83 FR 24457 - Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 103 (May 29, 2018)

Page Range		24457-24458
FR Document		2018-11398

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24457-24458]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11398]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information 
collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 30, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Room 5164-South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, FAX: (202) 720-
8435 or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS 
is submitting to OMB for extension.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and

[[Page 24458]]

clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 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 may be sent to: Thomas 
P. Dickson, Director, Acting Director, Program Development and 
Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, FAX: (202) 720-8435 or email 
[email protected].
    Title: Rural Alaska Village Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0150.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Alaska Village Grant (RAVG) Program is 
authorized under Section 305D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (CONACT), (7 U.S.C. 1926(d)), as amended. Governing 
regulations are currently codified in 7 CFR 1780. Under the RAVG 
program, the Secretary of Agriculture may make grants to the State of 
Alaska for the benefit of rural or Native Villages in Alaska to provide 
for the development and construction of water and wastewater systems to 
improve the health and sanitation conditions in those Villages. To be 
eligible to receive a grant under the RAVG program, the project must 
provide 25 percent in matching funds from the State of Alaska. The 
matching funds must come from non-Federal sources. The Secretary shall 
consult with the State of Alaska on a method of prioritizing the 
allocation of grants according to the needs of, and relative health and 
sanitation conditions in, each village.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.36 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions, State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 13.8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 469.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 205-3660, 
FAX: (202) 720-8435 or email: [email protected]. All responses 
to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 30, 2018.
Kenneth L. Johnson,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11398 Filed 5-25-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P

24457

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 83, No. 103

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER potential persons who are to respond to Total Burden Hours: 40,139.
contains documents other than rules or the collection of information that such
proposed rules that are applicable to the Ruth Brown,
persons are not required to respond to
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Departmental Information Collection
the collection of information unless it Clearance Officer.
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
displays a currently valid OMB control
[FR Doc. 2018–11387 Filed 5–25–18; 8:45 am]
petitions and applications and agency number.
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
statements of organization and functions are Forest Service
examples of documents appearing in this
section. Title: Timber Sale Contract DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Operations and Administration.
OMB Control Number: 0596–0225. Rural Utilities Service
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Summary of Collection: The Forest Information Collection Activity;
Submission for OMB Review; Service (FS) is authorized under the Comment Request
Comment Request National Forest Management Act (16
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
AGENCY:
May 23, 2018. U.S.C. 472a); Contract Disputes Act of
1978; Food, Conservation, and Energy Notice and request for
ACTION:
The Department of Agriculture has comments.
submitted the following information Act of 2008; Executive Order 11246, as
collection requirement(s) to OMB for amended by E.O. 11375 and E.O. 12086; SUMMARY: In accordance with the
review and clearance under the 36 CFR 223.30–60 and 36 CFR 223.110– Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 118; 40 CFR 112 and Forest Resources Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites
Public Law 104–13. Comments are Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of comments on this information
requested regarding (1) whether the 1990, § 620d Monitoring and collection for which RUS intends to
collection of information is necessary Enforcement, as amended in 1997 by request approval from the Office of
for the proper performance of the Public Law 105–83 and current through Management and Budget (OMB).
functions of the agency, including Public Law 110–450 and Agricultural DATES: Comments on this notice must be
whether the information will have Act of 2014, Title VIII Forestry, to received by July 30, 2018.
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the collect information associated with FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
agency’s estimate of burden including operations and administration of Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
the validity of the methodology and bilateral contracts for the sale of timber Program Development and Regulatory
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance and other forest products. Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400
the quality, utility and clarity of the
Need and Use of the Information: The Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522,
information to be collected; and (4)
information is needed by the FS for a Room 5164-South Building,
ways to minimize the burden of the
variety of uses associated with Washington, DC 20250–1522.
collection of information on those who
operations and administration of Telephone: (202) 690–4492, FAX: (202)
are to respond, including through the
contracts for the sale and disposal of 720–8435 or email: Thomas.Dickson@
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other National Forest System timber and other wdc.usda.gov.
technological collection techniques and forest products. The information SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
other forms of information technology. collected includes plans, inspections, of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
Comments regarding this information requests for action by the other party, regulation (5 CFR part 1320)
collection received by June 28, 2018 agreements, modifications, acceptance implementing provisions of the
will be considered. Written comments of work, and notices necessary for Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
should be addressed to: Desk Officer for operations under the terms of the L. 104–13) requires that interested
Agriculture, Office of Information and contracts. Each contract specifies the members of the public and affected
Regulatory Affairs, Office of information the contractor will be agencies have an opportunity to
Management and Budget (OMB), New required to provide, including the comment on information collection and
Executive Office Building, 725—17th timing and frequency of the information recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. collection. The information is submitted 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an
Commentors are encouraged to submit in a variety of formats including FS information collection that RUS is
their comments to OMB via email to: forms; Government Standard forms; submitting to OMB for extension.
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax forms developed by individual Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
(202) 395–5806 and to Departmental contractors, charts, maps, email the proposed collection of information
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail messages and letters. is necessary for the proper performance
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– Description of Respondents: Business of the functions of the Agency,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

7602. Copies of the submission(s) may or other for-profit; Farms; Not-for-profit including whether the information will
be obtained by calling (202) 720–8681. institutions. have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
An agency may not conduct or the Agency’s estimate of the burden of
sponsor a collection of information Number of Respondents: 3,400. the proposed collection of information
unless the collection of information Frequency of Responses: Reporting: including the validity of the
displays a currently valid OMB control Annually; Semi-annually; Monthly; On methodology and assumptions used; (c)
number and the agency informs occasion. ways to enhance the quality, utility and

