5419.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title: Rural Establishment Innovation Survey.

OMB Number: 0536–XXXX. Expiration Date: Three years from the date of approval.

Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: This survey of business establishments, funded through USDA’s Rural Development Mission Area, will be conducted over a 6-month period with up to 30,000 respondents to collect
information on rural tradable business sectors such as manufacturing and professional services. This information will contribute to a better understanding
of how rural businesses and their communities are dealing with the increasing competitive pressures and opportunities associated with the spread of new information technologies through our economy and the business and community characteristics associated with effective response to these pressures and opportunities. This
information is critical to the Rural Development Mission Area’s aim of creating jobs, developing new markets and increasing competitiveness for rural
businesses and communities.

The information to be collected by the Rural Establishment Innovation Survey is necessary to understand: (1) The adoption of innovative practices and their contribution to firm productivity; (2) the availability and use of local and regional assets (such as workforce education, local financial institutions, strong local business and other economic associations, and transportation infrastructure) and the
association of these assets with successful adjustment; and (3) the extent and importance of participation in Federal, State and local programs designed to promote rural business vitality and growth. This need is made more urgent by increased international competition in goods and some service markets, particularly from low labor
cost countries. The traditional cost advantage of domestic rural establishments has been significantly eroded by these developments, requiring emphasis on new products, new processes, new marketing channels and improved customer service. A thorough understanding of the viability of the rural business sector requires collecting information on the capability
for innovation.

As the first collection of information devoted specifically to innovation in rural business establishments, the proposed survey will complement other Federal efforts in gauging innovative activity in the private sector.
Information on formal research and development (R&D) activities is collected by the National Science Foundation using the Business R&D and Innovation Survey. While some of this formal research and development activity takes place in nonmetropolitan counties, it is anticipated that the great majority of rural innovation occurs less through the creation of new patentable products than through the adoption of new practices and niche marketing. The emphasis of the proposed collection will be on understanding the process of
innovation in business establishments as opposed to measuring R&D inputs.

Another difference between this and other Federal surveys on innovative activity will be the focus on constraints to innovation stemming from nonmetropolitan locations. Information on the availability of skilled workers and the ability to recruit managers and professionals will inform possible human capital impediments to
innovation. Information on access to
credit needed for business formation and development will allow for assessing financing impediments to
innovation. Information on the availability of broadband Internet service and how this capability affects business strategy will allow assessing infrastructure impediments to
innovation. Information on interaction with suppliers, customers, competitors,
business associations and other local institutions providing real services to
the establishment will inform the importance of regional clusters to

innovation.

The survey will collect data from about 30,000 business establishments in
tradable sectors that will include mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, finance and insurance, professional/scientific/technical services, arts, and management of businesses. Only businesses with 5 or more employees will be included in the sample. While the focus of the survey
will be on establishments in nonmetropolitan counties, establishments from metropolitan counties will be sampled in adequate numbers to allow comparative analysis.
Businesses will be selected at random from strata defined by establishment size categories, industry and metropolitan or nonmetropolitan status of the county. The sample will be
selected from the business establishment list maintained by state employment security departments where state approval is granted, and from a proprietary business
establishment list frame for those states where approval is not granted. The much more comprehensive coverage of
new and small establishments available in state administrative data provides a compelling argument for this hybrid sample frame approach, as these establishments are critical to examining processes of entrepreneurship and

innovation.

The interview protocol will include a screening interview to identify the most knowledgeable person in the establishment to respond to questions regarding innovative activities of the entity. Screening greatly improves the quality and effectiveness of the contact information. The most appropriate phone number, e-mail address and mailing address will be collected at this
time to allow efficient distribution of a multi-modal survey instrument to the most appropriate respondent for the business. Respondents will have the flexibility to respond to a Web questionnaire, a mail questionnaire, or a telephone survey based on their personal preference. This protocol will reduce respondent burden by using the survey mode which is most efficient for a given respondent. Past research has demonstrated that multi-modal surveys also increase survey response rates. A limited number of control surveys will be used to assess any mode bias.

Social exchange theory will also be invoked as this is seen as integral to the tailored design methodology (Dillman et al., 2009) that will be employed in this study to increase response rate. In addition to offering mixed survey modes, the design will integrate multiple and mutually supportive ways to appeal to the diversity of respondents in this business population. The following are some examples of these design elements:

• The survey request will be distinguishable from other surveys and will emphasize how the information
will be used and describe the benefits back to the population for responding to the survey.

• Survey appeals in contacts will show positive regard and call on the norms of social responsibility by asking for respondents’ help and advice as some respondents feel rewarded when they know they have helped others.


### 36515 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 22, 2011 / Notices

• Survey contacts will be personally addressed, toll free numbers will be provided for answering questions and providing help. Confidentiality of responses will be ensured and respondents will know how to contact the surveyor if they have questions on security or other issues.

