[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 123 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 36286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15023]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 123 / Thursday, June 26, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 36286]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 23, 2014.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 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. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received by July 28, 2014. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained 
by calling (202) 720-8681.
    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 Business--Cooperative Service

    TITLE: Bio-refinery Assistance Program for Guaranteed Loans.
    OMB CONTROL NUMBER: 0570-0065.
    SUMMARY OF COLLECTION: As authorized under the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (2014 Farm Bill) the Bio-refinery Assistance Program will promote 
the development and construction of commercial-scale bio-refineries and 
the retrofitting of existing facilities using eligible technology. 
Consistent with Congressional intent, the program will promote the 
development of the first commercial scale bio-refineries that do not 
rely on corn kernel starch as the feedstock or standard biodiesel 
technology for the development of advanced biofuels, giving preference 
to projects where first-of-a-kind technology will be deployed at viable 
commercial-scale bio-refineries.
    NEED AND USE OF THE INFORMATION: The Agency will use various forms 
and written evidence to collect needed information to determine lender 
and borrower eligibility for loan guarantees, and to ensure the lender 
protects the government's financial interests. Lenders provide the 
Agency with quarterly construction progress reports demonstrating that 
engineering and financial criteria used in the review and approval of 
the application continue to be met during the construction phase of the 
project. Post-construction information will be collected demonstrating 
that the bio-refineries are operating and meeting all financial 
criteria projected during the application phase. If the information 
were not collected, the Agency would not be able to make prudent credit 
decisions nor monitor the lenders servicing activities.
    DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS: Business or other for-profit.
    NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS: 83.
    FREQUENCY OF RESPONSES: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Monthly; Semi-annually; Annually.
    TOTAL BURDEN HOURS: 6,349.
    TITLE: Repowering Assistance Program, 7 CFR 4288-A.
    OMB CONTROL NUMBER: 0570-0066.
    SUMMARY OF COLLECTION: The Repowering Assistance Program is 
authorized under section 9004 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246). The objective of this program is to provide 
financial incentives to bio-refineries in existence on the date of the 
enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill; to replace the use of fossil fuels 
used to produce heat or power at their facilities by installing new 
systems that use renewable biomass, or to produce new energy from 
renewable biomass.
    NEED AND USE OF THE INFORMATION: Information gathered under this 
collection will be used to determine the eligibility of bio-refineries 
to participate in the program. The Agency will determine the amount of 
payments to be made to a bio-refinery under this program with 
consideration given to: (1) The quantity of fossil fuel a renewable 
biomass system is replacing; (2) the percentage reduction in fossil 
fuel used by the bio-refinery that will result from the installation of 
the renewable biomass system; and (3) the cost-effectiveness of the 
renewable biomass system.
    DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS: Business or other for-profit.
    NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS: 7.
    FREQUENCY OF RESPONSES: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Monthly; Semi-annually; Annually.
    TOTAL BURDEN HOURS: 602.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-15023 Filed 6-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P