Notice of Intent to Extend and Revise a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Notice of Intent to Extend and Revise a Currently Approved

Information Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.

L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5

CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the

National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) intention to request

an extension for and revision to a currently approved information

collection, the Agricultural Labor Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 7, 1999 to be

assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Rich Allen, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural

Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence

Avenue SW, Room 4117 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-2000, (202)

720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Agricultural Labor Survey.

OMB Number: 0535-0109.

Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999.

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

information collection.

Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural

Statistics Service is to prepare and issue State and national estimates

of crop and livestock production. The Agricultural Labor Survey

provides statistics on the number of agricultural workers, hours

worked, and wage rates. Number of workers and hours worked are used to

estimate agricultural productivity. Wage rates are used in the

administration of the ``H-2A'' Program and for setting Adverse Effect

Wage Rates. Agricultural Labor Survey data are also used to carry out

provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act. The Agricultural Labor

Surveys has approval from OMB for a 3-year period. NASS intends to

request that the survey be approved for another 3 years. 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 businesses.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,900.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 11,000 hours.

Copies of this information collection and related instructions can

be obtained without charge from Larry Gambrell, the Agency OMB

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. Comments may be sent to: Larry

Gambrell, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4162 South Building, Washington, DC

20250-2000. All responses to this notice will be summarized and

included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become

a matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, DC, January 27, 1999.

Rich Allen,

Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

[FR Doc. 99-5227 Filed 3-2-99; 8:45 am]

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