[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5204-5205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01581]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket No. RBS-24-CO-OP-0001]


Notice of a Revision to a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 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 Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBCS or 
Agency), an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Rural Development, intention to request a revision to a currently 
approved information collection package for the Agriculture Innovation 
Center Demonstration Program (AIC). In accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Agency invites comments on this information 
collection for which it intends to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 26, 2024 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Bennett, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-9639. Email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 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 
an information collection that RBCS is submitting to OMB for revision 
to an existing 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 
https://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search'' box, type in the 
Docket No. RBS-24-CO-OP-0001. A link to the Notice will appear. You may 
submit a comment here by selecting the ``Comment'' button or you can 
access the ``Docket'' tab, select the ``Notice,'' and go to the 
``Browse & Comment on Documents'' Tab. Here you may view comments that 
have been submitted as well as submit a comment. To submit a comment, 
select the ``Comment'' button, complete the required information, and 
select the ``Submit Comment'' button at the bottom. 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 at the 
bottom.
    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Data 
furnished by the applicants will be used to determine eligibility for 
program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, failure to 
provide data could result in program benefits being withheld or denied.
    Title: Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0045.
    Type of Request: Revision to a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The USDA, through the RBCS administers the Agriculture 
Innovation Center Demonstration (AIC) Program. The primary objective of 
this program is to provide funds to Agriculture Innovation Centers 
(Centers) which provide agricultural producers with technical and 
business development assistance. RBCS collects 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 Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) authorized the 
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to award grant 
funds to Centers.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 11.736 hour per response.
    Respondents: Small business or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 29.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 109.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.75.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,279 Hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela 
Bennett, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-9639. Email: 
[email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request

[[Page 5205]]

for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

Christopher McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-01581 Filed 1-25-24; 8:45 am]
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