[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19687-19689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09538]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application for 
Investment Assistance

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA or the Agency), 
Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on a proposed extension of an information 
collection request approved through September 30, 2018, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 3, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via email at 
[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Ryan Smith, Program Analyst, Performance and National 
Programs Division, Room 71030, Economic Development Administration, 
14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, (or via email at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The mission of EDA is to lead the federal economic development 
agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American 
regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA 
accomplishes this mission by helping states, regions, and communities 
through capacity building, planning, infrastructure, research grants, 
and strategic initiatives. Further information on EDA's program and 
grant opportunities can be found at www.eda.gov.
    In order for EDA to evaluate whether proposed projects satisfy 
eligibility and programmatic requirements contained in EDA's 
authorizing legislation, the Public Works and Economic Development Act 
of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) (PWEDA), EDA's 
accompanying regulations codified in 13 CFR Chapter III, and the 
applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), EDA must collect 
specific data from its grant applicants. The purpose of this notice is 
to seek comments from the public and other Federal agencies on a 
request for an extension of EDA's currently approved suite of ED-900 
application forms which are scheduled to expire on September 30, 2018.

II. Method of Collection

    EDA collects application information through a series of ED-900 
forms:
     ED-900--General Application for EDA Programs;
     ED-900A--Additional EDA Assurances for Construction or 
Non-Construction Investments;
     ED-900C--EDA Application Supplement for Construction 
Programs;
     ED-900D--Requirements for Design and Engineering 
Assistance;
     ED-900E--Calculation of Estimated Relocation and Land 
Acquisition Expenses;
     ED-900F--Supplement for Revolving Loan Fund Applications;
     ED-900P--Proposal for EDA Assistance].
    The forms are electronically submitted through Grants.gov, or via 
paper submission to the appropriate EDA office, in response to a NOFO. 
Applicants are required to submit the applicable ED-900 form(s) to the 
EDA Regional Office for review and evaluation.
    As a part of this renewal process, EDA plans to make minor 
clarifying edits to the following ED-900 forms: ED-900, ED-900B, and 
ED-900C. None of these minor edits are expected to impact the time 
burden on the respondent nor do the modifications change the type or 
amount of information collected.

               Detailed Information About Proposed Changes
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             Form                    Section          Proposed changes
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All...........................  Where applicable.  Replace all
                                                    occurrences of
                                                    ``FFO'' or ``Federal
                                                    Funding
                                                    Opportunity'' with
                                                    ``NOFO'' or ``Notice
                                                    of Funding
                                                    Opportunity'' as
                                                    appropriate, per
                                                    Department of
                                                    Commerce grants
                                                    policy.
ED-900--General Application     A. Applicant       None.
 for EDA Programs.               Information.
ED-900........................  B. Project         (1) To increase
                                 Information.       clarity, revise
                                                    Question B.1. to
                                                    read: ``Provide a
                                                    geographical
                                                    definition of the
                                                    region to be served
                                                    by the investment
                                                    (project), including
                                                    the specific
                                                    geographic location
                                                    of the project
                                                    within the region.''
                                                   (2) To increase
                                                    clarity, revise
                                                    Question B.2. to
                                                    read: ``Describe and
                                                    outline the scope of
                                                    work for the
                                                    proposed EDA
                                                    investment,
                                                    including a list of
                                                    tasks to be
                                                    undertaken.''
                                                   (3) For consistency,
                                                    add ``N/A--Not
                                                    Applicable'' to the
                                                    available options
                                                    under ``No'' within
                                                    Question B.3.
                                                   (4) To increase
                                                    clarity, revise
                                                    Question B.3.b. to
                                                    read: ``Describe the
                                                    economic conditions
                                                    of your region.
                                                    Define the economic
                                                    development need to
                                                    be addressed by the
                                                    proposed EDA
                                                    investment and
                                                    explain how the
                                                    proposed investment
                                                    will address that
                                                    need.''

[[Page 19688]]

