Notice2024-17989
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
August 13, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65839-65840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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 <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 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 <a href="http://www.biopreferred.gov">http://www.biopreferred.gov</a>. 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
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 13, 2024.
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