[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 43159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16800]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 149 / Friday, August 6, 2021 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43159]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 3, 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 or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by 
September 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.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Rural Energy for America Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0067.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Development is implementing a new 
consolidated guaranteed loan regulation, 7 CFR 5001, OneRD Guarantee 
Loan Program. This final rule created a new guaranteed loan program 
which combined four existing guaranteed loan programs under one 
regulatory platform. The four existing programs are: (1) The Community 
Facilities Program (0575-0137), (2) the Water and Waste Disposal 
Program (0572-0122), (3) the Business and Industry Program (0570-0014), 
and (4) the Rural Energy for America Program (formerly known as the 
Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program--
0570-0050) under Title IX, Section 9007 of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill). The result of this new program 
removes the Guarantee Loan program from 7 CFR 4280 and thus requires a 
revision to the existing 7 CFR 4280 regulation.
    The Rural Energy for America Program, which supersedes the 
Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program 
under Title IX, Section 9006 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill) is designed to help agricultural producers 
and rural small business reduce energy cost and consumption, develop 
new income streams, and help meet the nation's critical energy needs by 
requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants and/or loan 
guarantees for several types of projects as follows:
     Grants and grants and loan guarantees (combined funding) 
to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase 
renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.
     Grants to eligible entities to provide energy audits and 
renewable energy development assistance to enable agricultural 
producers and rural small businesses to become more energy efficient 
and to use renewable energy technologies and resources. Entities 
eligible to receive grants under this program are State, tribal and 
local governments; land-grant colleges and universities or other 
institutions of higher learning; rural electric cooperatives; public 
power entities; Resource Conservation and Development Councils and 
instrumentalities of local, state, and federal governments. These grant 
funds may be used to conduct and promote energy audits; provide 
recommendations and information on how to improve the energy efficiency 
of the operations of the agricultural producers and rural small 
businesses; and provide recommendations and information on how to use 
renewable energy technologies and resources in the operations. No more 
than five (5) percent of the grant can be used for administrative 
purposes. Agricultural producers and rural small businesses for which a 
grantee is conducting an energy audit must pay at least 25 percent of 
the cost of the energy audit.
    Need and Use of the Information: For RES/EEI applications, this 
information will be used to determine applicant eligibility, to 
determine project eligibility and technical merit, and to ensure that 
grantees operate on a sound basis and use funds for authorized 
purposes. For EA/REDA applications, this information will be used to 
determine applicant and project eligibility and to ensure that funds 
are used for authorized purposes.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals; State, local government, or Tribal.
    Number of Respondents: 1,434.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 85,191.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-16800 Filed 8-5-21; 8:45 am]
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