[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65839-65840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17989]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding: whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 regarding this information collection received by 
September 12, 2024 will be considered. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collection should be 
submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the 
following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: 7 CFR 4280-A, Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0035.
    Summary of Collection: The information collected is necessary to 
implement section 313(b) (2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 940(c)) that established a loan and grant program. Rural 
Business Service (RBS) mission is to improve the quality of life in 
rural America by financing community facilities and businesses, 
providing technical assistance and creating effective strategies for 
rural development. Under this program, zero interest loans and grants 
are provided to electric and telecommunications utilities that have 
borrowed funds from RUS. The purpose of the program is to encourage 
these electric and telecommunications utilities to promote rural 
economic development and job creation projects such as business start-
up costs, business expansion, community development, and business 
incubator projects.
    Need and Use of the Information: The various forms and narrative 
requirements are no more than what a prudent commercial lender would 
require in the private sector if they processed an application without 
governmental assistance. The information requested is necessary and 
vital in order for RBS to be able to make prudent and financial 
analysis decisions. RBS has reviewed the program needs versus the 
burden placed on the public and is of the opinion that the program is 
necessary and will be beneficial to all parties involved. RBS, through 
its respective Program Management Division in Washington, DC, and its 
staff located in 47 State Offices throughout the United States, will be 
the primary user of the information collected. It is projected that 120 
applicants per year will apply and be approved for a Rural Economic 
Development loan or grant. The information collected will be used to 
evaluate applications for funding consideration, conduct an 
environmental review, prepare legal documents, receive loan payments, 
oversee the operation of a revolving loan fund, monitor the use of RBS 
funds, and enforce other Government requirements such as compliance 
with civil rights regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit Institutions; Business 
or other for-profit;
    Number of Respondents: 120.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On Occasion, Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,742.

[[Page 65840]]

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Rural Micro-Entrepreneur Assistance Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0062.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance 
Program (RMAP), authorized under section 6022 of the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), which amends 
section subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
of 2008 (CON Act) provides rural microentrepreneurs with the skills 
necessary to establish new rural microenterprises, to provide 
continuing technical and financial assistance related to the successful 
operation of rural microenterprises, and to assist with the cost of 
providing other activities and services related to the successful 
operation of rural microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) and 
rural microenterprises. The Secretary makes direct loans to MDOs (MDOs 
that are participating in the program are referred to as 
``microlenders'') for the purpose of capitalizing microloan revolving 
funds to provide fixed interest rate business loans of $50,000 or less 
to microentrepreneurs, as defined in the 2008 Farm Bill.
    Need and Use of the Information: Microlenders seeking loans and/or 
grants will have to submit applications that include specified 
information, certifications, and agreements to the Agency. This 
information will be used to determine applicant eligibility and to 
ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Applications for 
continued participation in RMAP, during years 2 and 3, will include 
primarily any needed updates to the information submitted with the 
initial application.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit Institutions; State, Local or Tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 40.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly, Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,907.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Advanced Biofuel Payment Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0063.
    Summary of Collection: This Program, authorized under section 9005 
of title IX of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 
Farm Bill), authorizes the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or 
the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States 
Department of Agriculture, to enter into contracts to make payments to 
eligible entities to support and ensure an expanding production of 
advanced biofuels. Entities eligible to receive payments under the 
Program are producers of advanced biofuels that meet all of the 
requirements of the Program. Such entities can be an individual or 
legal entity, including a corporation, company, foundation, 
association, labor organization, firm, partnership, society, joint 
stock company, group of organizations, or non-profit that produces an 
advanced biofuel and that sells the advanced biofuel on the commercial 
market. The underlying regulation for this program is 7 CFR 4288, 
subpart B.
    Need and Use of the Information: Advanced biofuel producers seeking 
to participate in the Program must enroll in the Program by submitting 
an application (Form RD 4288-1), which includes specific information 
about the producer and the producer's advanced biofuel biorefineries. 
This information will be used to determine whether the advanced biofuel 
producer is eligible to participate in the Program and whether the 
advanced biofuel being produced is eligible for payments under the 
Program. Form RD 4288-1 will also be used by the Agency to sign-up 
advance biofuel producers in subsequent fiscal years (FY) and to obtain 
information to help determine payment rates.
    Once an advanced biofuel producer has been approved for 
participation in the Program, the producer and the Agency will enter 
into a contract (Form RD 4288-2). Once the contract is signed, the 
advanced biofuel producer will submit payment requests (Form RD-4288-
3), preferably on a quarterly basis. The information in the payment 
request forms will be used by the Agency to determine payments to the 
advanced biofuel producers.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 92.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly, Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 993.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal 
Procurement.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0073.
    Summary of Collection: Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act (FSRIA) of 2002, as amended by the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act (FCEA) of 2008, the Agricultural Act of 2014, and the 
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 [7 U.S.C. 8102] provides for a 
Federal Preferred Procurement Program under which Federal agencies are 
required to purchase biobased products, with certain exceptions. 
Product categories (which are generic groupings of products) are 
designated by rulemaking for preferred procurement. To qualify product 
categories for procurement under this Program, the statute requires 
that the Secretary of Agriculture consider information on the 
availability of biobased products, the economic and technological 
feasibility of using such products, and the costs of using such 
products.
    Need and Use of the Information: The USDA BioPreferred Program 
provides that qualifying biobased products that fall under product 
categories (generic groups of biobased products) that have been 
designated for preferred procurement by rule making are required to be 
purchased by Federal agencies in lieu of their fossil energy-based 
counterparts, with certain limited exceptions. Further, USDA is 
required by section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002, as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
and the Agricultural Act of 2014, and the Agricultural Improvement Act 
of 2018, to provide certain information on qualified biobased products 
to Federal agencies. To meet these statutory requirements, USDA will 
gather that information from manufacturers and vendors of biobased 
products. The information sought by USDA can be transmitted 
electronically using the website http://www.biopreferred.gov. If for 
any reason the requested information cannot be electronically 
transmitted, USDA will provide technical assistance to support the 
transmission of information to USDA. The information collected will 
enable USDA to meet statutory information requirements that will then 
permit USDA to designate product categories for preferred procurement 
under the BioPreferred Program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 220.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Other (once).
    Total Burden Hours: 8,800.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-17989 Filed 8-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P