[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 87 (Friday, May 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 24582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09690]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 87 / Friday, May 7, 2021 / Notices  

[[Page 24582]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 4, 2021.
    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 
are requested regarding: 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; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 
and other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by June 7, 
2021 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of 
the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    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.

Forest Service

    Title: Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistance Instruments.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0217.
    Summary of Collection: In order to carry out specific Forest 
Service (FS) activities, Congress created several authorities to assist 
the Agency in carrying out its mission. Authorized by the Federal 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act (FGCAA), the FS issues Federal 
Financial Assistance awards, (i.e., grants and cooperative agreements). 
Agency specific authorities and appropriations also support use of 
Federal Financial Assistance awards. In addition to FFA, Congress 
created specific authorizations for acts outside the scope of the 
FGCAA. Appropriations language was developed to convey authority for 
the Forest Service to enter into relationships that are outside the 
scope of the FGCAA. Information in this request is collected from 
individuals; non-profit and for-profit institutions; institutions of 
higher education and state, local, and Native American tribal 
governments etc. Multiple options are available for respondents to 
respond including forms, non-forms, electronically, face-to-face, by 
telephone and over the internet.
    Need and Use of the Information: In addition to Federal Financial 
Assistance (FFA), Congress created specific authorizations for acts 
outside the scope of the FGCAA. Appropriations language was developed 
to convey authority for the Forest Service to enter relationships that 
are outside the scope of the FGCAA. The Forest Service implements these 
authorizations using instruments such as collection agreements, FGCAA 
exempted agreements, memorandums of understanding, and other agreements 
which mutually benefit participating parties. These instruments fall 
outside the scope of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and 
often require financial plans and statements of work. Forest Service 
employees collect information from cooperating parties from the pre-
award to the closeout stage via telephone calls, emails, postal mail, 
and person-to-person meetings to create, develop, and administer these 
funded and non-funded agreements. The multiple means for respondents to 
communicate their responses include forms, non-forms, electronic 
documents, face-to-face, telephone, and internet. The scope of 
information collected varies; however, it typically includes the 
project type, project scope, financial plan, statement of work, and 
cooperator's business information.
    The Forest Service would not be able to create, develop, and 
administer these funded and non-funded agreements without the collected 
information. The Agency would also be unable to develop or monitor 
projects, make or receive payments, or identify financial and 
accounting errors.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit Institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government; Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 4,890.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly; On 
occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 42,445.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-09690 Filed 5-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P