Notice2025-19267
Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection; Comments Requested
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
October 2, 2025
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Utilities Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 189 (Thursday, October 2, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 189 (Thursday, October 2, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47723-47724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19267]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket No. RUS-25-ELECTRIC-0200]
Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection; Comments Requested
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information
collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 1, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Pemberton, Management Analyst,
Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division,
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, DC
20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 260-8621. Email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81c2f3f8f2f5e0edafd1e4ece3e4f3f5eeefc1f4f2e5e0afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="86c5f4fff5f2e7eaa8d6e3ebe4e3f4f2e9e8c6f3f5e2e7a8e1e9f0">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR 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 RUS
is submitting to OMB for revision.
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 sent by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and, in the ``Search'' box, type in the
``RUS-25-ELECTRIC-0200.'' A link to the Notice will appear. You may
submit a comment here by selecting the ``Comment'' button or you can
access the ``Docket'' tab, select the ``Notice,'' and go to the
``Browse & Comment on Documents'' Tab. Here you may view comments that
have been submitted as well as submit a comment. Information on using
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, 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 at the
bottom. Comments on this information collection must be received by
December 1, 2025.
Title: Substantially Underserved Trust Areas.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0147.
Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2026.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The RUS provides loan, loan guarantee, and grant programs
for rural electric, water and waste, and telecommunications and
broadband infrastructure. The SUTA initiative gives the Secretary of
Agriculture certain discretionary authorities relating to financial
assistance terms and conditions that can enhance the financing
possibilities in areas that are underserved by certain RUS electric,
water and waste, and telecommunications and broadband programs.
The Water and Environmental Programs (WEP), division of RUS,
provides low-income communities that face significant health risks,
access to safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal facilities
services. Safe
[[Page 47724]]
drinking water and sanitary waste disposal systems are vital not only
to public health, but also to the economic vitality of rural America.
Rural Development is a leader in helping rural America improve the
quality of life and increase the economic opportunities for rural
people. Under 7 CFR 1777, Section 306C, WEP provides funding for the
construction of water and waste facilities in rural communities and is
proud to be the only Federal program exclusively focused on rural water
and waste infrastructure needs of rural communities with populations of
10,000 or less. WEP also provides funding to organizations that provide
technical assistance and training to rural communities in relation to
their water and waste activities, and is administered through National
Office staff in Washington, DC, and a network of field staff in each
State.
The Electric Program provides loans and grants to nonprofit and
cooperative associations, public bodies, and other utilities. Insured
loans primarily finance the construction of electric distribution
facilities in rural areas. The guaranteed loan program has been
expanded and is now available to finance generation, transmission, and
distribution facilities. The loans and loan guarantees finance the
construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation
facilities, including system improvements and replacement required to
furnish and improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demand
side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid
renewable energy systems. Loans are made to cooperatives as well as to
corporations, states, territories and subdivisions and agencies such as
municipalities, people's utility districts, and nonprofit, limited-
dividend, or mutual associations that provide retail electric service
needs to rural areas or supply the power needs of distribution
borrowers in rural areas.
The Telecom Program provides funding for the deployment of rural
telecommunications infrastructure. Funding includes loans and loan
guarantees as well as grants to eligible for-profit and non-profit
entities, tribes, municipalities, and cooperatives. Funds are available
through several different programs to help rural communities extend
access where broadband service is least likely to be commercially
available. Each program has different applicant and project eligibility
requirements and program objectives. Once funds are awarded, Rural
Development monitors the projects to make sure they are completed, meet
all program requirements, and are making efficient use of federal
resources. The Telecom Program maintains staff of General Field
Representatives (GFRs) locally for any technical assistance which may
be required nationwide. GFRs are an integral part of our outreach
delivery system. GFRs meet regularly with awardees at the awardee's
locations. GFRs serve as the local information resources for the
awardees and headquarters staff. They keep awardees current on issues
that profoundly impact their business.
The data covered by this collection of information are those
materials necessary to allow the agency to determine applicant and
community eligibility and an explanation and documentation of the high
need for the benefits of the SUTA provisions. Program specific
application materials, which funds are being applied for, are covered
by the information collection package for the specific RUS program.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 30 hours per response.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 46.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,380.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Crystal
Pemberton, Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, at
Telephone: (202) 260-8621. Email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#105362696364717c3e40757d727562647f7e50656374713e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1d5e6f646e697c71334d78707f786f6972735d686e797c337a726b">[email protected]</span></a>.
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.
Karl Elmshaeuser,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-19267 Filed 10-1-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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