81 FR 13317 - Telecommunications Program: Notice of Availability of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 49 (March 14, 2016)

Page Range		13317-13318
FR Document		2016-05584

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS, Agency), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, issued a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the development of a more efficient and effective environmental review process for the RUS Telecommunications Program on March 1, 2016. The Notice of Availability of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment was published on March 2, 2016, in the Federal Register at 81 FR 10575. The PEA provides a broad environmental analysis of the Agency's preliminary decisions and includes a tiered, site-specific analysis at the project level that would be completed before Agency dispersal of funds and/or applicant construction. Since publication of the Agency's Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1970) in the Federal Register (81 FR 11000) on March 2, 2016, RUS has updated the PEA with citations to the Agency's new environmental rule. These changes are administrative and not substantive, therefore supplementation of the PEA is not required.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 49 (Monday, March 14, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13317-13318]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05584]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Telecommunications Program: Notice of Availability of a 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment of USDA Rural Utilities Service's Financial Support for 
Deployment of the Telecommunications Programs to Rural America.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS, Agency), an agency of the 
United States Department of Agriculture, issued a Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the development of a more efficient 
and effective environmental review process for the RUS 
Telecommunications Program on March 1, 2016. The Notice of Availability 
of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment was published on March 2, 
2016, in the Federal Register at 81 FR 10575. The PEA provides a broad 
environmental analysis of the Agency's preliminary decisions and 
includes a tiered, site-specific analysis at the project level that 
would be completed before Agency dispersal of funds and/or applicant 
construction. Since publication of the Agency's Environmental Policies 
and Procedures (7 CFR part 1970) in the Federal Register (81 FR 11000) 
on March 2, 2016, RUS has updated the PEA with citations to the 
Agency's new environmental rule. These changes are administrative and 
not substantive, therefore supplementation of the PEA is not required.

DATES: Written comments on the PEA must be received on or before March 
31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments by physical mail or 
electronic mail to: Mr. Richard Fristik, Senior Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Water and Environmental Programs/Engineering and 
Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave. 
SW., Mail Stop 1571, Room 2240, Washington, DC 20250, fax: (202) 690-
0649, or email: [email protected].
    To obtain copies of the PEA or for further information, contact: 
Mr. Richard Fristik at the contact information provided in this Notice. 
A copy of the PEA is available for downloading through the Rural 
Development homepage at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/environmental-studies/assessments/programmatic-environmental-assessment. Additional information about the Agency and its programs is 
available on the Internet at http://www.rd.usda.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the PEA, please 
contact Mr. Richard Fristik, Senior Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Water and Environmental Programs/Engineering and 
Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave. 
SW., Mail Stop 1571, Room 2240, Washington, DC 20250, telephone: (202) 
720-5093, fax: (202) 690-0649, or email: [email protected]. 
Parties wishing to be placed on the PEA's mailing list for future 
information and to receive copies of the PEA should also contact Mr. 
Fristik.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS issued a PEA for the development of a 
more efficient and effective environmental review process for its 
Telecommunications Program on March 1, 2016. The PEA provides a broad 
environmental analysis of the Agency's preliminary decisions and 
includes a tiered, site-specific analysis at the project level that 
would be completed before Agency dispersal of funds and/or applicant 
construction. Since publication of the Agency's Environmental Policies 
and Procedures (7 CFR part 1970) on March 2, 2016, RUS has updated the 
PEA with citations to the Agency's new environmental rule. These 
changes are administrative and not substantive, therefore 
supplementation of the PEA is not required.
    The RUS Telecommunications Program provides a variety of loans and 
grants to build and expand broadband networks in rural America. Loans 
to build broadband networks and deliver service to households and 
businesses in rural communities provide a necessary source of capital 
for rural telecommunications companies. Grant funding is awarded based 
on a number of factors relating to the benefits to be derived from the 
proposed broadband network project, as specified in applicable program 
regulations.
    Eligible applicants for RUS loans and grants include for-profit and 
non-profit entities, tribes, municipalities, and cooperatives. The 
Agency particularly encourages investment in tribal and economically 
disadvantaged areas. Through low-cost funding for telecommunications 
infrastructure, rural residents can have access to services that will 
close the digital divide between rural and urban communities. Once 
funds are awarded, RUS monitors the projects to make sure they are 
completed in accordance with program conditions and requirements.
    The application process for requesting financial assistance for the 
various Telecommunications programs varies slightly from a competitive 
grant program, individual project proposals, or multi-year ``loan 
design'' applications. The Agency seeks to synchronize and create 
environmental review efficiencies for future project-level 
environmental review compliance for the various programs, commensurate 
with the potential environmental impacts. The Agency also seeks to 
establish proper sequencing of certain agency preliminary decisions 
(i.e., obligation of funds and/or approval of interim financing 
requests) with subsequent tiered, site-specific project environmental 
reviews.
    The PEA is intended to expedite the funding, deployment, and 
expansion of broadband infrastructure in rural America. The PEA 
includes detailed descriptions and analyses of the direct, indirect, 
and cumulative impacts associated with broadband infrastructure 
technologies and construction methods, such as impacts to water 
resources, terrestrial resources, historic and cultural resources, air 
and climate resources, noise, threatened and endangered species, 
electromagnetic radiation, and Environmental Justice issues. Use of the 
PEA analyses thereby saves project-level processing time, ensuring 
consistent and accurate environmental evaluations while avoiding 
unnecessary duplication and repetition in project-level planning and 
evaluation. Use of the PEA enables project-level compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and other 
requirements to focus on the remaining relevant site-specific issues, 
expediting planning, analysis, compliance,

