Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 87 / Monday, May 7, 2007 / Notices 25737 

from all interested individuals and 

organizations on a new information 

collection, Homeowner Response to 

Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Incentives: 

What Works and What Doesn’t. 

DATES: Comments must be received in 

writing on or before July 6, 2007 to be 

assured of consideration. Comments 

received after that date will be 

considered to the extent practicable. 

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this 

notice should be addressed to Lynne M. 

Westphal, PhD, Project Leader & 

Research Social Scientist Natural 

Environments for Urban Populations, 

Northern Research Station, USDA Forest 

Service, 1033 University Place, Ste 360, 

Evanston, IL 60201. 

Comments also may be submitted via 

facsimile to 847–866–9506 or by e-mail 

to: lwestphal@fs.fed.us. 

The public may inspect comments 

received at Northern Research Station, 

USDA Forest Service, 1033 University 

Place, Ste 360, Evanston, IL during 

normal business hours. Visitors are 

encouraged to call ahead to 847–866–

9311 to facilitate entry to the building. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lynne M. Westphal, PhD, Project Leader 

& Research Social Scientist Natural 

Environments for Urban Populations, 

Northern Research Station, USDA Forest 

Service, 847–866–9311 extension 11. 

Individuals who use TDD may call the 

Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–

877–8339, 24 hours a day, every day of 

the year, including holidays. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Homeowner Response to 

Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Incentives: 

What Works and What Doesn’t. 

OMB Number: 0596–NEW. 

Type of Request: New. 

Abstract: The cost of protecting 

private property in areas near public 

forests, the wildland-urban interface 

(WUI), is growing rapidly. Rising costs 

are largely due to efforts of the Forest 

Service and other Federal agencies to 

protect private property, even when the 

fires pose little threat to public land. 

The Forest Service would like to find 

ways to help local communities share 

responsibility for community fire 

protection. Some local communities 

have programs designed to encourage 

homeowners to create fire-safe 

landscapes. In this way, these 

communities and homeowners help 

protect private property. 

The Forest Service is requesting 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) approval to study a range of 

current community programs designed 

to encourage homeowner participation 

in wildfire protection. Researchers will 

collect information from community 

residents living in high-risk wildfire 

areas in four communities: Grand 

Haven, Michigan; Ruidoso, New 

Mexico; Larimer County, Colorado; and 

Oakland, California. These sites were 

chosen based on differences in 

defensible space policy approaches and 

wildfire risk levels. 

Two researchers (one from a 

university and one from the Forest 

Service Northern Research Station) will 

analyze the data collected. These 

researchers are experts in applied social 

psychology and survey research. 

A random sample of homeowners 

who live in high-risk wildfire areas in 

the four communities will be mailed 

survey questionnaires. The homeowners 

will be told that the participation in the 

survey is voluntary. 

Participating homeowners will first 

complete a questionnaire, sharing 

perceptions and beliefs about the local 

wildfire hazard and local government 

response. Specifically, homeowners will 

be asked about their knowledge and 

understanding of local wildfire 

programs, their own efforts to protect 

their homes from wildfires, and reasons 

why they do or do not comply with 

local wildfire guidelines and laws. In 

addition, homeowners will be asked for 

their opinions about the risk of wildfires 

and the effectiveness and fairness of 

local wildfire protection programs and 

programs used by other communities. 

This information will assist the Forest 

Service in its efforts to implement the 

Healthy Forest Restoration Act by 

supporting development of Community 

Wildfire Protection Plans as required 

under this Act (Pub. L. 108–148). The 

Agency will use the collected 

information to help communities 

develop wildfire protection programs 

most appropriate for local conditions. 

Development of programs by local 

homeowners may increase local 

support, participation, and compliance 

with the programs. Local community 

and homeowner participation in 

wildfire protection activities are critical 

components of a comprehensive strategy 

to protect private property. 

Estimate of Annual Burden: 15 

minutes. 

Type of Respondents: Individuals. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: 2,000. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Responses per Respondent: 1. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 500 hours. 

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 

request for Office of Management and 

Budget approval. 

Dated: May 1, 2007. 

Ann M. Bartuska, 

Deputy Chief, Research and Development. 

[FR Doc. E7–8704 Filed 5–4–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

Notice of Request for Extension of a 

Currently Approved Information 

Collection 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments 

requested. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice announces the Rural BusinessCooperative Service’s (RBS) intention to 

request an extension for a currently 

approved information collection in 

support of the program for 7 CFR Part 

4284, subpart G. 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received by July 6, 2007 to be assured 

of consideration. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cindy Mason, Loan Specialist, Rural 

Business-Cooperative Service, USDA, 

STOP 3225, 1400 Independence Ave., 

SW., Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: 

(202) 690–1433. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Rural Business Opportunity 

Grants. 

OMB Number: 0570–0024. 

Expiration Date of Approval: October 

31, 2007. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved information 

collection. 

