[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43496-43497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15614]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-22-AGENCY-0035]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Special 
Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Program 
(SEARCH); OMB Control No.: 0572-0146

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as 
amended, the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States 
Department of Agriculture's (USDA), invites comments on this 
information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 19, 2022 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically by the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the 
``Search Field'' box, labeled ``Search for Rules, Proposed Rules, 
Notices or Supporting Documents,'' enter the following docket number: 
(RUS-22-AGENCY-0035). To submit or view public comments, click the 
``Search'' button, select the ``Documents'' tab, then select the 
following document title: (60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 
Collection: Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and 
Households Program (SEARCH); OMB Control No.: 0572-0146) from the 
``Search Results'' and select the ``Comment'' button. Before inputting 
your comments, you may also review the ``Commenter's Checklist'' 
(optional). Insert your comments under the ``Comment'' title, click 
``Browse'' to attach files (if available). Input your email address and 
select ``Submit Comment.''
    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 
``FAQ'' link.
    Other Information: Additional information about Rural Development 
and its programs is available on the internet at https://www.rd.usda.gov.
    All comments will be available for public inspection online at the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Pemberton, Management

[[Page 43497]]

Analyst Branch 1, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations 
Management Division, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. 
Telephone: (202) 260-8621, 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 the 
Agency is submitting to OMB for an extension.
    Title: Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and 
Household Program (SEARCH).
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0146.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2022.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved package.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 hours per responses.
    Respondents: Public Bodies; Indian Tribes; Not-for-Profit 
Organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 88.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 22.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden of Respondents: 6,263.
    Abstract: The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 
110-246 (Farm Bill) amended Section 306(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (CONACT) (7 U.S.C. 1926 (a)(2)). The 
amendment created a grant program to make Special Evaluation Assistance 
for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) Program grants. Under the 
SEARCH program, the Secretary may make predevelopment and planning 
grants to public or quasi-public agencies, organizations operated on a 
not-for-profit basis or Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations 
and other federally recognized Indian tribes. The grant recipients 
shall use the grant funds for feasibility studies, design assistance, 
and development of an application for financial assistance to 
financially distressed communities in rural areas with populations of 
2,500 or fewer inhabitants for water and waste disposal projects as 
authorized in Sections 306(a)(1), 306(a)(2) and 306(a)(24) of the 
CONACT. The reporting burden covered by this collection of information 
consists of forms, documents and written burden to support a request 
for funding for a SEARCH loan.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) 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;
    (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the 
validity of the methodology and assumption 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 on other forms and information technology.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Crystal 
Pemberton, Management Analyst Branch 1, Rural Development Innovation 
Center--Regulations Management Division, United States Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, 
DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 260-8621, Email: 
[email protected].
    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.

Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15614 Filed 7-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P