[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 52 (Friday, March 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18891-18892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05471]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-24-ELECTRIC-0005]


Notice of an Extension to a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Rural Utilities 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 Utilities Service's (RUS or Agency), an 
agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural 
Development, intention to request an extension to a currently approved 
information collection package for the High Energy Costs Grants Rural 
Communities Program (HECG). 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 May 14, 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 RUS is submitting to OMB for extension 
of 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. RUS-24-ELECTRIC-0005. 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: High Energy Costs Grants Rural Communities.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0136.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The HECG Program is authorized under section 19 of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (the RE Act) (7 U.S.C. 
918a), and implemented by 7 CFR part 1709. The Agency, through the HECG 
program, provides grant funds to qualified types of applicants to 
acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, or otherwise improve energy 
generation, transmission, or

[[Page 18892]]

distribution facilities serving communities in which the average 
residential expenditure for home energy is at least 275 percent of the 
national average. Grants may also be used for programs that install on-
grid and off-grid renewable energy systems and energy efficiency 
improvements in eligible communities.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3.41 hours per response.
    Respondents: For profit and non-profit entities, State and local 
governments, Indian Tribes, other Tribal entities, Alaskan Native 
Corporations and Individuals. See 7 CFR 1709.106.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 344.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.73.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,172 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 for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-05471 Filed 3-14-24; 8:45 am]
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