[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9564-9566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03714]


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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 or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by March 
24, 2022 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 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 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

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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.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: RD 1924 Construction Common Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The information collection under OMB Number 
0575-New will enable the Agencies to effectively administer the 
policies, methods, and responsibilities in the planning and performing 
of construction and other development work for the related construction 
programs.
    The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is authorized under various 
sections of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, to provides 
financial assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace, or 
rehabilitate dwellings, which will provide modest, decent, safe, and 
sanitary housing to eligible individuals in rural areas. The 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, authorizes the 
credit programs of the RHS, RBCS and RUS to provide financial 
assistance for essential community facilities such as construction of 
community facilities and water and waste systems; and the improvement, 
development, and financing of businesses, industries, and employment.
    In several sections of both acts, loan limitations are established 
as percentages of development costs, requiring careful monitoring of 
those costs. Also, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe regulations 
to ensure that Federal funds are not wasted or dissipated and that 
construction will be undertaken economically and will not be of 
elaborate or extravagant design or materials. The collection of 
information covered by the forms allows for the planning and performing 
of construction and other development work.
    Need and Use of the Information: The applicant/borrower, 
contractor, subcontractor, material supplier, equipment lessor, 
architect, engineer, manufacturer or sponsor of manufactured housing 
collects the required information. Rural Development provides forms 
and/or guidelines to assist in the collection and submission of 
information; however, most of the information may be collected and 
submitted in the form and content which is accepted and typically used 
in the normal conduct of planning and performing development work in 
private industry when a private lender is financing the activity. The 
information is usually submitted via hand delivery or U.S. Postal 
Service to the Rural Development Field Office, although receipt through 
email or USDA Service Center's eForms website is becoming more common. 
Occasionally, information is submitted directly to the Rural 
Development State Office. The information is used by Rural Development 
to determine whether a loan/grant can be approved, to ensure that Rural 
Development has adequate security for the loans financed, to provide 
for sound construction and development work and to determine that the 
requirements of the applicable acts have been met. The information is 
also used to monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of the 
loan/grant and to monitor the prudent use of Federal funds.
    Applications are submitted through the applicable USDA Rural 
Development State Office.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 7.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 1901-E Civil Rights Common Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The information collection under OMB Number 
0575-New will enable the Agencies to effectively administer the 
policies, methods, and responsibilities in the planning and performing 
of construction and other development work for the related construction 
programs.
    The Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Business and Cooperative 
Service (RBCS) and Rural Utilities service (RUS) agencies within the 
Rural Development mission area, hereinafter referred to as Agency, is 
the credit Agency for agriculture and rural development for the United 
States Department of Agriculture. The Agency offers offer loans, grants 
and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic 
development and essential services such as housing; health care; first 
responder services and equipment; and water, electric and 
communications infrastructure on an equal opportunity basis. The 
information collection requirements in this request are needed to 
comply with civil rights laws and Executive Orders that provide 
protection and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, 
national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender 
expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, 
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity.
    7 CFR part 1901-E implements the following Civil Rights laws, 
Executive Orders, and regulations, to collect the necessary information 
and enforce the civil rights requirements of RD's Federally assisted 
programs and programs that provide housing. Title VI and Title VIII 
have overlapping coverage providing protection on the bases of race, 
color and national origin.
    Need and use of the Information: The same information is provided 
by each program, but it is evaluated differently based on the specific 
nature of its benefits and services. This information is used by RD to 
comply with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Title VI Regulation 28 CFR 
part 42 subpart F to ensure that Federal agencies which extend Federal 
financial assistance properly enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 
and similar provisions in Federal grant statutes. Additionally, Section 
42.407--``Procedures to Determine Compliance'' established RD 
requirements to conduct pre-award and post-award compliance reviews. 
The requirement to conduct compliance reviews is also based on the 
requirements of Executive Order 12250.
    Information is also used internally by RD to monitor and analyze 
program participation to determine compliance with the civil rights 
laws applicable to that recipient. The information is also used by the 
Agency to determine Agency compliance. In the case of RD housing 
programs, the information will be reported to Congress for the required 
annual reporting. A compilation of all RD civil rights activities 
implementing the various civil rights laws and regulations and the 
number of compliance reviews conducted, including pre-and post-awards, 
will be reported on the Implementation Plan and submitted to the 
Department of Justice. This information is made available to USDA 
officials, officials of other Federal enforcement agencies, and to 
Congress for reporting purposes.
    To ensure compliance with 28 CFR 42.405, RD compliance officers 
conduct compliance reviews which often involve a visual review of the 
recipients' posting of the required posters, and review advertising and 
community outreach to determine if the general public is made aware of 
the facility and that it is Federally financed, and therefore

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eligible for use on an equal opportunity basis. Community contacts are 
made with business and community leaders and participants in the 
program to obtain their knowledge and opinions of the facility's 
operation and determine if there have been allegations of 
discrimination made in the community.
    Compliance officers utilize compliance review forms such as Form 
400-8 to comport with the compliance review requirements of DOJ 
regulation 28 CFR part 42, and Executive Order 12250. The frequency of 
compliance reviews is based on whether it is a loan or grant and the 
specific requirements of the program. Grants-only obligations only 
require a pre-award and a post-award compliance review. Where grants 
are utilized for revolving loan funds, compliance reviews are done on 
recipients every five years.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 3.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 0.

    Dated: February 16, 2022.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-03714 Filed 2-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P