Post-Hurricane Research and Assessment of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Communities in the U.S. Caribbean

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
0596-0246 Table 1 for Supp Stmt A - Burden Hour Worksheet.docx Supplementary Document	2018-12-12
Published FRN 0596-0246.pdf Supplementary Document	2018-12-12
0596-0246 Supp Stmt B - Renewal U.S. Caribbean Post-Hurricane Research.docx Supporting Statement B	2018-12-12
0596-0246 Supp Stmt A - Renewal U.S. Caribbean Post-Hurricane Research ocio edits.docx Supporting Statement A	2019-02-12

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
234491	Non-Respondents Other-Other	New
231701	In-person Interview Guide Other-Appendix 2: Interview Guide	Modified
231700	Focus Group Guide Other-Appendix 1: Focus Group Guide	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0596-0246	ICR Reference No: 201812-0596-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201806-0596-003
Agency/Subagency: USDA/FS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Post-Hurricane Research and Assessment of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Communities in the U.S. Caribbean
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 02/12/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 12/19/2018
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, this information collection is approved for 3 years. The agency is requested to submit information about what it has learned through its research, such as include links to public write-ups of the work, include citations to publications, and describe plans for how the agency will publish and use the research to improve agency and public operations.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/28/2022	36 Months From Approved	02/28/2019
Responses	425	0	220
Time Burden (Hours)	226	0	340
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The U. S. Caribbean and many other island nations throughout the region suffered catastrophic damage to communities, infrastructure, farms, and forests during September 2017 hurricane events. To better understand the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on agriculture, forestry, and rural communities in the U.S. Caribbean and the internal and external factors that affected their vulnerabilities or resilience, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Forest Service and Caribbean Climate Hub (CCH), request permission to conduct focus groups and in-depth interviews to collect information from farmers, forest owners, and other agriculture and forestry community members about their experiences with, preparations for, responses to, and recovery from these storms. Results from the proposed research will inform natural disaster and disturbance prediction, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts by USDA, Forest Service, and other Federal agencies, as well as related local government, civil society, private sector, and community efforts. In the short term, results from this information collection will be critical in informing ongoing post-hurricane response and recovery efforts by USDA and its partners. In the long term, knowledge generated will contribute to reducing societal costs from disturbance processes, increasing cost-effective management, mitigation, and adaptation efforts, and supporting more resilient communities and economies in the U.S. Caribbean and broader contexts.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 3101 Name of Law: National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
  

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:
	83 FR 48794	09/27/2018
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 65138	12/19/2018
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Focus Group Guide
In-person Interview Guide
Non-Respondents

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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	425	220	0	205	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	226	340	0	-114	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: Miscellaneous Actions

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

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Based upon greater understanding of respondent participation, the burden hours are more accurately reflected.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $130,231

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.     No

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.     No

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? 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: 12/19/2018

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