[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47102-47103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15536]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

[Docket ID: FSA-2023-0013]


Information Collection Request; Online Loan Application for 
Direct Loan Making Program and Direct Loan Servicing

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 
requirements, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from 
all interested individuals and organizations on a new collection 
associated with the new automated FSA Online Loan Application for 
Direct Loan Making Program and Direct Loan Servicing--Primary. For both 
Direct Loan Making and Direct Loan Servicing--Primary, the collected 
information is used in eligibility and feasibility determinations for 
loan making and loan servicing actions. Future releases of the FSA 
Online Loan Application will provide

[[Page 47103]]

additional functionality and components for Direct Loan Making & Direct 
Loan Servicing--Primary applications.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by September 19, 2023.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice. 
FSA prefers that the comments are submitted electronically through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal, identified by docket ID No. FSA-2023-0013, 
go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID FSA-2023-
0013. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    All comments received will be posted without change and made 
publicly available on www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to the 
information collection activities or to obtain a copy of the 
information collection request: For the Direct Loan Making Program 
please contact Matthew Christian; telephone; (423) 788-2007; email: 
[email protected]; for Direct Loan Servicing--Primary, please 
contact Lee Nault, (202) 720-6834; email: [email protected]. 
Individuals who require alternative means for communication should 
contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Farm Loan Programs, Direct Loan Making.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: FSA's Farm Loan Programs provide loans to family farmers 
to purchase real estate and equipment, and to finance agricultural 
production. FSA simplified the Direct farm loan application as a part 
of the efforts to conform with the Executive Order 14058, 
``Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to 
Rebuild Trust in Government.'' The use of the hard copy form is covered 
in the information collection request under the OMB control number of 
0560-0237; FSA reduced the number of pages required for completion of 
the form FSA-2001, ``Request for Direct Loan Assistance'' from 29 pages 
to 13 pages.
    To further improve the customer experience and service delivery for 
the Farm Loan Program loan applicants, FSA is currently developing an 
Online Loan Application for the applicants to submit requests for 
Direct Loan assistance electronically. Future releases and iterations 
of the online application software will include expansion of 
functionality for direct loan making and provide ability for primary 
loan servicing application submission.
    FSA will expect to further decrease the burden hours under the OMB 
Control number 0560-0237 as the functionally and use of the online 
application software expands, and more applicants shift away from using 
the hard copy application form. Due to ease of application submission, 
the expected number of annual respondents for all FSA-2001 submissions 
for loan making purposes is expected to increase by 10 percent over a 
5-year average.
    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the 
formula used to calculate the total burden hour is the estimated 
average time per response hours multiplied by the estimated total 
annual responses.
    Estimate of Average Time to Respond: Public reporting burden for 
the information collection is estimated to average per response 1.2 
hours.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals or households, informal entities, 
legal entities, businesses or other for-profit farms.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 21,610.
    Estimated Number of Reponses per Respondent: 1.82.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 39,330.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 47,196 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of FSA, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of FSA's estimate of burden including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (4) 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.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

USDA Non-Discrimination Policy

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, 
and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are 
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, 
religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family or parental 
status, income derived from a public assistance program, political 
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in 
any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases 
apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by 
program or incident.
    Individuals who require alternative means of communication for 
program information (for example, braille, large print, audiotape, 
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 
USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY) or 
dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and text 
telephone users can initiate this call from any telephone). 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy 
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form 
or letter to USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Zach Ducheneaux,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2023-15536 Filed 7-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-E2-P