[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86315-86316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27305]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 13, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 86315]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-23-0067]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing 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 Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention 
to extend its current approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
to collect information for eight competitive and two non-competitive 
AMS Grant Programs under its Grants Division. AMS TM Grant Programs is 
merging collection OMB 0581-0320--Non-competitive Micro-Grants for Food 
Security Program (MGFSP). MGFSP was acquired through the enactment of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 12, 2024 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice by using the electronic process available at https://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the document number 
and the date and the page number of this issue of the Federal Register. 
Written comments may be submitted to Robert Tarwater, Grants Division 
Director, AMS Transportation and Marketing Program, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250-0264. All comments received 
will be posted without change, including any personal information 
provided, at https://www.regulations.gov and will be included in the 
record and made available to the public. Please do not include 
personally identifiable information (such as name, address, or other 
contact information) or confidential business information that you do 
not want publicly disclosed. Comments may be submitted anonymously.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Tarwater, Director, Grants 
Division, Telephone: (202) 690-1300 or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: AMS Grant Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0240.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 1/31/2024.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: AMS Grant Programs are authorized pursuant to the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 1621, et seq.) and 
are implemented through the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Super Circular) 
(2 CFR 200). The AMS Grants Division requests to extend its current 
approval to collect information for its grant programs. The grant 
program being added to this collection is the Micro-Grants for Food 
Security Program (MGFSP), which operates pursuant to the authority of 
section 4206 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-
343), (7 U.S.C. 7518) (Farm Bill). Section 4206 directs the Secretary 
of Agriculture to ``distribute funds to the agricultural department or 
agency of each eligible state for the competitive distribution of 
subgrants to eligible entities for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal 
year thereafter.'' The MGFSP works to increase the quantity and quality 
of locally grown food in food insecure communities, including through 
small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations.
    AMS solicits for subject matter experts to act as peer reviewers 
for competitive grant programs under its purview. Interested 
individuals apply and those selected objectively review and evaluate 
grant applications against the criteria outlined in the published 
announcement.
    Because AMS Grant Programs are voluntary, respondents request or 
apply for the specific competitive or non-competitive grant program 
they select, and in doing so, they provide information. AMS is the 
primary user of the information. The information collected is needed to 
certify that grant participants are complying with applicable program 
regulations, and the data collected is the minimum information 
necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the program. The 
information collection requirements in this request are essential to 
carry out the intent of the AMA, to provide the respondents the type of 
service they request, and to administer these programs. The burden of 
the AMS Grant Programs is as follows:

Combined Burden for AMS Grant Programs

    Estimate of Burden: 2.34.
    Respondents: Peer reviewers, grant applicants, grant recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,047.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping: 11,286.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 30.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
24,808.30.

Micro Grants for Food Security Program

    Estimate of Burden: 2.65.
    Respondents: Grant applicants and grant recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 10.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping: 120.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent including 
Recordkeepers: 11.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
318.33.
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the new 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 
new 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

[[Page 86316]]

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.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. chapter 35.

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-27305 Filed 12-12-23; 8:45 am]
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