Abstract: The objective of the Rural 

Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
25738 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 87 / Monday, May 7, 2007 / Notices 

program is to promote sustainable 

economic development in rural areas. 

This purpose is achieved through grants 

made by the RBS to public and private 

non-profit organizations and 

cooperatives to pay costs of economic 

development planning and technical 

assistance for rural businesses. The 

regulations contain various 

requirements for information from the 

grant applicants and recipients. The 

information requested is necessary for 

RBS to be able to process applications 

in a responsible manner, make prudent 

program decisions, and effectively 

monitor the grantees’ activities to ensure 

that funds obtained from the 

Government are used appropriately. 

Objectives include gathering 

information to identify the applicant, 

describe the applicant’s experience and 

expertise, describe the project and how 

the applicant will operate it, and other 

material necessary for prudent Agency 

decisions and reasonable program 

monitoring. 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 9 hours per 

response. 

Respondents: Non-profit corporations, 

public agencies, and cooperatives. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

248. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 8. 

Estimated Number of Responses: 

1863. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 17,104. 

Copies of this information collection 

can be obtained from Cheryl Thompson, 

Regulations and Paperwork 

Management Branch, Support Services 

Division at (202) 692–0043. 

Comments 

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of the functions of RBS, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of RBS’

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 to Cheryl 

Thompson, Regulations and Paperwork 

Management Branch, Support Services 

Division, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 

0742, Washington, DC 20250. 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. 

Dated: April 27, 2007. 

Jackie J. Gleason, 

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–8636 Filed 5–4–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

Maximum Dollar Amount on Awards 

Under the Rural Economic 

Development Loan and Grant Program 

for Fiscal Year 2007; Correction 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice; correction. 

SUMMARY: The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RBS) published a 

document in the Federal Register of 

Friday, December 8, 2006, [71 FR 71128] 

concerning the announcement of the 

maximum dollar amount under the 

Rural Economic Development Loan and 

Grant Program (REDLG). This document 

announces the actual amount available 

and the expanded eligibility 

requirements. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cindy Mason, Loan Specialist, USDA 

Rural Development, STOP 3225, Room 

6866, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–3225. 

Telephone: (202) 690–1433, FAX: (202) 

720–2213. 

Correction 

In the Federal Register of December 8, 

2006, in FR Doc. E6–20871, on page 

71128, in the third column, correct the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION caption to 

read: RBS published a Notice of Funds 

Availability (NOFA) on December 8, 

2006. Based on the Revised Continuing 

Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (2007 

Appropriation), (Public Law 110–5), the 

total amount available for zero-interest 

loans is $24,752,477. As stated in the 

NOFA, the maximum loan and grant 

awards pursuant to 7 CFR 1703.28 is 3.0 

percent of the program level rounded to 

the nearest $10,000, but no less than 

$200,000. Thus, the maximum dollar 

amount available per loan is $740,000. 

Total amount available for grants is 

$10,000,000. Thus, the maximum 

amount available per grant is $300,000. 

Additionally, the 2007 Appropriation 

continued the REDLG eligibility 

requirements implemented in FY 2006. 

Therefore, an organization is considered 

to be eligible to participate in the 

REDLG program if it can be described 

as: 

1. Any former Rural Utilities Service 

borrower that has repaid or prepaid an 

insured, direct, or guaranteed loan 

under the Rural Electrification Act; 

2. Any not-for-profit utility that is 

eligible to receive an insured or direct 

loan under such act; or 

3. Any borrower under such act. 

The Regulations for these programs 

are at 7 CFR part 1703, subpart B. The 

maximum loan and grant awards are 

determined in accordance with 7 CFR 

1703.28. The maximum loan and grant 

awards are calculated at 3.0 percent of 

the projected program levels, rounded to 

the nearest $10,000; however, as 

specified in 7 CFR 1703.28(b), 

regardless of the projected total amount 

that will be available, the maximum size 

may not be lower than $200,000. The 

projected program level during FY 2007 

for zero-interest loans is $25,215,484.47, 

and the projected level for grants is 

$10,000,000. Applying the 3.0 percent 

to the program level for loans, rounded 

to the nearest $10,000, results in a 

projected maximum loan award of 

$740,000. Applying the specified 3.0 

percent to the program level for grants 

results in an amount higher than 

$200,000. Therefore, the projected grant 

award for FY 2007 is $300,000. 

Dated: May 1, 2007. 

Jackie J. Gleason, 

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–8682 Filed 5–4–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Commerce will 

submit to the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) for clearance the 

following proposal for collection of 

information under the provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

Chapter 35). 

Agency: Office of the Secretary, Office 

of Civil Rights (OCR). 

Title: Reasonable Accommodation for 

Employees and Applicants with 

Disabilities. 

Form Number(s): CD–575. 

OMB Approval Number: 0690–0022. 

Type of Request: Regular submission. 

Burden Hours: 17. 


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