[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48787-48788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16060]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket ID NRCS-2023-0015]


Information Collection Request; Conservation Outreach, Education, 
and Technical Assistance

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement, 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Outreach and 
Partnership Division (OPD) is requesting comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on a new information collection request 
associated with Conservation Outreach, Education, and Technical 
Assistance. The approved recipients will report the equity information 
to NRCS OPD on the underserved producers and communities who receive 
conservation assistance and students who are interested to pursue 
agriculture, natural resources and related sciences careers.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by September 26, 2023.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments, identified by Docket ID: NRCS-2023-0015 in the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Howard; by telephone: 701-214-
8874; or by email: [email protected]. Individuals who require 
alternative means for communication should contact the 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).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Conservation Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance.
    OMB Control Number: 0578-XXXX.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: NRCS OPD is administrating the Equity in Conservation 
Outreach cooperative agreements. As the primary goal of NRCS, in 
collaboration with partners, is to expand conservation assistance to 
historically underserved producers and underserved communities and to 
provide opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, 
natural resources, and related sciences.
    After the cooperative agreements are awarded, the cooperators will 
be required to provide performance reports to provide information as 
specified in the general terms and conditions in the executed 
cooperative agreement. Recipients will report semi-annually. In order 
to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the agreement via 
standardized metrics, NRCS OPD is offering a performance reporting 
template as a supplement to the required performance report.
    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the 
formula used to calculate the total burden hours is the estimated 
average time per responses multiplied by the estimated total annual of 
responses annually.
    Estimate of Average Time To Respond: The reporting burden for 
collecting information is estimated to average 4 hours per response, 
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data 
sources, gathering and maintaining the data

[[Page 48788]]

needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
    Type of Respondents: OPD Cooperative Agreement Recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.
    Estimated Average Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 300.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,200.
    NRCS is requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Evaluate the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
technology; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
respond 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 where provided, will be made a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
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.

Terry Cosby,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-16060 Filed 7-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P