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.

Notices Federal Register

7071 

Vol. 90, No. 12 

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Agriculture has 

submitted the following information 

collection requirement(s) to Office of 

Management and Budget (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; 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 February 20, 2025 

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 

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 Utilities Service 

Title: RUS Electric Loan Application 

and Related Reporting Burdens. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0032. 

Summary of Collection: The Rural 

Utilities Service (RUS) was established 

in 1994 by the Federal Crop Insurance 

Reform and Department of Agriculture 

Reorganization Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 

103–354, 108 Stat. 3178, 7 U.S.C. 6941 

et seq.) as successor to the Rural 

Electrification Administration (REA) 

with respect to certain programs, 

including the electric loan and loan 

guarantee program authorized under the 

Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 

1936. The RE Act authorizes and 

empowers the Administrator of RUS to 

make and guarantee loans to furnish and 

improve electric service in rural areas. 

These loans are amortized over a period 

of up to 35 years and secured by the 

borrower’s electric assets and/or 

revenue. RUS will collect information 

including studies and reports to support 

borrower loan applications. 

Need and Use of the Information: 

RUS will collect information to 

determine the eligibility of applicants 

for loans and loan guarantees under the 

RE Act; monitor the compliance of 

borrowers with debt covenants and 

regulatory requirements in order to 

protect loan security; ensure that 

borrowers use loan funds for purposes 

consistent with the statutory goals of the 

RE Act; and obtain information on the 

progress of rural electrification and 

evaluate the success of RUS program 

activities. Without the information RUS 

would be unable to accomplish 

statutory goals. 

Description of Respondents: Private 

Sector; Not-for-profit institutions. 

Number of Respondents: 608. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion; Annually. 

Total Burden Hours: 37,515. 

Rural Utilities Service 

Title: Telecommunications System 

Construction Policies and Procedures. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0059. 

Summary of Collection: The Rural 

Electrification Act of 1936 (RE Act), 7 

U.S.C. 901 et seq., was amended in 2002 

by title IV, Rural Broadband Access, by 

Farm Security and rural Investment Act, 

which authorizes Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS) to provide loans and loan 

guarantees to fund the cost of 

construction, improvement, or 

acquisition for facilities and equipment 

for the provision of broadband service 

in eligible rural communities in the 

States and territories of the United 

States. Title VI of the RE Act requires 

that loans are granted only to borrowers 

who demonstrated that they will be able 

to repay in full within the time agreed. 

RUS has established certain standards 

and specification for materials, 

equipment and construction to assure 

that standards are maintained; loans are 

not adversely affected, and loans are 

used for intended purposes. 

Need and Use of the Information: 

RUS has developed specific forms for 

borrowers to use when entering into 

contracts for goods or services. The 

information collected is used to 

implement certain provisions of loan 

documents about the borrower’s 

purchase of materials and equipment 

and the construction of its broadband 

system and is provided on an as needed 

basis or when the individual borrower 

undertakes certain projects. The 

standardization of the forms has 

resulted in substantial savings to 

borrowers by reducing preparation of 

the documentation and the costly 

review by the Government. 

Description of Respondents: Private 

Sector; Business or other for-profit; Notfor-profit institutions. 

Number of Respondents: 1,434. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 7,703. 

Rural Utilities Service 

Title: 7 CFR 1726, Electric System 

Construction Policies and Procedures— 

Electric. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0107. 

Summary of Collection: The Rural 

Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 

et.seq., as amended, (RE ACT) in sec. 4 

(7 U.S.C. 904) authorizes and empowers 

the Administrator of the Rural Utilities 

Service (RUS) to make loans in the 

several States and Territories of the 

United States for rural electrification 

and the furnishing and improving of 

electric energy to persons in rural areas. 

These loans are for a term of up to 35 

years and are secured by a first mortgage 

on the borrower’s electric system. In the 

interest of protecting loan security and 

accomplishing the statutory objective of 

a sound program of rural electrification, 

Section 4 of the RE Act further requires 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
7072 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 12 / Tuesday, January 21, 2025 / Notices 

that RUS make or guarantee a loan only 

if there is reasonable assurance that the 

loan, together with all outstanding loans 

and obligations of the borrower, will be 

repaid in full within the time agreed. 

