[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3381-3382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00937]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket No. RBS-23-BUSINESS-0001]


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 federal assistance requests and following 
applicable conditions when accepting loan and grant monies.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 20, 2023.

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 ``RBS'' from the agency drop-down menu, 
then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select RBS-23-
BUSINESS-0001 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 4280--Common Forms Package for Financial Assistance 
Forms for Loans/Grants.
    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 their loan and/or grant agreement and conditions upon being 
approved for the federal program they have applied for and accepted 
terms for.
    The Agencies will use the forms contained in this information 
collection for several programs. One example is to provide funds to 
Agriculture Innovation Centers (Centers) which provide agricultural 
producers with technical and business development assistance. The 
Agencies also administers funding programs to intermediaries for the 
purpose of promoting rural economic development and job creation 
projects through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP). 
This program provides rural microentrepreneurs with the skills 
necessary to establish new rural microenterprises; to provide 
continuing technical and financial assistance related to the successful 
operation of rural microenterprises; and to assist with the cost of 
providing other activities and services related to the successful 
operation of rural microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) and 
rural microenterprises.
    The Agencies collect information from applicants to confirm 
eligibility for the program and to evaluate the quality of the 
applications. Recipients of awards are required to submit reporting and 
payment request information to facilitate monitoring of the award and 
disbursement of funds.
    The Agencies need to receive the information contained in this 
collection of information to select the projects it believes will 
provide the most long-term economic benefit to rural areas. Through 
this collection of information, the Agencies can also make sure the 
funds are used for the intended purposes and, in the case of the loan, 
that the funds will be repaid. Agencies must determine that loans made 
from revolving loan funds established with grants are used for eligible 
purposes.

[[Page 3382]]

    Estimate of Burden: Rural Development 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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4280-2, 4280-4.........................................               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.

Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-00937 Filed 1-18-23; 8:45 am]
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