Starting on August 8, 2023, areas on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Molokai experienced damages from wildfires and high winds. Wildfires destroyed much of the city of Lahaina which was the of location agricultural sales and agritourism activities. Though some farms received physical damage from the wildfires and high winds, many others were impacted by the loss of markets and agritourism income. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) requested National Agricultural Statistics Service to conduct a disaster survey to account for loss of crops/livestock, loss of commodity/product sales, damaged equipment, farm structures, other infrastructure, seeds, etc. This survey is to be conducted to ascertain the extent of economic losses (reduce revenue from sales of agricultural products and agritourism), damages on an acreage/livestock basis, (including livestock culling), agricultural infrastructure (buildings, equipment, irrigation, fencing, etc.), impact on agricultural workers.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, NASS is requesting an emergency approval for this Information Collection Request (ICR). The provisions of 44 U.S.C. 3507(j) (1) permit an agency head to request OMB issue an expedited clearance of a collection of information if it is needed sooner than the expiration of usual processing times, provided that it is essential to the mission of the agency, and the use of normal clearance procedures is reasonably likely to prevent or disrupt the collection of information or is reasonably likely to cause a statutory or court-ordered deadline to be missed. Emergency approval is being sought for this ICR due to the damages incurred to Hawaiian agriculture from natural occurrences in 2023.
This supporting statement addresses a new data collection effort for the Hawaii Agricultural Disaster Survey for commodity year 2023. This project will collect data from farms in Maui County and an area of the island of Hawaii. The reference period will be commodity year 2023. The survey is planned for only commodity year 2023.
Data collected under this supporting statement are for a cooperative agreement between the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Hawaii Department of Agriculture. The purpose of this survey is to ascertain the extent of damage to Hawaiian crop and livestock production due to wildfires and wind damage during the 2023 agricultural production year. The collected data will be used by the State Department of Agriculture to ascertain the extent of damage from these events on crop and livestock production and to guide relief efforts. Response to the survey will be voluntary.
US Code:
18 USC 1905
Name of Law: Disclosure of Confidential Information
US Code:
7 USC 2204
Name of Law: Duties of Secretary
US Code:
7 USC 2276
Name of Law: Confidentiality of Information
PL:
Pub.L. 107 - 347 503(a)
Name of Law: CIPSEA
US Code:
7 USC 3601.1
Name of Law: General Statement of Public Information
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:
(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;
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.
Non-Response Statement