83 FR 10824 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 49 (March 13, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 49 (March 13, 2018)
| Page Range | 10824-10825 | |
| FR Document | 2018-05026 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 10824-10825] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-05026] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request March 8, 2018. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments regarding this information collection received by April 12, 2018 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: [email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250- 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720- 8958. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Rural Utilities Service Title: 7 CFR 1726, Electric System Construction Policies and Procedures--Electric. OMB Control Number: 0572-0107. Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et.seq., as amended, (RE ACT) in Sec. 4 (7 U.S.C. 904) authorizes and empowers the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans in the several States and Territories of the United States for rural electrification and the furnishing and improving of electric energy to persons in rural areas. These loans are for a term of up to 35 years and are secured by a first mortgage on the borrower's electric system. In the interest of protecting loan security and accomplishing the statutory objective of a sound program of rural electrification, Section 4 of the RE Act further requires that RUS make or guarantee a loan only if there is reasonable assurance that the loan, together with all outstanding loans and obligations of the borrower, will be repaid in full within the time agreed. RUS will collect information using various RUS forms. Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to implement certain provisions of the RUS standard form of loan documents regarding the borrower's purchase of materials and equipment and the construction of its electric system by contract or force account. The use of standard forms and procurement procedures helps assure RUS that appropriate standards and specifications are maintained; agency loan security is not adversely affected; and loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively and for the intended purposes. The information will be used by RUS electric borrowers, their contractors and by RUS. If standard forms were not used, borrowers would need to prepare their own documents at a significant expense; and each document submitted by a borrower would require extensive and costly review by both RUS and the Office of the General Counsel. Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 817. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 78. [[Page 10825]] Rural Utility Service Title: 7 CFR 1780, Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. OMB Control Number: 0572-0121. Summary of Collection: Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT), 7 U.S.C. 1926, authorizes Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans and grants to public entities, federally-recognized American Indian tribes, and nonprofit corporations. The loans and grants fund the development of drinking water waste water, solid waste disposal, and storm wastewater disposal facilities in rural areas with populations of up to 10,000 residents. Need and Use of the Information: Rural Development's field offices will collect information from applicants/borrowers and consultants to determine eligibility and project feasibility. The information will help to ensure borrowers operate on a sound basis and use loan funds for authorized purposes. There are agency forms required as well as other requirements that involve certifications from the borrower, lenders, and other parties. Failure to collect proper information could result in improper determinations of eligibility, use of funds and or unsound loans. Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; Not- for-profit institutions. Number of Respondents: 865. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 150,339. Rural Utility Service Title: Servicing of Water Programs Loans and Grants. OMB Control Number: 0572-0137. Summary of Collection: Authority for servicing of Water Programs Loan and Grants is contained in Section 306e of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended. The information collected covers loan and grant servicing regulations, 7 CFR part 1782, which prescribes policies and responsibilities for servicing actions necessary in connection with Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) loans and grants. WEP provides loans, guaranteed loans and grants for water, sewer, storm water, and solid waste disposal facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 10,000 people. Need and Use of the Information: The Rural Utilities Service will collect information using various forms. The collected information for the most part is financial in nature and needed by the Agency to determine if borrowers, based on their individual situations, qualify for the various servicing authorities. Servicing actions become necessary due to the development of financial or other problems and may be initiated by either a recipient which recognizes that a problem exists and wished to resolve it, or by the Agency. If a problem exists, a recipient must furnish financial information which is used to aid in resolving the problem through re-amortization, sale, transfer, debt restructuring, liquidation, or other means provided in the regulations. Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; non- profit institutions; State and local governments. Number of Respondents: 62. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 729. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2018-05026 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
![10824 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Notices
persons are not required to respond to information, FSA will not be able to the collection of information that such
the collection of information unless it make eligibility determinations and persons are not required to respond to
displays a currently valid OMB control compute payments in a timely manner. the collection of information unless it
number. Description of Respondents: Farms. displays a currently valid OMB control
Number of Respondents: 70,000. number.
Farm Service Agency Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Title: Emergency Conservation Annually. Rural Utilities Service
Program and Biomass Crop Assistance Total burden hours: 77,763. Title: 7 CFR 1726, Electric System
Program. Ruth Brown, Construction Policies and Procedures—
OMB Control Number: 0560–0082. Electric.
Summary of Collection: The Farm Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer. OMB Control Number: 0572–0107.
