[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61116-61117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24149]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-21-Admin-0022]


Notice of Request for Approval of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and 
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 the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, Rural Housing Service, and the Rural Utilities Service, 
agencies of the Rural Development mission area within the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter collectively referred to 
as the Agency to request approval for a new information collection in 
support of compliance with applicable acts for planning and performing 
construction and other development work.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 4, 2022.

[[Page 61117]]


ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the following method:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Gilbert, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. 
Telephone: (202) 690-2682. Email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (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 information collection that Rural 
Development is submitting to OMB for a new collection.
    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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 
http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and 
Federal Actions'' box, select ``RHS'' from the agency drop-down menu, 
then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select RHS-21-Admin-
0022 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 ``User Tips'' link.
    Title: 7 CFR 1901--Common Forms Package for Civil Rights Forms
    OMB Number: 0575-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval date.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The information collection under OMB Number 0575-New will 
enable the Agencies 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 Agencies 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 RD 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 in RD are used internally by the agency 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, RD 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 Agency 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: RD is requesting approval for one respondent 
and a one-hour place holder in order for OMB to issue a control number 
for these forms. The burden for each of the forms will be accounted for 
within the individual Rural Development program collection packages 
using the form(s).
    Respondents: Recipients of Rural Development Federal financial 
assistance, loan, and loan guarantee programs.

    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent per Form in Package
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                                                          Responses per
                       Form No.                            respondent
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400-1, 4, 6...........................................                1
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    Comments from interested parties are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including the 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

Chadwick Parker,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-24149 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am]
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