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24458 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 29, 2018 / Notices

clarity of the information to be in the request for OMB approval. All • Self-Response Mail Messaging Tests
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the comments will also become a matter of that research various aspects of the mail
burden of the collection of information public record. materials and contact strategy.
on those who are to respond, including Dated: April 30, 2018. • Multilingual Testing that would
through the use of appropriate Kenneth L. Johnson, explore ways to engage respondents
automated, electronic, mechanical, or with limited English proficiency during
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
other technological collection the self-response portion of data
[FR Doc. 2018–11398 Filed 5–25–18; 8:45 am]
techniques or other forms of information collection.
technology. Comments may be sent to: BILLING CODE P
• Content Tests that will test new
Thomas P. Dickson, Director, Acting
and/or revised content.
Director, Program Development and
Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Respondent Burden Questions Test
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, that would incorporate questions about
STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Avenue Submission for OMB Review; respondents’ experience with the
SW, Washington, DC 20250–1522. Comment Request survey.
Telephone: (202) 690–4492, FAX: (202) The Department of Commerce will • Respondent Comment/Feedback
720–8435 or email Thomas.Dickson@ submit to the Office of Management and Test which would add a comment field
wdc.usda.gov. Budget (OMB) for clearance the to make it easy for respondents to give
Title: Rural Alaska Village Grant following proposal for collection of feedback about the ACS.
Program. information under the provisions of the • Administrative Data Use Test to
OMB Control Number: 0572–0150. Paperwork Reduction Act. assess the potential for supplementing
Type of Request: Extension of a Agency: U.S. Census Bureau. or replacing survey content with
currently approved collection. Title: American Community Survey administrative data.
Abstract: The Rural Alaska Village
Grant (RAVG) Program is authorized
Methods Panel Tests. • Group Quarters Test to assess the
OMB Control Number: 0607–0936. feasibility of making an internet self-
under Section 305D of the Consolidated
Form Number(s): ACS–1 and ACS– response option available to non-
Farm and Rural Development Act
1(GQ). institutional GQ residents.
(CONACT), (7 U.S.C. 1926(d)), as
Type of Request: Regular Submission. Since the ACS Methods Panel is
amended. Governing regulations are
Number of Respondents: 455,500 per designed to address emerging issues, we
currently codified in 7 CFR 1780. Under
year. may conduct additional testing as
the RAVG program, the Secretary of
Average Hours per Response: 40 needed. Any additional testing would
Agriculture may make grants to the
minutes. focus on methods for reducing data
State of Alaska for the benefit of rural
Burden Hours: 266,168 per year. collection costs, improving data quality,
or Native Villages in Alaska to provide
Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census revising content, or testing new
for the development and construction of
Bureau requests authorization from the questions that have an urgent need to be
water and wastewater systems to
Office of Management and Budget included on the ACS. The tests may be
improve the health and sanitation
(OMB) for the American Community conducted on HUs, GQs, or both. As
conditions in those Villages. To be
Survey (ACS) Methods Panel Tests. more details are developed for the
eligible to receive a grant under the
An ongoing data collection effort with additional tests, the Census Bureau will
RAVG program, the project must
an annual sample of the magnitude of submit a non-substantive change
provide 25 percent in matching funds
the ACS requires that the Census Bureau request, (and Federal Register Notice, as
from the State of Alaska. The matching
continue research, testing, and necessary) documenting the change or
funds must come from non-Federal
evaluations aimed at improving data revision.
sources. The Secretary shall consult
quality, achieving survey cost
with the State of Alaska on a method of The tests proposed allow the Census
efficiencies, reducing respondent
prioritizing the allocation of grants Bureau to continue to examine
burden, and improving ACS
according to the needs of, and relative operational issues, research the data
questionnaire content and related data
health and sanitation conditions in, quality, collect cost information and
collection materials. The ACS Methods
each village. make recommendations for
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting Panel is a robust research program
focused on enhancing the quality of the improvements to this annual data
burden for this collection of information collection.
is estimated to average 1.36 hours per respondent experience, survey
operations, and data. Affected Public: Individuals or
response.
From 2018 to 2021, the ACS Methods households.
Respondents: Business or other for-
profit, not-for-profit institutions, State, Panel program may include testing Frequency: Multiple one-time tests
Local, or Tribal Government. methods for increasing survey over a 3-year period.
Estimated Number of Respondents: efficiencies, reducing survey cost, Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
25. improving the respondent experience,
increasing response rates, and Legal Authority: Title 13, United
Estimated Number of Responses per States Code, Sections 141, 193, and 221.
Respondent: 13.8. improving data quality. At this time,
Estimated Total Annual Burden on plans are in place to propose several This information collection request
Respondents: 469. tests: may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Copies of this information collection • Mail Materials Test that will Follow the instructions to view
can be obtained from Rebecca Hunt, explore ways to improve the respondent Department of Commerce collections
Program Development and Regulatory experience and address respondent currently under review by OMB.
Analysis, at (202) 205–3660, FAX: (202) concerns about the perceived Written comments and
720–8435 or email: rebecca.hunt@ intrusiveness of the ACS balanced recommendations for the proposed
wdc.usda.gov. All responses to this against increasing self-response to the information collection should be sent
notice will be summarized and included survey. within 30 days of publication of this

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Document Created: 2018-05-26 00:48:37
Document Modified: 2018-05-26 00:48:37

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 and request for comments.
Dates		Comments on this notice must be received by July 30, 2018.
Contact		Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Room 5164-South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, FAX: (202) 720- 8435 or email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 24457

83 FR 24457 - Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURERural Utilities Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 103 (May 29, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service