 
ED-900........................  C. Regional        (1) Reverse the order
                                 Eligibility.       of C.2. and C.3. so
                                                    that the basis of
                                                    eligibility is asked
                                                    about prior to the
                                                    source of data.
                                                   (2) Question C.3. (as
                                                    renumbered): Add a
                                                    new box C.3.b. and
                                                    renumber the rest
                                                    accordingly. The new
                                                    box reads: ``C.3.b.
                                                    The most recent
                                                    Bureau of Labor
                                                    Statistics Data.''
                                                    This change will
                                                    reflect the
                                                    hierarchy of sources
                                                    set out in 13 C.F.R.
                                                    301.3(a)(4).
ED-900........................  E. Administrative  Provide clarification
                                 Requirements.      in Question E.1.b.
                                                    by adding ``as
                                                    listed in question
                                                    B.9.'' in
                                                    parenthesis after
                                                    ``other parties''
                                                    and add ``under 13
                                                    C.F.R. Sec.
                                                    302.20'' after
                                                    ``civil rights
                                                    requirements''.
ED-900........................  Instructions.....  (1) To avoid
                                                    duplication, revise
                                                    the instructions for
                                                    B.2. to delete ``,
                                                    and key milestones
                                                    and an associated
                                                    schedule for when
                                                    the project could
                                                    start, when key
                                                    milestones could be
                                                    achieved, and when
                                                    the project is
                                                    anticipated to be
                                                    completed''.
                                                    Milestones and
                                                    schedule should not
                                                    be included for this
                                                    question. They
                                                    should be included
                                                    in the response to
                                                    B.7.
                                                   (2) To provide
                                                    additional clarity
                                                    on what EDA may
                                                    require, revise the
                                                    instructions for
                                                    D.2. to include a
                                                    third sentence:
                                                    ``Alternatively,
                                                    applicants must
                                                    provide supplemental
                                                    documentation such
                                                    as: a certificate of
                                                    indirect costs and
                                                    acknowledgment
                                                    letter from the
                                                    cognizant agency, a
                                                    cost allocation
                                                    plan, an indirect
                                                    cost rate proposal
                                                    and/or other
                                                    acceptable documents
                                                    under Uniform
                                                    Administrative
                                                    Requirements, Cost
                                                    Principles, and
                                                    Audit Requirements
                                                    for Federal Awards
                                                    (Uniform Guidance)
                                                    as set forth in 2
                                                    C.F.R. part 200 or
                                                    relevant procurement
                                                    regulations.''
ED-900B--Beneficiary            D. Assurances by   To increase clarity,
 Information Form.               Beneficiary that   revise the first
                                 is an ``Other      sentence of the
                                 Party''.           third paragraph to
                                                    read: ``By
                                                    submitting these
                                                    assurances, the
                                                    Other Party
                                                    certifies that it
                                                    will comply with the
                                                    following
                                                    requirements:''
ED-900C--EDA Application        D. Title           To provide additional
 Supplement for Construction     Requirements.      clarity on what EDA
 Programs.                                          may require, revise
                                                    Question D.2. to
                                                    read: ``EDA
                                                    regulations normally
                                                    require recipients
                                                    to provide a
                                                    security interest
                                                    and/or covenant of
                                                    use in the real
                                                    property or
                                                    significant items of
                                                    tangible personal
                                                    property acquired or
                                                    improved with EDA
                                                    investment
                                                    assistance (see 13
                                                    C.F.R. Sec.  Sec.
                                                    314.8 & 314.9). Will
                                                    you be able to
                                                    provide the required
                                                    security interest?''
                                                   Additionally, after
                                                    the ``No'' box in
                                                    D.2.: revise the
                                                    parenthetical to say
                                                    ``(explain how you
                                                    will satisfy the
                                                    requirements of 13
                                                    C.F.R. Sec.  Sec.
                                                    314.8 & 314.9).''
ED-900C.......................  E. Sale or Lease.  To increase clarity,
                                                    revise Question E.3.
                                                    to read: ``Is the
                                                    purpose of the
                                                    project to construct
                                                    facilities to serve
                                                    a privately owned
                                                    industrial or
                                                    commercial party or
                                                    other privately
                                                    owned sites for sale
                                                    or lease?''
                                                   Also in Question E.3.
                                                    and to provide
                                                    additional clarity
                                                    on what EDA may
                                                    require, revise the
                                                    second sentence
                                                    after the No/Yes
                                                    checkboxes to read:
                                                    ``Note that EDA may
                                                    require that the
                                                    private owner agree
                                                    to certain
                                                    restrictions on the
                                                    use of the property
                                                    and may require that
                                                    those restrictions
                                                    survive any sale or
                                                    transfer of the
                                                    property.''
                                                   Finally, in Question
                                                    E.3. and to provide
                                                    additional clarity
                                                    on what EDA may
                                                    require, revise the
                                                    third sentence after
                                                    the No/Yes
                                                    checkboxes to read:
                                                    ``In addition, EDA
                                                    may require evidence
                                                    that the private
                                                    party has title to
                                                    the park or site and
                                                    may require the
                                                    private party to
                                                    provide other
                                                    assurance that EDA
                                                    determines are
                                                    necessary to ensure
                                                    that the property is
                                                    used in a manner
                                                    consistent with the
                                                    project purpose.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0610-0094.
    Form Number(s): ED-900, ED-900A, ED-900B, ED-900C, ED-900D, ED-
900E, ED-900F, ED-900P.
    Type of Review: Regular submission; revision of a currently 
approved collection.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; Federal government; 
State, local, or Tribal government; Business or other for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1672.
    Estimated Time per Response: 13 hours, 28 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 22,512.

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                                                                     Estimated
                        Application type                             number of     Average time     Total hours
                                                                     responses       estimate
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Proposal Submission for Non-Construction Applicants.............             448             4.8          2140.4
Proposal Submission for Construction Applicants.................             263             4.2          1109.0

[[Page 19689]]

 
Full Application Submission for Construction Applicants.........              99            43.0          4246.6
Full Application Submission All Other EDA Programs..............             737            17.1         12579.2
Full Application Submission for Non-Profit Applicants...........             125            19.5          2436.9
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................            1672  ..............          22,512
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    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.), 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 shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and may be included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter 
of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-09538 Filed 5-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-34-P