[[Page 13318]]

documentation, and ultimately project-level decisions.
    The PEA is available for public review at the digital and physical 
addresses provided in this Notice. Questions and comments should be 
sent to RUS at the mailing or email addresses provided in this Notice. 
RUS should receive written comments on the PEA on or before March 31, 
2016 to ensure that they are considered in its environmental impact 
determination.
    Any final action by RUS related to the broadband portion of the RUS 
Telecommunications Program will be subject to, and contingent upon, 
compliance with all relevant presidential executive orders and federal, 
state, and local environmental laws and regulations in addition to the 
completion of the environmental review requirements as prescribed in 
the Agency's Environmental Policies and Procedures.

    Dated: March 7, 2016.
Keith B. Adams,
Assistant Administrator--Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05584 Filed 3-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P

13318 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 49 / Monday, March 14, 2016 / Notices

documentation, and ultimately project- Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. eligibility, improper use of funds, and/
level decisions. L. 104–13) requires that interested or unsound loans.
The PEA is available for public review members of the public and affected Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
at the digital and physical addresses agencies have an opportunity to burden for this collection of information
provided in this Notice. Questions and comment on information collection and is estimated to average 7.8 hours per
comments should be sent to RUS at the recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR response.
mailing or email addresses provided in 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an Respondents: Business or other for
this Notice. RUS should receive written information collection that RUS is profit; Not-for-profit institutions; State,
comments on the PEA on or before submitting to OMB for extension. Local or Tribal government.
March 31, 2016 to ensure that they are Comments are invited on: (a) Whether Estimated Number of Respondents:
considered in its environmental impact the proposed collection of information 15.
determination. is necessary for the proper performance Estimated Number of Responses per
Any final action by RUS related to the of the functions of the Agency, Respondent: 7.3.
broadband portion of the RUS including whether the information will Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Telecommunications Program will be have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of Respondents: 858 hours.
the Agency’s estimate of the burden of Copies of this information collection
subject to, and contingent upon,
the proposed collection of information can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal,
compliance with all relevant
including the validity of the Program Development and Regulatory
presidential executive orders and
methodology and assumptions used; (c) Analysis, at (202) 720–0992. FAX: (202)
federal, state, and local environmental
ways to enhance the quality, utility and 720–8435. Email: marypat.daskal@
laws and regulations in addition to the
clarity of the information to be wdc.usda.gov. All responses to this
completion of the environmental review
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the notice will be summarized and included
requirements as prescribed in the
burden of the collection of information in the request for OMB approval. All
Agency’s Environmental Policies and
on those who are to respond, including comments will also become a matter of
Procedures.
through the use of appropriate public record.
Dated: March 7, 2016. automated, electronic, mechanical, or Dated: March 4, 2016.
Keith B. Adams, other technological collection Brandon McBride,
Assistant Administrator— techniques or other forms of information
Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
technology. Comments may be sent to: [FR Doc. 2016–05585 Filed 3–11–16; 8:45 am]
Service. Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
[FR Doc. 2016–05584 Filed 3–11–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P
Program Development and Regulatory
BILLING CODE P Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities Service,
STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Washington, DC 20250–1522. FAX: ARCTIC RESEARCH COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (202) 720–8435. Email:
Notice of 105th Commission Meeting
Thomas.dickson@wdc.usda.gov.
