Conservation Effects Assessment Survey

OMB Control No: 0535-0245	ICR Reference No: 200306-0535-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: USDA/NASS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Conservation Effects Assessment Survey
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 09/26/2003
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 06/19/2003
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for one year. However, the agency must not include respondents to ARMs. Upon resubmission, the agency must also provide to OMB: - a post survey statistical analysis of non-response that uses available frame information to compare characteristics of respondents and nonrespondents. - a description of the respondents who participate in conservation programs and respondents who do not (e.g., number of program participants vs. non-participants in the sample, characteristics of participants vs.nonparticipants, outputs from the existing models on environmental performance of participants) - a research plan or, its equivalent, that: 1) provides the link between the data collected and performance measurement of NRCS conservationprograms; 2) clearly delineates between those data that will be used in existing models and those data that are being gathered for other, more preliminary purposes; 3) explains how the respondents constitute a representative sample for each of the purposes of thesurvey; and 4) explains how the final data will be presented, and at what level of disaggregation (i.e., national,regional, or state),and whether the sample size would be sufficient for the planned disaggregation. - a description of the measures that will be taken to ensure that the use of the data complies with USDA's dataquality guidelines. - an update on the status of linking data from existing USDA information collections to eliminate duplication and reduce burden.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2004	10/31/2004
Responses	16,448	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	7,846	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Natural Resources and Conservation Service will measure the environmental benefits of the 2002 Farm Bill conservation programs by using production practice and conservation program data collected at the Natural Resource Inventory points by NASS and will link these data to NRCS climate and soil survey databases.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Conservation Effects Assessment Survey

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	16,448	0	0	16,448	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	7,846	0	0	7,846	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 06/19/2003

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