[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68387-68388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19052]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No.: RUS-24-WATER-0020]


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 servicing activities related to 
several loan and grant programs administered through the Water and 
Environmental Programs (WEP) of RUS. 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 25, 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 by the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal, regulations.gov/. In the ``Search for dockets and documents on 
agency actions'' box enter the Docket No. RUS-24-WATER-0020 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 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

[[Page 68388]]

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: Servicing of Water Programs Loans and Grants, 7 CFR part 
1782.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0137.
    Type of Request: Update of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Loan and grant servicing is provided by the Agency in 
order to assist recipients in complying with the established objectives 
and requirements for loans and grants, repaying loans on schedule, 
acting in accordance with any necessary agreements, and protecting the 
Agency's financial interest. Servicing by the Agency includes, but is 
not limited to, the review of budgets, management reports, audits, and 
financial statements; performing operational inspections; providing, 
arranging, or recommending technical assistance; evaluating 
environmental impacts of proposed actions by the borrower; and 
performing civil rights compliance and graduation reviews. 7 CFR part 
1782 outlines the Agencies' policies and procedures for servicing 
direct and insured WWLG, Watershed, RCDL, TAT, ECWAG, SWMG, and WWLG to 
Alleviate Health Risks programs.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.305 hours per response.
    Respondents: Public bodies, nonprofits, Federally-recognized 
tribes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,064.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.20.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 12,989.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 29,936 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. 2024-19052 Filed 8-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P