RUS will collect information using 

various RUS forms. 

Need and Use of the Information: 

RUS will collect information to 

implement certain provisions of the 

RUS standard form of loan documents 

regarding the borrower’s purchase of 

materials and equipment and the 

construction of its electric system by 

contract or force account. The use of 

standard forms and procurement 

procedures helps assure RUS that 

appropriate standards and specifications 

are maintained; agency loan security is 

not adversely affected; and loan and 

loan guarantee funds are used 

effectively and for the intended 

purposes. The information will be used 

by RUS electric borrowers, their 

contractors and by RUS. If standard 

forms were not used, borrowers would 

need to prepare their own documents at 

a significant expense; and each 

document submitted by a borrower 

would require extensive and costly 

review by both RUS and the Office of 

the General Counsel. 

Description of Respondents: Private 

Sector; Not-for-profit institutions; 

Business or other for-profit. 

Number of Respondents: 477. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 82. 

Rural Utilities Service 

Title: Technical Assistance Program, 7 

CFR part 1775. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0112. 

Summary of Collection: The Rural 

Utilities Service is authorized by section 

306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 

Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to 

make loans to public agencies, 

American Indian Tribes, and nonprofit 

corporations to fund the development of 

drinking water, wastewater, and solid 

waste disposal facilities in rural areas 

with populations of up to 10,000 

residents. Under the CONACT, 7 U.S.C. 

1925(a), as amended, section 306(a) (14) 

(A) authorizes Technical Assistance and 

Training grants, and 7 U.S.C. 1932(b), 

section 310B authorizes Solid Waste 

Management grants. Grants are made for 

100 percent of the cost of assistance. 

The Technical Assistance and Training 

Grants and Solid Waste Management 

Grants programs are administered 

through 7 CFR part 1775. 

Need and Use of the Information: 

Nonprofit organizations applying for 

TAT and SWM grants must submit a 

pre-application, which includes an 

application form, narrative proposal, 

various other forms, certifications and 

supplemental information. RUS will 

collect information to determine 

applicant’s eligibility, project feasibility, 

and the applicant’s ability to meet the 

grant and regulatory requirements. RUS 

will review the information, evaluate it, 

and, if the applicant and project are 

eligible for further competition, invite 

the applicant to submit a formal 

application. Failure to collect proper 

information could result in improper 

determinations of eligibility, improper 

use of funds, or hindrances in making 

grants authorized by the TAT and SWM 

program. 

Description of Respondents: Private 

Sector; Not-for-profit institutions. 

Number of Respondents: 66. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

Annually; On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 5,558. 

Rural Utilities Service 

Title: 7 CFR part 1724 and Part 1738 

Electric Engineering, Architectural 

Services and Design Policies and 

Procedures; and Rural Broadband 

Access Loans and Loan Guarantees. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0118. 

Summary of Collection: The Rural 

Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 

et seq., as amended, authorizes Rural 

Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans in 

several States and Territories of the 

United States for broadband access and 

rural electrification and the furnishing 

and improving of electric energy to 

persons in rural areas. Title 7 CFR 1724 

requires each borrower to select a 

qualified architect to perform certain 

architectural services and to use the 

designated form that provides for these 

services. The agency has developed 

standardized contractual forms used by 

borrowers to contract for services. 

Need and Use of the Information: The 

information collected stipulates the 

parties to the agreement, contain certain 

information relating to the approved 

loan or loan guarantee, and provide 

detailed contractual obligations and 

services to be provided and performed 

relating to construction, project design, 

construction management, 

compensation, and related information. 

The contractual forms provide 

standardized contract agreements 

between the electric or broadband 

borrower and the engineering or 

architectural firm providing services to 

the borrower. This has resulted in 

substantial savings to borrowers by 

reducing preparation of the 

documentation and the costly review by 

the Government. 

Description of Respondents: Private 

Sector; Business or other for-profit. 

Number of Respondents: 4. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 8. 

Rural Utility Service 

Title: 7 CFR 1780, Water and Waste 

Disposal Loan and Grant Program. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0121. 

