[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1932-1933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00291]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-20-ELECTRIC-0049]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to 
request an extension to a currently approved information collection for 
which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 12, 2021 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Coates, Electric Program, Rural 
Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: (202) 260-5415, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) 
requires that interested members of the public and affected agencies 
have an opportunity to comment on information collection and 
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies 
an existing information collection that the Agency is submitting to OMB 
for extension. 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 will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's 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

[[Page 1933]]

the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search'' box, 
enter the Docket ID No ``RUS-20-ELECTRIC-0049'' to submit or view 
public comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including 
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing 
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through 
the site's ``Help'' button at the top of the page.
    Title: Assistance to High Energy Cost Rural Communities.
    OMB Number: 0572-0136.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2021.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE Act) (7 U.S.C. 
901 et seq.) was mended in November 2000 to create a new program to 
help rural communities with extremely high energy costs (Pub. L. 106-
472). Under the new section 19 of the RE Act (7 U.S.C. 918a), the 
Secretary of Agriculture through RUS, is authorized to provide 
financial assistance.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3.4 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions, State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 344
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.73.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,172.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble 
Brown, Management Analyst, Innovation Center, Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 720-6780. 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.

Chad Rupe,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-00291 Filed 1-8-21; 8:45 am]
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