[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2380-2381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00333]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY:  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), Rural Business 
Service (RBS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS)

[[Page 2381]]

intention to request a revision for a currently approved information 
collection in support of compliance with Civil Rights laws.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 15, 2021 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharese C. Paylor, Ed.D, Director, 
Rural Development, Civil Rights Staff, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
STOP 0703, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-0703, 
Telephone (202) 692-0097 (voice) or 800.877.8339 (Federal Relay).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 7 CFR 1901-E, Civil Rights Compliance Requirements.
    OMB Number: 0575-0018.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 30, 2021.
    Type of Request: Revision 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 Kimble 
Brown, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 720-6780.

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.

Elizabeth Green,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-00333 Filed 1-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P