[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60176-60177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27285]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCIES:  Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service (RHS), the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 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 20, 2018 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angilla Denton, 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.

[[Page 60177]]

    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2018.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The information collection under OMB Number 0575-0018 
enables the RHS, RBS, and RUS, 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.
    The RBS, RHS, and RUS are 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 RBS, RHS, and RUS 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 RBS, RHS, and RUS 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, RBS, RHS, RUS 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, the 
RBS, RHS, RUS 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 7.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Recipients of RBS, RHS, and RUS Federal financial 
assistance, loan, and loan guarantee programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 27,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.72.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 73,559.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 550,276.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jeanne 
Jacobs, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services 
Division, 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 
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 Jeanne Jacobs, 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 4, 2017.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27285 Filed 12-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P