Service Agency (FSA), in cooperation
[FR Doc. 2018–05033 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am] Summary of Collection: The Rural
with the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, the Forest BILLING CODE 3410–05–P Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901
Service, and other agencies and et.seq., as amended, (RE ACT) in Sec. 4
organizations, provides eligible (7 U.S.C. 904) authorizes and empowers
producers and landowners cost-share DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE the Administrator of the Rural Utilities
incentives and technical assistance Service (RUS) to make loans in the
Submission for OMB Review;
through several conservation and several States and Territories of the
Comment Request
environmental programs to help United States for rural electrification
farmers, ranchers, and other eligible March 8, 2018. and the furnishing and improving of
landowners and operators conserve soil, The Department of Agriculture has electric energy to persons in rural areas.
improve water quality, develop forests, submitted the following information These loans are for a term of up to 35
and rehabilitate farmland severely collection requirement(s) to Office of years and are secured by a first mortgage
damaged by natural disasters. The Management and Budget (OMB) for on the borrower’s electric system. In the
authorities to collect information for review and clearance under the interest of protecting loan security and
this collection are found under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, accomplishing the statutory objective of
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 Public Law 104–13. Comments are a sound program of rural electrification,
U.S.C. 2201–2205), which provides requested regarding (1) whether the Section 4 of the RE Act further requires
emergency funds for sharing with collection of information is necessary that RUS make or guarantee a loan only
agricultural producers the cost of for the proper performance of the if there is reasonable assurance that the
rehabilitating farmland damaged by functions of the agency, including loan, together with all outstanding loans
natural disaster, and for carrying out whether the information will have and obligations of the borrower, will be
emergency water conservation measures practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the repaid in full within the time agreed.
during periods of severe drought. FSA is agency’s estimate of burden including RUS will collect information using
also managing the Biomass Crop the validity of the methodology and various RUS forms.
Assistance Program (BCAP) authorized assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance Need and Use of the Information:
by Section 9010 of the Agricultural Act the quality, utility and clarity of the RUS will collect information to
of 2014 (Pub. L. 113–79), which amends information to be collected; (4) ways to implement certain provisions of the
Title 1X of the Food, Conservation and minimize the burden of the collection of RUS standard form of loan documents
Energy Act of 008. BCAP regulations information on those who are to regarding the borrower’s purchase of
outlined the legislations parameters, respond, including through the use of materials and equipment and the
program definitions and process or: (1) appropriate automated, electronic, construction of its electric system by
Establishing BCAP project areas; (2) mechanical, or other technological contract or force account. The use of
Matching payment opportunity for collection techniques or other forms of standard forms and procurement
eligible material wners and qualifying information technology. procedures helps assure RUS that
biomass conversion facilities; (3) Comments regarding this information appropriate standards and specifications
Contracting acreage for producers in collection received by April 12, 2018 are maintained; agency loan security is
BCAP project areas; and (4) will be considered. Written comments not adversely affected; and loan and
Establishment and annual production should be addressed to: Desk Officer for loan guarantee funds are used
payments for producers in CAP projects Agriculture, Office of Information and effectively and for the intended
areas. Regulatory Affairs, Office of purposes. The information will be used
Need and use of the Information: FSA Management and Budget (OMB), New by RUS electric borrowers, their
will collect information using several Executive Office Building, 725 17th contractors and by RUS. If standard
forms. The collected information will be Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. forms were not used, borrowers would
used to determine if the person, land, Commenters are encouraged to submit need to prepare their own documents at
and practices are eligible for their comments to OMB via email to: a significant expense; and each
participation in the respective program OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or document submitted by a borrower
and to receive cost-share assistance. fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental would require extensive and costly
Information collection from eligible Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail review by both RUS and the Office of
biomass owners, biomass conversion Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– the General Counsel.
facilities, and producers meeting the 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may Description of Respondents: Not-for-
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
requirements for matching payments, be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958. profit institutions; Business or other for-
annual production payment assistance, An agency may not conduct or
profit.
establishment payments and BCAP sponsor a collection of information
project area designation is necessary in unless the collection of information Number of Respondents: 817.
order to ensure the financial displays a currently valid OMB control Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
accountability needed to operate and number and the agency informs On occasion.
administer the BCAP. Without the potential persons who are to respond to Total Burden Hours: 78.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Notices 10825
Rural Utility Service for the various servicing authorities. submission of comments allows the
Title: 7 CFR 1780, Water and Waste Servicing actions become necessary due commenter maximum time to prepare
Disposal Loan and Grant Program. to the development of financial or other and submit a comment, and ensures
OMB Control Number: 0572–0121. problems and may be initiated by either timely receipt by USDA. Commenters
Summary of Collection: Section 306 of a recipient which recognizes that a should follow the instructions provided
the Consolidated Farm and Rural problem exists and wished to resolve it, on that site to submit comments
Development Act (CONACT), 7 U.S.C. or by the Agency. If a problem exists, a electronically.
