[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71618-71619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24424]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service; Rural Business-Cooperative Service; Rural 
Utilities Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCIES: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, 
and Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces USDA Rural Development's intention to request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 
compliance with Civil Rights laws.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 19, 2008 to 
be assured of consideration.

[[Page 71619]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Willie Williams, Equal Opportunity 
Specialist, Rural Development, Civil Rights Staff, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 0703, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0703, Telephone (202) 692-0099 (voice) or 692-0107 (TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 7 CFR 1901-E, Civil Rights Compliance Requirements.
    OMB Number: 0575-0018.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The information collection under OMB Number 0575-0018 
enables USDA Rural Development to effectively monitor a recipient's 
compliance with the civil rights laws, and to determine whether or not 
service and benefits are being provided to beneficiaries on an equal 
opportunity basis.
    USDA Rural Development is required to provide Federal financial 
assistance through its housing and community and business programs on 
an equal opportunity basis. The laws implemented in 7 CFR part 1901, 
subpart E, require the recipients of USDA Rural Development Federal 
financial assistance to collect various types of information, including 
information on participants in certain of these agencies' programs, by 
race, color, and national origin.
    The information collected and maintained by the recipients of 
certain programs from USDA Rural Development is used internally by 
these agencies for monitoring compliance with the civil rights laws and 
regulations. This information is made available to USDA officials, 
officials of other Federal agencies, and to Congress for reporting 
purposes. Without the required information, USDA Rural Development and 
its recipients will lack the necessary documentation to demonstrate 
that their programs are being administered in a nondiscriminatory 
manner, and in full compliance with the civil rights laws. In addition, 
USDA Rural Development and their recipients would be vulnerable in 
lawsuits alleging discrimination in the affected programs of these 
agencies, and would be without appropriate data and documentation to 
defend themselves by demonstrating that services and benefits are being 
provided to beneficiaries on an equal opportunity basis.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 8 hours per response.
    Respondents: Recipients of USDA Rural Development Federal financial 
assistance, loan, and loan guarantee programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 27,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 72,222.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 560,601.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Cheryl 
Thompson, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services 
Division, at (202) 692-0043.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Rural Development, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agencies' 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 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 Cheryl Thompson, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, 
Support Services Division, Rural Development, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 0742, Washington, DC 20250-0742. 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: December 6, 2007.
Thomas C. Dorr,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
 [FR Doc. E7-24424 Filed 12-17-07; 8:45 am]
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