• All contacts will be personalized and will emphasize why the study is important and express appreciation for respondents’ help. They will be formally thanked for promptly completing questionnaires.

• Small tangible token rewards provided in advance and at the time of the survey request will be further tested with small businesses to encourage response. Previous survey research has
shown that small cash token incentives provided with the survey significantly increase response rates and do much better than promised rewards or nonmonetary rewards.

A key component of tailored survey design is considering and balancing how features of questions, questionnaires, mailings, interviewing, and the context of the survey will influence trust, cost, and rewards associated with the survey circumstances and respondents. All study instruments will be kept as simple and respondent-friendly as possible. Responses are voluntary and confidential. Responses will be used to produce statistics and for no other purpose. Data files from the survey will not be released to the public.

Affected Public: Respondents include
business establishments with at least 5 employees in both nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties.

Estimated Number of Respondents: The survey is cross-sectional and will be completed at one point in time. The survey will have a complex mixed survey administration to include telephone screening, pre-notification letter with Web access, multi-contact telephone interviewing, follow-up nonrespondent mail questionnaires, and simultaneous Web questionnaires offered during all contacts. Completion time for each questionnaire, based on comparisons with similar mixed modes is estimated at 30 minutes per completion, including time for reading correspondence, returning an eligibility postcard or responding to a screening call, reviewing instructions, gathering data needed, and responding to questionnaire items. It is also expected that those choosing not to participate will require 10 minutes to review the materials and decide not to participate.

Full Study: The initial sample size for the full study is 30,000 businesses. The expected overall response rate is 80 percent for firms in the main study. The total estimated response burden for all of those participating in the study is 12,000 hours (30,000 respondents × 80 percent response rate × 0.50 hours) and for the non-responding business is 1,000 hours (6000 respondents × 10 minutes).

Pilot Study: A pilot test of the survey will be done in advance of the full study survey. The purpose of the pilot is to evaluate the survey protocol, and test instruments and questionnaires. The initial sample size for this phase of the research is 4,000 businesses. The expected response rate is 80% of firms. The total estimated response burden for the pilot testing is 1,600 hours (4,000 respondents × 80 percent × 0.5 hours). Non-responding businesses will experience 133 hours of burden (800 respondents × 10 minutes). Total respondent burden is estimated at 14,733 hours (see table below).

Testing will be limited to a maximum
of 9 businesses which will be consulted on the questionnaire and asked to complete the questionnaire in a cognitive interview test.



### E STIMATED 

### R ESPONDENT 

### B URDEN FOR 

### R URAL 

### E STABLISHMENT 

### I NNOVATION 

### S URVEY

Survey Sample Size Freq Responses Non-Response Total burden hours Resp. Count Freq. × Count Min./ Resp. Burden Hours Nonresp Count Freq. × Count Min./
Nonr. Burden Hours

Pilot Study ............................. 4,000 1 3,200 3,200 30 1,600 800 800 10 133 1,733 Pilot Study ............................. 30,000 1 24,000 24,000 30 12,000 6,000 6,000 10 1,000 13,000

Total ............................... 34,000 ................ ................ ................ ................ 13,600 ............. ... ................ ................ 1,133 14,733

Dated: May 9, 2011.

Katherine R. Smith,

Administrator, Economic Research Service.

[FR Doc. 2011–15474 Filed 6–21–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–18–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Forest Service**

**Rangeland Allotment Management Planning on the Fall River and Oglala**  **Geographic Areas, Pine Ridge Ranger and Fall River Ranger Districts,**  **Nebraska National Forest, Nebraska**

**and South Dakota**

**AGENCY :**  Forest Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Request for an extension of the proposed environmental impact

statement. **SUMMARY :**  We are requesting an extension of the proposed EIS for the USDA Forest Service Rangeland Allotment Management Planning on the Fall River West Geographic Area of the Fall River Ranger District and the Oglala Geographic Area of the Pine Ridge Ranger District, Nebraska National
Forest. Our initial Notice of Intent was published in Vol. 75, No. 112 Friday, June 11, 2010.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) analyzing the management of rangeland vegetation resources, which includes livestock grazing, on the National Forest System (NFS) lands within the Oglala Geographic Area (OGA) of the Oglala National Grassland on the Pine Ridge Ranger District and the West Geographic Area (WGA) of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland on the Fall River Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest (Analysis Area) areas as mapped by the
2001 Nebraska National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). A Notice of Intent (NOI) for this project was published June 11, 2010 (75 No. 112 FR 33239–33241). This revised NOI is being issued to update the project schedule. There will be a record of decision (ROD) for each geographic area.

Proposed management actions would be implemented beginning in the year 2013. The agency gives notice of the fullenvironmental analysis and decisionmaking process that will occur on the proposal so interested and affected people may become aware of how they may participate in the process and
contribute to the final decision.

**DATES :**  Comments concerning the scope of the analysis were received by July 30, 2010. The initial scoping period has