1926, authorizes Rural Utilities Service recipient must furnish financial • Submission of Comments by Mail,
(RUS) to make loans and grants to information which is used to aid in Hand Delivery, or Courier. Paper, disk,
public entities, federally-recognized resolving the problem through re- or CD–ROM submissions should be
American Indian tribes, and nonprofit amortization, sale, transfer, debt submitted to the Office of the Assistant
corporations. The loans and grants fund restructuring, liquidation, or other Secretary for Civil Rights, USDA, Jamie
the development of drinking water means provided in the regulations. L. Whitten Building, Room 507–W, 1400
waste water, solid waste disposal, and Description of Respondents: Business Independence Ave. SW, Washington,
storm wastewater disposal facilities in or other for-profit; non-profit DC 20250.
rural areas with populations of up to institutions; State and local FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
10,000 residents. governments. Winona Lake Scott, Telephone Number:
Need and Use of the Information: Number of Respondents: 62. (202) 720–3808, winona.scott@
Rural Development’s field offices will Frequency of Responses: Reporting: osec.usda.gov.
collect information from applicants/ On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 729. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA is
borrowers and consultants to determine committed to operating efficiently,
eligibility and project feasibility. The Ruth Brown, effectively, and with integrity, and
information will help to ensure Departmental Information Collection minimizing the burdens on individuals,
borrowers operate on a sound basis and Clearance Officer. businesses, and communities for
use loan funds for authorized purposes. [FR Doc. 2018–05026 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am] participation in and compliance with
There are agency forms required as well BILLING CODE 3410–15–P USDA programs. USDA works to
as other requirements that involve support the American agricultural
certifications from the borrower, economy to strengthen rural
lenders, and other parties. Failure to DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE communities; to protect and conserve
collect proper information could result our natural resources; and to provide a
in improper determinations of Office of the Secretary safe, sufficient, and nutritious food
eligibility, use of funds and or unsound supply for the American people. The
loans. Strengthening Civil Rights Department’s wide range of programs
Description of Respondents: State, Management and responsibilities touches the lives of
Local or Tribal Government; Not-for- AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA. every American every day.
profit institutions.
ACTION: Request for Information (RFI). I. Executive Order 13781
Number of Respondents: 865.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: SUMMARY: Consistent with Executive Executive Order 13781,
On occasion. Order 13781, ‘‘Comprehensive Plan for ‘‘Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing
Total Burden Hours: 150,339. Reorganizing the Executive Branch,’’ the Executive Branch’’, is intended to
Rural Utility Service and using the authority of the Secretary improve the efficiency, effectiveness,
to reorganize the Department under and accountability of the executive
Title: Servicing of Water Programs section 4(a) of Reorganization Plan No. branch. The principles in the Executive
Loans and Grants. 2 of 1953 the U.S. Department of Order provide the basis for taking
OMB Control Number: 0572–0137. Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting public actions to enhance and strengthen the
Summary of Collection: Authority for comment on a proposed realignment of delivery of USDA programs.
servicing of Water Programs Loan and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Grants is contained in Section 306e of II. Reorganization Actions
Civil Rights (OASCR), which will
the Consolidated Farm and Rural improve customer service, better align On March 9, 2018, Secretary Perdue
Development Act, as amended. The functions within the organization, and will be announcing his intent to take
information collected covers loan and ensure improved consistency, resource actions to strengthen civil rights and
grant servicing regulations, 7 CFR part management, and strategic decision- customer service at USDA by taking the
1782, which prescribes policies and making. following actions to ensure integrity,
responsibilities for servicing actions consistency, and fairness:
necessary in connection with Water and DATES : Comments and information are • USDA will eliminate inefficiencies
Environmental Programs (WEP) loans requested on or before March 25, 2018. in delivering civil rights services at the
and grants. WEP provides loans, ADDRESSES: Interested persons are agency and staff office level, thereby
guaranteed loans and grants for water, invited to submit comments regarding resulting in improved civil rights
sewer, storm water, and solid waste this notice. All submissions must refer management. Under the realignment, a
disposal facilities in rural areas and to ‘‘Improving Civil Rights’’ to ensure Civil Rights Director and appropriate
towns of up to 10,000 people. proper delivery. Equal Opportunity staff will be aligned
• Electronic Submission of
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Need and Use of the Information: The as follows:
Rural Utilities Service will collect Comments. Interested persons may (1) Departmental Administration, staff
information using various forms. The submit comments electronically through offices, and Trade and Foreign
collected information for the most part the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// Agricultural Affairs will share civil
is financial in nature and needed by the www.regulations.gov. USDA strongly rights resources;
Agency to determine if borrowers, based encourages commenters to submit (2) Each remaining Departmental
on their individual situations, qualify comments electronically. Electronic Mission Area will consolidate its sub-
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Document Created: 2018-03-13 01:56:47
Document Modified: 2018-03-13 01:56:47
| 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 | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 10824 |
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