[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53946-53947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14267]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No.: RUS-24-WATER-0016]


Notice of a Revision 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 the Agency), an 
agency with the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural 
Development, intention to request a revision to a currently approved 
information collection package for the Rural Decentralized Water 
Systems program. The Agency invites comments on this information 
collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 27, 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 the Agency is submitting to OMB for 
revision.
    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. located at the beginning of this notice. 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

[[Page 53947]]

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: 7 CFR part 1776, ``Rural Decentralized Water Systems''.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0139.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Agency supports the sound development of rural 
communities and the growth of our economy without endangering the 
environment. RUS provides 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 Rural Decentralized Water Systems (DWS) program makes grants to 
qualified, private non-profit organizations which will help homeowners 
finance the cost of individually owned decentralized water and or 
wastewater systems. As the grant recipient, non-profit organizations 
will establish a revolving loan fund lending program to provide 
decentralized water and or wastewater loans and subgrants to 
individuals who own or will own private decentralized water and or 
wastewater systems in rural areas. The individual loan recipients may 
use the funds to construct, refurbish, and service their household 
decentralized water and or wastewater systems for an existing home. The 
collection of information consists of the materials to file a grant 
application with the agency, including forms, certifications and 
required documentation.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4.466 hours per response.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 146.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 20.86.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 652 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. 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. 2024-14267 Filed 6-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P