Supporting Statement Part A -Emergency ICR Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities 2-5-2022

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

U. S. Department of Commerce

Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities

OMB Control No. 0578-XXXX

Abstract

This request is for OMB review and emergency approval of a collection of information necessary to implement the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This grant activity is essential to the mission of USDA in order to award the grantees to provide the support to the projects, and we could not comply with normal clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act. USDA has directed the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities to support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities through a set of pilot projects that provide voluntary incentives through partners to producers and landowners, including early adopters, to implement climate-smart conservation practices, activities, and systems on working lands; measure and quantify, monitor and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits associated with those practices; and develop markets and promote the resulting climate-smart commodities.

Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

See Emergency memo. SSA is attached to the collection as a place holder for when the ICR will need it once it has been submitted for its 3-year approval.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

Table: Information Requirements and Needs and Uses of Information Collected

Item #	Requirement	Executive Order	Regulation	Needs and Uses

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Question 2

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

This information collection request has no identified impact on small businesses and organizations.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

7. Explain any special circumstances associated with conducting this information collection.

There are no other special circumstances involved in the collection of this information.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publications in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than renumeration of contractors or grantees.

No gifts or payments of any kind have been provided to any individuals who are connected to this collection.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If the collection requires a system of records notice (SORN) or privacy impact assessment (PIA), those should be cited and described here.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the respondent burden hours and labor costs

Table - Estimated Annualized Respondent Burden Hours

Information Collection Instrument	Type of Respondent (e.g., Occupational Title)	# Of Respondents (a)	Annual # of Responses/ Respondent (b)	Total # of Annual Responses (c) = (a) x (b)	Burden Hours/ Response (d)	Total Annual Burden Hours (e) = (c) x (d)
Totals

Table - Estimated Annualized Respondent Labor Costs

Type of Respondent/ Occupational Title	Number of Respondents	Number of Responses per Respondent	Average Burden per Response	Hourly Wage Rate*	Total Burden Costs
Total	--	--	--	--

* https://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm

13. Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any burden costs already reflected on the burden worksheet).

There are no annualized costs to respondents other than the labor burden costs addressed in Section 12 of this document to complete this collection.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.

Table – Annualized Costs to the Federal Government

Personnel	Grade/Step	Hours	Hourly Wage (dollars)	Annual Costs (dollars)
Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Government

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in ROCIS.

This is a new information collection.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The OMB Expiration Date will be displayed on every data collection instrument.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in “Certification for

Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."