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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90264-90265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26639]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RHS-24-NONE-0038]

Notice of Request for an Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and 
Rural Utilities service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Rural Housing Service, Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service, and the Rural Utilities Service, agencies 
of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, hereinafter collectively referred to as the Agency(ies) 
to request Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a an 
extension of a currently approved information collection in support of 
compliance with Civil Rights laws.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 14, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically by the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov. Additional information about 
RD and its programs is available at www.rd.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Bennett, RD Innovation Center--
Regulations Management Division, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Stop 1522, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 
720-9639. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB regulation (5 CFR part 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 the Agency is submitting to OMB for 
revision of an existing collection.
    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 
www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search for dockets and documents on 
agency actions'' box, type in the Docket No. located at the beginning 
of this notice and click the ``Search'' button. From the search 
results, click on or locate the document title and select the 
``Comment'' button. Before inputting comments, commenters may review 
the ``Commenter's Checklist'' (optional). Insert comments under the 
``Comment'' title, click ``Browse'' to attach files (if available), 
input email address and select ``Submit Comment.'' Information on using 
Regulations.gov, 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. All 
comments will be available for public inspection online at 
www.regulations.gov.
    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Data 
furnished by the applicants will be used to determine eligibility for 
program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, failure to 
provide data could result in program benefits being withheld or denied.
    Title: 7 CFR 1901--Common Forms Package for Civil Rights Forms.
    OMB Number: 0575-0201.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Previously Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The information collection under OMB Number 0575-0201 
enables the Agencies to effectively monitor a recipient's compliance 
with the civil rights laws, and to determine whether or not service and 
benefits are being provided to beneficiaries on an equal opportunity 
basis. The Agencies are required to provide Federal financial 
assistance through its housing and community and business programs on 
an equal opportunity basis. The laws implemented in 7 CFR part 1901, 
subpart E, require the recipients of RD Federal financial assistance to 
collect various types of information, including information on 
participants in certain of these agencies' programs, by race, color, 
and national origin. The information collected and maintained by the 
recipients of certain programs in RD are used internally by the agency 
for monitoring compliance with the civil rights laws and regulations. 
This information is made available to USDA officials, officials of 
other Federal agencies, and to Congress for reporting purposes. Without 
the required information, RD and its recipients will lack the necessary 
documentation to demonstrate that their programs are being administered 
in a nondiscriminatory manner, and in full compliance with the civil 
rights laws. In addition, the Agency and their recipients would be 
vulnerable in lawsuits alleging discrimination in the affected programs 
of these agencies, and would be without appropriate data and 
documentation to defend themselves by demonstrating that services and 
benefits are being provided to beneficiaries on an equal opportunity 
basis.
    Estimate of Burden: The Agencies are requesting approval for one 
respondent and a one-hour place holder for each of

[[Page 90265]]

the three forms covered. The burden for each of the forms will be 
accounted for within the individual Rural Development program 
collection packages using the form(s).
    Respondents: Recipients of RD Federal financial assistance, loan, 
and loan guarantee programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent per Form (Form 400-1, 
400-4, and 400-6) in the Package: 1.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela 
Bennett, Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, at Email: 
[email protected].
    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.

Joaquin Altoro,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service, USDA Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-26639 Filed 11-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
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