Conservation Effects Assessment Project

OMB Control No: 0535-0245	ICR Reference No: 202601-0535-021
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202504-0535-001
Agency/Subagency: USDA/NASS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Conservation Effects Assessment Project
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 03/27/2026
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 01/26/2026
Terms of Clearance: The change to the package is approved with the clarified language regarding the protections of CIPSEA.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2027	03/31/2027	03/31/2027
Responses	36,000	0	36,000
Time Burden (Hours)	17,173	0	17,173
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) requests approval for non-substantive change to NASS’s Confidentiality Pledge. In the summer of 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requested that NASS update its confidentiality pledge. This change to NASS Confidentiality Pledge would affect all surveys conducted under NASS’s 34 active Information Collections (ICs). Current Language: “Your responses will be kept confidential and any person who willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about you or your operation is subject to a jail term, a fine, or both.” Proposed Revision: “Your responses will be kept confidential and any person who willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about you or your operation without your consent is subject to a jail term, a fine, or both.”

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 3601.1 Name of Law: General Statement of Public Information (FOIA)    PL: Pub.L. 115 - 435 302 Name of Law: CIPSEA    US Code: 7 USC 2204(a) Name of Law: General Duties of Secretary    US Code: 7 USC 2276 Name of Law: Confidentiality of Information    US Code: 18 USC 1905 Name of Law: Disclosure of Confidential Information

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 65652	09/25/2023
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 22056	05/23/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title Form No. Form Name CEAP Non-response Conservation Effects Assessment Project SurveyID: 3641, SurveyID: 3273, SMETA 3273, Survey ID: 9119, SurveyID: 3273 Conservation Effects Assessment Project - Screener ,   Conservation Effects Assessment Project - Questionnaire ,   Conservation Effects Assessment Project - Chemical & Pesticide Applications Consent Form ,   Conservation Effects Assessment Project - Quality Control Worksheet ,   Conservation Effects Assessment Project - Questionnaire

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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	36,000	36,000	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	17,173	17,173	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

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: $15,933,333

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Struther VanHorn 202 973-4538 [email protected]

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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: 01/26/2026

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