[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16719-16720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04944]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No.: RUS-24-WATER-0006]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Grant Program 
To Establish a Revolving Fund Program (RFP) To Finance Water and 
Wastewater Projects, 7 CFR 1783; OMB Control No.: 0572-0138

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service (RUS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as 
amended, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural 
Utilities

[[Page 16720]]

Service (RUS) announces its' intention to request a revision of a 
currently approved information collection and invites comments on this 
information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 7, 2024, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search Field'' box, 
labeled ``Search for dockets and documents on agency actions,'' enter 
the following docket number: (RHS-24-WATER-0006), and click ``Search.'' 
To submit public comments, select the ``Comment'' button. Before 
inputting your comments, you may also review the ``Commenter's 
Checklist'' (optional). Insert your comments under the ``Comment'' 
title, click ``Browse'' to attach files (if applicable). Input your 
email address and select an identity category then click ``Submit 
Comment.'' 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MaryPat Daskal, Chief, Branch 1, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-7853. 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 RHS 
is submitting to OMB for revision.
    Title: Grant Program to Establish a Revolving Fund Program (RFP) to 
Finance Water and Wastewater Projects, 7 CFR 1783.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0138.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 7.30 hour per response.
    Respondents: Individuals, partnerships, public and private non-
profit corporations, agencies, institutions, organizations, and Indian 
tribes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 51.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 12.75.
    Estimated Annual Reporting Burden on Respondents: 372.50 hours.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) supports the sound 
development of rural communities and the growth of our economy without 
endangering the environment. One of the ways the Agency pursues this 
goal is to provide financial and technical assistance to help 
communities bring safe drinking water and sanitary, environmentally 
sound waste disposal facilities to rural Americans in greatest need. 
The Revolving Fund Program (RFP) helps qualified non-profits create a 
revolving loan fund that can provide financing for the extension and 
improvement of water and waste disposal systems in rural areas. 
Entities eligible for the revolving loan fund will be the same entities 
eligible to obtain a loan, loan guarantee, or grant from RUS Water and 
Waste Disposal and Wastewater loan and grant programs. As grant 
recipients, the non- profit organizations establish a revolving loan 
fund to provide loans to finance predevelopment costs of water or 
wastewater projects, or short-term small capital projects not part of 
the regular operation and maintenance of current water and wastewater 
systems. The collection of information consists of the materials to 
file a grant application with the agency, including forms, 
certifications and required documentation.
    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. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble 
Brown, Rural Development Innovation Center, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, STOP 1522, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. 
Telephone: (202) 720-6780. Email [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-04944 Filed 3-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P