Notice2026-08681
Information Collection; Equal Opportunity Program Delivery Compliance Review Tool
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
May 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service (Agency) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with no revision of a currently approved information collection, Equal Opportunity Program Delivery Compliance Review Tool.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24156-24157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08681]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Equal Opportunity Program Delivery
Compliance Review Tool
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Forest Service (Agency) is seeking comments from all interested
individuals and organizations on the extension with no revision of a
currently approved information collection, Equal Opportunity Program
Delivery Compliance Review Tool.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before July 6, 2026
to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Civil
Rights, Mail Stop 1142, Forest Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20250-1142. Comments also may be submitted by email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81d2ccafc7d2afd6cec2e8f7e8edd3e8e6e9f5c1f4f2e5e0afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="13405e3d55403d445c507a657a7f417a747b6753666077723d747c65">[email protected]</span></a>.
Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available
to the public through relevant websites and upon request. For this
reason, please do not include in your comments information of a
confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or
proprietary information. If you send an email comment, your email
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available for
public viewing. Please note that comments containing any routine notice
about the confidentiality of the communication will be treated as
public comments that may be made available to the public
notwithstanding the inclusion of the routine notice.
The public may request that an electronic copy of the supporting
documents for the information collection and/or any comments received
be sent via return email. Requests should be emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#782b35563e2b562f373b110e11142a111f100c380d0b1c19561f170e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6437294a22374a332b270d120d08360d030c1024111700054a030b12">[email protected]</span></a>. The information collection request is
posted online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Davina Diaz, Civil Rights, by phone at
520-388-8419 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#771316011e191659131e160d370204131659101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="01656077686f602f6568607b41747265602f666e77">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who are
deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may call 711 to
reach the Telecommunications Relay Service then provide the phone
number of the person named as a point of contact for further
information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Equal Opportunity Program Delivery Compliance Review Tool.
OMB Number: 0596-0215.
Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2026.
Type of Review: Extension with no Revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract
All Federal agencies must comply with equal opportunity laws:
<bullet> Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended
<bullet> Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972
<bullet> The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended
<bullet> Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
<bullet> Executive orders to advance equal opportunity,
nondiscrimination, and meritocracy in the delivery of all programs and
services to the public.
Federal agencies and entities receiving Federal Financial
Assistance are prohibited from discriminating. Federal Financial
Assistance is defined as, ``Federal monies given by grants, cooperative
agreements, commercial special use permits, training, loan/temporary
assignment of federal personnel, loan/use of Federal property at below
market value.''
The Equal Opportunity (E.O.) laws require agencies to conduct
compliance reviews to ensure that entities receiving Federal Financial
Assistance from the government are adhering to the nondiscrimination
statutes. The statutes require that prior to awarding support or
issuing permits, the Federal government shall conduct pre-award reviews
to ensure that potential recipients understand their responsibilities
to provide services equitable pursuant to the law. Thereafter, during
the partnership with the agency, ongoing monitoring will take place to
ensure that public is served without any barriers or discrimination.
Forest Service employees will use FS-1700-6A, Equal Opportunity
Compliance Review Record, to document shared non-discrimination
obligations and collect information regarding actions taken by
recipients of Federal financial assistance to ensure the public
receives services without discrimination or barriers to access.
Optional form B documents that recipients' employees understand their
customer service role and optional form C is for customers' awareness
of their rights of non-discrimination.
Collection form FS-1700-6A, Equal Opportunity Compliance Review
Record, will occur during face-to-face meetings or telephone interviews
conducted by a Forest Service employee as part of the pre-award and
post-award process. The pre-award interview will take place prior to
the signing of a cooperative agreement, domestic grant, commercial
special use permit award or similar where a non-discrimination clause
appears in the agreement. The post award interview will take place
either on a five (5) or 10-year basis as instructed in Forest Service
Handbook (FSH) 1709.11, Chapter 70 or upon report/discovery of
discrimination.
Only general statistical information will be summarized and shared
in the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ)
annual report. However, if a report or discovery of a discrimination
complaint is identified then it will be reported to the USDA Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
Monitoring reviews have been a responsibility of the Federal
government since 1964 and continue to be an obligatory activity as
outlined in 28 Code of Federal Regulations 42.401-415 and 7 Code of
Federal Regulation 15.5. Without the ability to monitor recipients of
Federal financial assistance, the Forest Service would not be able to
ensure compliance with the civil rights laws, statutes, and current
Executive Orders (E.O.). The Agency would not be
[[Page 24157]]
aware of potential discriminatory practices. Absence of this form
leaves the American people and the public that we serve vulnerable to
non-merit-based decisions and discrimination.
Affected Public: Recipients of Federal financial assistance, the
American taxpayer and public(s) that we serve.
Estimated Annual Burden Per Response: 1/hr.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3,294/yr.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 4/yr.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,394.
Comment is Invited
Comment is invited on (1) whether this collection of information is
necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency's
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to this notice, including names
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record.
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission request for
Office of Management and Budget approval.
Michole J. Wesley,
Acting National Director, Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 2026-08681 Filed 5-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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