Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Issuing agencies

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 207 (Wednesday, October 28, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67809-67810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21993]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 28, 2026 / 
Notices

[[Page 67809]]



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 
and other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by November 
27, 2026 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.

Forest Service

    Title: Equal Opportunity Compliance Review Reporting Tool.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0215.
    Summary of Collection: All Federal agencies and the entities 
receiving Federal financial assistance are prohibited from 
discriminating in the delivery of programs and services. Agencies must 
comply with equal opportunity laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972; The 
Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and Executive orders 
prohibiting discrimination 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 laws require agencies to conduct compliance 
reviews to ensure that entities receiving Federal Financial Assistance 
from the government are adhering to the nondiscrimination statues. 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 the public is being served without any barriers or 
discrimination.
    Need and Use of the Information: 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 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.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit Institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 11,625.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 52,313.

Forest Service

    Title: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Financial Assistance 
to Facilities that Purchase and Process Byproducts for Ecosystem 
Restoration (CFDA 10.725) Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance 
(WPIA).
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0254.

[[Page 67810]]

    Summary of Collection: USDA Forest Service is delivering the Wood 
Products Infrastructure Assistance (WPIA) as part of Section 
40804(b)(3) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Public Law 
117-58 (11/15/2021) which directs the USDA Forest Service to provide 
financial assistance to an entity seeking to establish, reopen, expand, 
or improve a sawmill or other wood processing facility in close 
proximity to a unit of federal or Indian land that has been identified 
as high or very high priority for ecological restoration. According to 
2 CFR part 200 and Forest Service Handbook 1509.11, Chapter 20, there 
is certain narrative and budget information required for the Agency to 
determine if the project meets the legislative requirements and if the 
costs are reasonable, allocable, allowable, and necessary for the 
project. In particular, collection of information is necessary to 
ascertain if applicants seeking financial assistance do in fact operate 
facilities in close proximity to a unit of federal or Indian land that 
has been identified as high or very high priority for ecological 
restoration.
    Need and Use of the Information: Eligible applicants are for-profit 
entities; state, local governments; Indian Tribes; school districts; 
community, not-for-profit organizations; institutions of higher 
education; and special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities 
districts, fire districts, conservation districts, and ports).
    Applications will be submitted to via email by the date and time as 
listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity at <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>; searchable 
and identifiable by the catalog of domestic federal assistance (CFDA) 
number 10.725. The Forest Service State & Private Forestry will 
receive, review, and track all applications.

    Description of Respondents: State, Local, Tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 197.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,034.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-21993 Filed 10-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P


</pre></body>
</html>