[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65843-65844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18015]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-24-WATER-0018]


Notice of Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS or Agency), an agency within the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD), 
announces its intention to request a revision to a currently approved 
information collection package for Water and Waste Disposal Loans and 
Grants (WWLG), Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate 
Health Risks for Colonias, Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to 
Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands, Emergency Community Water 
Assistance Grants (ECWAG), and Grants for Rural Alaskan Village (RAVG) 
programs. 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 October 15, 2024 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Anne Mathis, RD Innovation 
Center--Regulations Management Division, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250, 
Telephone: 202-713-7565, 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 
extension.
    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 submitted electronically through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal, regulations.gov/. In the ``Search for dockets and 
documents on agency actions'' box enter the Docket No. RUS-24-WATER-
0018 and click the ``Search'' button. From the search results, click on 
or locate the document title: ``Notice of Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection'' and select the ``Comment'' button. 
Before inputting comments, commenters may

[[Page 65844]]

review the ``Commenter's Checklist'' (optional). To submit a comment: 
Insert comments under the ``Comment'' title, click ``Browse'' to attach 
files (if available), input email address, select box to opt to receive 
email confirmation of submission and tracking (optional), select the 
box ``I'm not a robot,'' and then select ``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. All comments will be available for public inspection 
online at the Federal eRulemaking Portal (regulations.gov).
    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: Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants, Water and Waste 
Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks for Colonias, Water 
and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal 
Lands, Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants (ECWAG), and Grants 
for Rural Alaskan Village (RAVG) programs
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0121.
    Type of Request: Update of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The WWLG program provides funding for clean and reliable 
drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste 
disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in 
eligible rural areas. The Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment 
Planning Grants (PPG) help eligible low-income communities plan and 
develop applications for proposed water or waste disposal projects. 
WWLG and PPG programs are implemented through 7 CFR part 1780.
    The Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health 
Risks programs are for Colonias or on Tribal Lands. These programs help 
get safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal to low-income 
communities that face significant health risks. These programs are 
implemented through 7 CFR part 1777.
    The ECWAG program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover 
from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable 
drinking water. This program is implemented through 7 CFR part 1778.
    The RAVG programs helps remote Alaskan villages provide safe, 
reliable drinking water and waste disposal systems for households and 
businesses. This program is implemented through 7 CFR part 1784.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3.625 hours per response.
    Respondents: For all programs except RAVG--public bodies, 
nonprofits, Federally-recognized tribes. For RAVG--Rural Alaskan 
Villages, State of Alaska for the benefit of a rural Alaskan Village or 
hub.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 656.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 45.893.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 30,106.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 109,127 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from 
Katherine Anne Mathis, RD Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, Telephone: 202-713-7565, 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, USDA Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-18015 Filed 8-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P