Summary of Collection: The Rural 

Utilities Service (‘‘RUS’’), an agency of 

the Rural Development (‘‘RD’’), United 

States Department of Agriculture, is 

requesting OMB clearance of the 

reporting requirements relating to 7 CFR 

part 1780, the regulation utilized to 

administer the Water and Waste Loans 

and Grants program. In addition, RUS is 

seeking clearance for applicants 

applying under 7 CFR part 1777, section 

306C Water and Waste Disposal Loans 

and Grant,’’ and 7 CFR part 1778, 

‘‘Emergency Community Water 

Assistance Grants’’, which follow 7 CFR 

part 1780 for application requirements. 

Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm 

and Rural Development Act 

(‘‘CONACT’’), 7 U.S.C. 1926, authorizes 

RUS to make loans and grants to public 

entities, federally-recognized American 

Indian Tribes, and not-for-profit 

corporations. The loans and grants fund 

the development of drinking water, 

wastewater, solid waste disposal, and 

storm wastewater disposal facilities in 

rural areas with populations of up to 

10,000 residents. A rural area is defined 

in the CONACT as any city, town, or 

unincorporated area consisting of no 

more than 10,000 residents. In addition 

to the development costs, 7 CFR 1780.9, 

Eligible loan and grant purposes, 

defines the associated costs that are 

eligible for reimbursement, such as 

reasonable engineering and legal 

expenses. The agency uses information 

submitted by applicant entities to 

determine eligibility and evaluate 

project feasibility. 

Need and Use of the Information: RD 

state and field offices collect the 

information from applicants, borrowers, 

and consultants. They use the 

information to determine applicant 

eligibility and project feasibility. They 

also use the information to ensure that 

borrowers operate on a sound basis and 

use the loan and grant funds for 

authorized purposes as defined in 

statute and regulation. 

Description of Respondents: State, 

Local or Tribal Government; Not-forprofit institutions. 

Number of Respondents: 656. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 109,200. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 12 / Tuesday, January 21, 2025 / Notices 7073 

Rural Utility Service 

Title: Servicing of Water Programs 

Loans and Grants. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0137. 

Summary of Collection: This 

information collection package covers 

the Servicing of Water Programs Loans 

and Grants regulation, 7 CFR part 1782. 

The regulation outlines the Rural 

Utilities Service’s (RUS), an agency 

delivering the United States Department 

of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural 

Development Utilities Programs, 

hereinafter referred to as Rural 

Development (RD) and/or Agency, 

policies and procedures for servicing 

direct and insured Water and Waste 

Disposal loans and grants (WWLG); 

Watershed loans and advances 

(Watershed); Resource Conservation and 

Development loans (RCDL); Technical 

Assistance and Training grants (TAT); 

Emergency Community Water 

Assistance grants (ECWAG); Solid 

Waste Management grants (SWMG); and 

section 306C Water and Waste Facility 

loans and grants (Colonias/Tribal). 

Need and Use of the Information: The 

Rural Utilities Service will collect 

information using various forms. The 

Agency provides forms and/or 

guidelines to assist in collection and 

submission of the information required 

to service loans and grants. In some 

cases, use of Agency forms is optional 

and the borrower may submit the 

information required on other forms. 

The Agency utilizes existing Rural 

Development forms to the greatest 

extent possible to continue to meet the 

needs of the program. The forms or 

related items completed by the borrower 

are submitted to and evaluated by the 

Agency servicing office. The 

information, mostly financial in nature, 

is required to determine if borrowers, 

based on their individual situations, 

qualify for the various servicing 

authorities. 

Description of Respondents: State, 

Local, and Tribal Governments. 

Number Of Respondents: 4,438. 

Frequency Of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 28,140. 

Rural Utilities Service 

Title: 7 CFR 1776, Household Water 

Well System Grant Program. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0139. 

