60 Day Notice Word ver

BILLING CODE: 3410-XY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE

Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service

ACTION: Proposed collection; Comments requested.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by [insert date 60 days after date of publication in the Federal Register] to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Rural Development Innovation Center – Regulatory Team 2, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Room 4233, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522.  Telephone: (202) 690-4492.  Email Thomas.dickson@usda.gov.

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 extension.

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 any of the following methods:

 Mail: Thomas P. Dickson, Rural Development Innovation Center, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, Room 4233, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. Email: Thomas.Dickson@wdc.usda.gov.

 Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Title: Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant.

OMB Number: 0570-0052.

Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2019.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The purpose of this information collection is to obtain information necessary to evaluate grant applications to determine the eligibility of the applicant and the project for the program and to qualitatively assess the project to determine which projects should be funded.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.0 hours per response.

Respondents: provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through eligible cooperatives and cooperative development centers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 36.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 16.5.

Estimated Number of Responses: 596.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 620 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Robin M. Jones, Innovation Center, at (202)772-1172, Email: robin.m.jones@wdc.usda.gov.

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.

Bette B. Brand Date

Administrator

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

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