82 FR 61743 - Notice of Request for Extension or Renewal of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 249 (December 29, 2017)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) to request a renewal of a currently approved information collection. OASCR will use the information collected to collect the race, ethnicity, and gender (REG) of all program applicants and participants by county and State.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 249 (Friday, December 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61743-61744]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27448]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Notice of Request for Extension or Renewal of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Civil Rights (OASCR) to request a renewal of a currently approved 
information collection. OASCR will use the information collected to 
collect the race, ethnicity, and gender (REG) of all program applicants 
and participants by county and State.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 27, 2018 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights/Office of 
Compliance, Policy, and Training invites interested persons to submit 
comments on this notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
    [ballot] Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
    [ballot] Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Mailstop 9401.
    [ballot] Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Mailstop 9401.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights/Office 
of Compliance, Policy, and Training, Docket No. 0503-0022, Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights/Office of 
Compliance, Policy, and Training, Docket Room at 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Mailstop 9401, between 8:00 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Anna G. Stroman, Deputy 
Director, Office of Compliance, Policy, and Training, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 205-5953 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 7 CFR part 15 subpart D--Data Collection Requirement.
    OMB Number: OMB No. 0503-0022.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2018.
    Type of Request: Extension or renewal of the USDA 7 CFR part 15 
subpart D--Data Collection Requirement Form.
    Abstract: Currently, Section 14006 of the 2008 Farm Bill requires 
the Secretary of Agriculture to annually compile for each county and 
State in the United States program application and participation rate 
data regarding socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers for each 
program of USDA that serves agricultural producers or landowners. This 
requirement only applies to FSA, NRCS, RD, and RMA. These four agencies 
use the voluntary data collection form approved by OMB that is attached 
as a cover page to the application forms for programs that provide 
services to agriculture producers, farmers and ranchers. In addition, 
all remaining USDA agencies with conducted programs (Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service, and Foreign Agricultural Service) were 
required to develop a strategy for collecting voluntary REG data from 
individuals for their respective federally conducted programs by 
utilizing the same OMB approved form. Applicants and program 
participants of these programs and activities provide this data on a 
voluntary basis. These strategies will be reviewed and approved by 
OASCR, who will also provide oversight and monitoring of the collection 
of this data through its compliance activities.
    If the REG data is not collected on applicants and participants in 
USDA federally conducted programs, USDA will not be able to collect and 
report demographic data on its applicants and program participants. In 
addition, USDA would not be able to determine if programs and services 
are reaching and meeting the needs of the public, beneficiaries, 
partners, and other stakeholders based on demographic data.
    Failure to collect this information will also have a negative 
impact on USDA's outreach and compliance activities. This could result 
in an inability to equitably deliver programs and services to 
applicants and producers, and ultimately an inability to hold the 
agencies accountable.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average one hour per response.
    Respondents: Producers, applicants, and USDA customers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,190.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 68 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have

[[Page 61744]]

practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity 
of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Anna G. 
Stroman, Deputy Director, Office of Compliance, Policy, and Training, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection during regular 
business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record.

Winona Lake Scott,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 2017-27448 Filed 12-28-17; 8:45 am]
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