Summary of Collection: This program 

was formerly the Household Water Well 

System Grant Program, but its name was 

changed by the Agriculture and 

Nutrition Act of 2018. This regulation is 

used to administer grants made to 

private non-profit organizations under 

the DWS program. The Agency is 

authorized to make the grants under 

Section 306E of the Consolidated Farm 

and Rural Development Act (CONACT) 

7 U.S.C. 1926e. 

Need and Use of the Information: The 

grant applicants will provide 

information to be collected as part of the 

application and grant process through 

certain documentation, certifications, 

and completed forms. Grant applicants 

must show that the project will provide 

technical and financial assistance to 

eligible individuals to remedy 

household well problems. The grant 

recipients will establish a revolving loan 

fund lending program to provide water 

well loans to individuals who own or 

will own private wells in rural areas. 

The individual loan recipients may use 

the funds to construct, refurbish, and 

service their household well systems for 

an existing home. 

Description of Respondents: Private 

Sector; Not-for-profit institutions. 

Number of Respondents: 7. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 652. 

Rural Utilities Service 

Title: Special Authority to Enable 

Funding of Broadband and Smart Utility 

Facilities Across Select Rural 

Development Programs. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0156. 

Summary of Collection: The Rural 

Utilities Service, Rural BusinessCooperative Service, and Rural Housing 

Service, agencies that comprise the 

Rural Development Mission Area within 

the United States Department of 

Agriculture, are issuing this final rule to 

establish the authority authorized by 

Section 6210 of the Agriculture 

Improvement Act of 2018. This rule 

describes the procedures by which these 

agencies will consider projects eligible 

for special broadband authority and 

Smart Utility facilities. 

On December 20, 2018, Congress 

passed The Agricultural Improvement 

Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 

115–334). In addition to sweeping 

changes in broadband program 

authorities, Congress provided for 

special use of funding from other RD 

programs for broadband deployment in 

Section 6210, ‘‘Smart Utility Authority 

for Broadband.’’ The provision granted 

the Secretary of Agriculture the 

discretion to allow recipients of grants, 

loans, or loan guarantees under RD 

programs to use not more than 10 

percent of such funding to finance 

broadband infrastructure in areas not 

served by the minimum acceptable level 

of broadband service, as defined in this 

Part, and which will not result in 

competitive harm to a current RD loan, 

grant, or loan guarantee. While section 

6210 only imposes the competitive 

harm restriction with respect to RUS 

loan, grant, and loan guarantee 

recipients, RD has determined to apply 

the restriction RD-wide, consistent with 

the statutory guidance on conflicts and 

duplications of awards provided in 7 

U.S.C. 2204b(d)(2). 

Rural community leaders, businesses 

and utilities must consider broadband 

availability and uses as they plan for, 

and implement, new and improved 

facilities and services to support 

community and economic development. 

While integration of communications 

technology into a planned investment 

can be used for internal purposes, it can 

also serve as a catalyst to rural 

broadband deployment efforts. For 

example, investment in health care, 

public safety and businesses can be 

enhanced or leveraged to expand the 

availability and utilization of advanced 

broadband in rural areas. Smart 

highways can facilitate vehicle to 

infrastructure communications to 

enhance driver safety; smart water 

systems can remotely detect 

contaminants before they pose a health 

risk; smart pipelines can report leaks 

and structural weaknesses before they 

become dangerous; and smart grid 

systems deliver enhanced security and 

energy efficiency, as well as speed 

recovery after an electric outage. 

Through this regulation, RD enables 

limited integration of broadband 

deployment with other rural 

investments funded through its broad 

suite of programs. It does so without 

adding the burden of seeking funding 

through separate program areas. 

Need and Use of the Information: The 

collection of information is necessary 

for RD to determine an applicant’s 

ability to borrow under the terms of the 

2018 Farm Bill and included programs 

and that the applicant complies with 

statutory, regulatory, and administrative 

eligibility requirements for loan 

assistance. As part of that submission, 

applicants are required to provide a 

service area map, where applicable, of 

their entire service territory. 

Description of Respondents: Private 

Sector; Businesses or other for-profits. 

Number of Respondents: 53. 

Frequency of Responses: Annually. 

Total Burden Hours: 239. 

Levi S. Harrell, 

Departmental Information Collection 

Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2025–01286 Filed 1–17–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1