[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18307-18308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06899]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business--Cooperative Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business--Cooperative Service, Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Business--Cooperative Service's (RBS) 
intention to request information collection in support of the Rural 
Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program and Televisions Demonstration 
Grants (7 CFR part 1942-G).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 28, 2013 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Mason, Specialty Programs 
Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 3226, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3225, Telephone (202) 690-1433, Email: [email protected].

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection via the U.S. 
Postal Service to the Branch Chief, Regulations and Paperwork 
Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0742, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0742.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Rural Business Enterprise Grants and Televisions 
Demonstration Grants.

[[Page 18308]]

    OMB Number: 0570-0022.
    Expiration Date of Approval:
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The objective of the RBEG program is to facilitate the 
development of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. 
This purpose is achieved through grants made by RBS to public bodies 
and nonprofit corporations. Television Demonstration grants are 
available to private nonprofit public television systems to provide 
information on agriculture and other issues of importance to farmers 
and the rural residents. The regulation contains various requirements 
for information from the grantees, and some requirements may cause the 
grantees to require information from other parties. The information 
requested is vital for RBS to be able to process applications in a 
responsible manner, make prudent program decisions, and effectively 
monitor the grantees' activities to protect the Government's financial 
interest and ensure that funds obtained from the Government are used 
appropriately. It includes information to determine eligibility; the 
specific purpose for which grant funds will be used; timeframes; who 
will be carrying out the grant purposes; project priority; applicant 
experience; employment improvement; and mitigation of economic 
distress.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.8 hours per response.
    Respondents: Nonprofit corporations and public bodies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 720.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 16,805.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 29,718.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jeanne 
Jacobs, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0040.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of RBS, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RBS 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 Jeanne 
Jacobs, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20250. All responses to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 15, 2013.
Lillian E. Salerno,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business--Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-06899 Filed 3-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P