2017-08151. Notice of Request for Extension or Renewal of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Department of Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to request a renewal to a currently approved information collection for race, ethnicity, and gender along with comments.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by June 23, 2017 to be assured of consideration.

Additional Information or Comments: Contact Anna G. Stroman, Deputy Director, Office of Compliance, Policy, Training and Cultural Transformation, by mail at Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Race, Ethnicity and Gender Data Collection.

OMB Number: OMB No. 0505-0019.

Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2017.

Type of Request: Extension and renewal of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: This data collection is necessary to implement Sections 14006 and 14007 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 8701 (hereafter referred to as the 2008 Farm Bill). Section 14006 of the 2008 Farm Bill establishes a requirement for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to annually compile application and participation rate data regarding socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers by computing for each program of the USDA that serves agriculture producers and landowners (a) raw numbers of applicants and participants by race, ethnicity, and gender subject to appropriate privacy protections, as determined by the Secretary; and (b) the application and participation rate, by race, ethnicity and gender, as a percentage of the total participation rate of all agricultural producers and landowners for each county and State in the United States. Pursuant to the authority in section 14006, the agencies of the Department of Agriculture are to collect the data and transmit it to the Secretary of Agriculture. Section 14007 requires the Department of Agriculture to use the data collected in the conduct of oversight and evaluation of civil rights compliance.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response.

Respondents: Producers, applicants.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,520,000.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 117,333.

Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent by any of the following methods:

• Email: Send comments to [e-mail].
• Mail: Anna G. Stroman, Deputy Director, Office of Compliance, Policy, Training and Cultural Transformation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250.

All comments received will be available for public inspection during regular business hours at the same address.

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

Winona Lake Scott,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.