Notice2024-05429
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 14, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 51 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18592-18593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05429]
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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 Office of Management and
Budget (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; 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 April
15, 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
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. 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 Utilities Service
Title: Electric System Emergency Restoration Plan.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0140.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is
uniquely coupled with the electric infrastructure of rural America and
its electric borrowers serving rural America because a substantial
portion of the electric infrastructure of the United States resides in,
and is maintained by, rural America. To ensure that the electric
infrastructure in rural America is adequately protected, RUS requires
that all electric borrowers conduct a Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
(VRA) of their respective systems and utilize the results of this
assessment to enhance an existing\Emergency Restoration Plan (ERP) or
create an ERP.
The items covered in this information collection package are
received from RUS electric program distribution, generation, and
transmission borrowers, who are required by 7 CFR 1730.27 and 1730.28
to identify critical assets and develop an Emergency Restoration Plan
(ERP). The ERP details how borrowers will restore systems in the event
of a system-wide outage resulting from a major natural or man-made
disaster or other causes. The ERP also includes preventative measures
for emergency recovery from physical and cyber-attacks to the
borrower's electric systems and addresses Homeland Security concerns.
Need and Use of the Information: Electric borrowers maintain an ERP
as part of prudent utilities practices. These ERPs are essential to
continuous operation of the electric systems. 7 CFR 1730.26(b) requires
that each electric applicant develop an ERP that is approved and signed
by the applicant's Manager or Chief Executive Officer and approved by
the applicant's Board of Directors. Applicants for new RUS electric
loans, loan guarantees, or grants must include the written
certification of an ERP in the application package submitted to RUS. If
the self-certification of an ERP is not received, approval of the loan,
loan guarantees, or grants will not be considered until the
certification is received by RUS.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 41.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 21.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR part 1752, Special Servicing of Telecommunication
Programs Loans for Financially Distressed Borrowers.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0153.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the
Agency) Telecommunications Program (Program) provides loan funding to
build and expand broadband and telecommunications services into
unserved and underserved rural communities, along with very limited
funding to support the costs to acquire equipment to provide distance
learning and telemedicine service. RUS published a Final rule codifying
a new servicing regulation on February 25, 2020 in the Federal Register
which outlines policies for servicing actions associated with
distressed borrowers from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan
Program, Rural Broadband Program, Distance Learning and Telemedicine
Program, Broadband Initiatives Program, and Rural e-Connectivity Pilot
Program. The purpose of the regulation is to streamline servicing
actions, improve the government's recovery on such loans, and improve
customer service.
Need and Use of the Information: The information collection
addresses RD's expanded authority, with the codification of the
rulemaking, to address servicing actions. RD considers it imperative to
use the expanded authority for servicing actions associated with the
RUS Telecommunications Programs in order to: (1) maximize risk
management of loan portfolio; (2) reduce duplication of effort between
Federal agencies, which may expedite servicing of distressed borrowers;
(3) ensure efficient recovery of debt which may mitigate negative
impact on program subsidy rates; and (4) simplify the servicing process
for the Agency and therefore minimize the financial burden and costs on
borrowers.
The Agency provides forms and/or guidelines to assist in collection
and submission of the information required to service loans. In some
cases, use of Agency forms is optional and the borrower may submit the
information
[[Page 18593]]
required on other forms. The forms or related items completed by the
borrower are submitted to and evaluated by the Agency. Failure to
collect proper information from borrowers could result in improper
determinations of servicing assistance, hinder the government's
recovery of such loans as well as encumber customer service.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not for-
profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 5.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 695.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-05429 Filed 3-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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