[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41927-41928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10536]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Notice of Request for Extension or Renewal of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Civil Rights (OASCR) to request a renewal to a currently approved 
information collection. OASCR will use the information collected to 
process Respondent's program discrimination complaints conducted or 
assisted by USDA.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 15, 2024 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
invites interested persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments 
may be submitted by one of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the ability to 
type short comments directly into the comment field on this web page or 
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions on the eRulemaking Portal submitting 
comments.
    U.S. Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410.
    Hand or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 Independence 
Avenue, Washington, DC 20250-9410.
    Instructions: All items submitted by U.S. mail or electronic mail 
must include the Agency name, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Civil Rights. Comments received in response to this docket will be made 
available for public inspection and posted without changes, including 
any personal information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, 
please contact the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
at 1400 Independence Avenue SW, DC 20250, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Winona Massie, Executive 
Director, Center for Civil Rights Operations, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-3808.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), this notice announces the intention 
of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to request 
approval for an existing collection in use without an Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
    Title: USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form.
    OMB Number: OMB No. 0508-0002.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Extension and renewal of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under 7 CFR 15.6, ``Any person who believes himself/
herself or any specific class of individuals to be subjected to 
discrimination [in any USDA assisted program or activity] may by 
himself/herself or by an authorized representative file a written 
complaint.'' Under 7 CFR 15d.5(a), ``Any person who believes that he or 
she (or any specific class of individuals) has been, or is being, 
subjected to [discrimination in any USDA conducted program or activity] 
* * * may file [on his or her own,] (or file through an authorized 
representative) a written complaint alleging such discrimination.'' The 
collection of this information is an avenue by which the individual or 
his representative may file such a program discrimination complaint.
    The requested information, which can be submitted by filling out a 
form or by

[[Page 41928]]

submitting a letter, is necessary for USDA OASCR to address the alleged 
discriminatory action. The Respondent is asked to state his/her name, 
mailing address, property address (if different from mailing address), 
telephone number, email address (if any) and to provide a name and 
contact information for the Respondent's representative (if any). A 
brief description of who was involved with the alleged discriminatory 
action, what occurred and when, is requested. In the event that the 
Respondent is filing the program discrimination complaint more than 180 
days after the alleged discrimination occurred, the Respondent is asked 
to provide the reason for the delay.
    Finally, the Respondent is asked to identify which bases are 
alleged to have motivated the discriminatory action. The form explains 
that laws and regulations prohibit on the bases of race, color, 
national origin, age, sex, gender identity (including gender 
expression), disability, religion, sexual orientation, marital or 
familial status, or because all or part of the individual's income is 
derived from any public assistance program, but that not all bases 
apply to all programs.
    The program discrimination complaint filing information, which is 
voluntarily provided by the Respondent, will be used by the staff of 
USDA OASCR to intake, investigate, resolve, and/or adjudicate the 
Respondent's complaint. The program discrimination complaint form will 
enable OASCR to better collect information from complainants in a 
timely manner, therefore, reducing delays and errors in determining 
USDA jurisdiction.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Producers, applicants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 280.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 280 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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) 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; (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 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: Send comments to: [email protected].
     U.S. Mail: Winona Massie, Executive Director, Center for 
Civil Rights Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-9410.
    All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record.

Penny Brown Reynolds,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 2024-10536 Filed 5-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-P