Rural Utilities Service Title: 7 CFR 1779, Water and Waste Notice is hereby given that the U.S.
Information Collection Activity; Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans. Arctic Research Commission will hold
OMB Number: 0572–0122. its 105th meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska,
Comment Request Type of Request: Extension of a on March 16, 2016. The business
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
AGENCY: currently approved information session, open to the public, will
Notice and request for
ACTION:
collection. convene at 8:30 a.m.
Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service The agenda items include:
comments.
is authorized by Section 306 of the (1) Call to order and approval of the
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Consolidated Farm and Rural agenda
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to (2) Approval of the minutes from the
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the make loans to public agencies, nonprofit 104th meeting
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites corporations, and Indian tribes for the (3) Commissioners and staff reports
comments on this information development of water and waste The focus of the meeting will be a
collection for which RUS intends to disposal facilities primarily servicing discussion of Arctic research activities
request approval from the Office of rural residents. The guaranteed loan and events.
Management and Budget (OMB). program encourages lender participation If you plan to attend this meeting,
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
and provides specific guidance in the please notify us via the contact
received by May 13, 2016. processing and servicing of guaranteed information below. Any person
loans. The regulations governing the planning to attend who requires special
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Water and Waste Disposal Guaranteed accessibility features and/or auxiliary
Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, Loan program are codified at 7 CFR
Program Development and Regulatory aids, such as sign language interpreters,
1779. The required information, in the must inform the Commission of those
Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 form of written documentation and
Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, needs in advance of the meeting.
Agency approved forms, is collected Contact person for further
Room 5164—South Building, from applicants/borrowers, their
Washington, DC 20250–1522. information: John Farrell, Executive
lenders, and consultants. The collected
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Telephone: (202) 690–4492. FAX: (202) Director, U.S. Arctic Research
information will be used to determine Commission, 703–525–0111 or TDD
720–8435. Email: thomas.dickson@ applicant/borrower eligibility, project
wdc.usda.gov. 703–306–0090.
feasibility, and to ensure borrowers
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office operate on a sound basis and use loan Kathy Farrow,
of Management and Budget’s (OMB) funds for authorized purposes. Failure Communications Specialist.
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) to collect proper information could [FR Doc. 2016–04559 Filed 3–11–16; 8:45 am]
implementing provisions of the result in improper determinations of BILLING CODE 7555–01–P

VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:27 Mar 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM 14MRN1

Document Created: 2016-03-12 01:00:49
Document Modified: 2016-03-12 01:00:49

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of Availability of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment of USDA Rural Utilities Service's Financial Support for Deployment of the Telecommunications Programs to Rural America.
Dates		Written comments on the PEA must be received on or before March 31, 2016.
Contact		For information on the PEA, please contact Mr. Richard Fristik, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist, Water and Environmental Programs/Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Mail Stop 1571, Room 2240, Washington, DC 20250, telephone: (202) 720-5093, fax: (202) 690-0649, or email: [email protected] Parties wishing to be placed on the PEA's mailing list for future information and to receive copies of the PEA should also contact Mr. Fristik.
FR Citation		81 FR 13317

81 FR 13317 - Telecommunications Program: Notice of Availability of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURERural Utilities Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 49 (March 14, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service