[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 150 (Friday, August 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47960-47961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16794]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-22-NONE-0015]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Environmental 
Policies and Procedures OMB Control No.: 0575-0197

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as 
amended, the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, and Rural Housing Service, agencies that comprise the Rural 
Development Mission Area within the United States Department of 
Agriculture, announce their intention to request an extension of a 
currently approved information collection and invites comments on this 
information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 4, 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: 
(RHS-22-NONE-0015). 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: Environmental Policies and Procedures OMB Control No.: 
0575-0197) 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 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 part 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 the following information collection 
that the Agencies are submitting to OMB as extension to an existing 
collection with Agency adjustment.
    Title: Environmental Policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0197.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2022.

[[Page 47961]]

    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: 4.98 hours.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions and other businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 92,597.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 461,736 hours.
    Abstract: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other 
applicable environmental and historic preservation statutes require all 
Federal agencies to consider the potential environmental consequences 
of their actions on the quality of the human environment and historic 
properties before agency decisions are made and prior to it taking an 
action; in RD's case the ``action'' is the approval of financial 
assistance and obligation of Federal funds. To comply with NEPA and 
other environmental laws, regulations and Executive Orders, RD requires 
applicants submitting applications for financial assistance to include 
project-specific environmental information along with other 
underwriting requirements. The purpose of this information is to 
evaluate and document the environmental implications of applicant's 
proposals. The reporting burden covered by this collection of 
information consists of documents and written burden to support 
Environmental Policies and Procedures.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
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 
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 
respondents, including through 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.
    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.

Joaquin Altoro,
Rural Housing Service, Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-16794 Filed 8-4-22; 8:45 am]
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