[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48972-48973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18810]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / 
Notices

[[Page 48972]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-TM-21-0026]


Pandemic Response and Safety Program; Request for Emergency 
Approval of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of emergency request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to seek approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information 
collection to administer the Pandemic Response and Safety Program (PRS) 
under its Grants Division. AMS Grants Division is implementing this new 
grant program under section 751 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2021 (CAA), which directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
``grants and loans to small or midsized food processors or 
distributors, seafood processing facilities and processing vessels, 
farmers markets, producers, or other organizations to respond to 
coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).''

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice by using the electronic process available at 
www.regulations.gov. Written comments may also be submitted to Grants 
Division; Transportation and Marketing Program; AMS; USDA; 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 2055-South Building, Stop 0201; 
Washington, DC 20250-0264. All comments should reference the docket 
number AMS-TM-21-0026, the date of submission, and the page number of 
this issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be 
posted without change, including any personal information provided, at 
www.regulations.gov and will be included in the record and made 
available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Miklozek, Director, Grants 
Division; (202) 720-1403 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85cfeaedebabc8eceee9eaffe0eec5f0f6e1e4abe2eaf3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="763c191e18583b1f1d1a190c131d360305121758111900">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview of This Information Collection

    Agency: USDA, AMS.
    Title: Pandemic Response and Safety Program.
    OMB Number: 0581-NEW.
    Type of Request: Emergency Approval of a New Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 
1621 et seq.) directs and authorizes USDA to administer Federal grant 
programs. AMS Grant Programs are administered through the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance for Grants and Agreements based on 
its regulations under the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 200) 
(85 FR 49506; December 13, 2020). Information collection requirements 
in this emergency request are needed for AMS to administer a new 
competitive grant program, in accordance with 2 CFR part 200, entitled 
the Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) under OMB No. 0581-NEW.
    PRS is authorized pursuant to the authority of section 751 of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) (Pub. L. 116-260) in 
response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and worker protections in 
food processing, distribution, farmers markets, and agricultural 
production. The AMS Grants Division requests to collect information for 
this new grant program from individuals, small businesses, and 
nonprofit organizations working in food processing, distribution, 
farmers markets, and agricultural production.
    Because this is a voluntary program, respondents request or apply 
for this specific competitive grant, and in doing so, they provide 
information. Information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of USDA, AMS, Transportation and Marketing Program's 
Grants Division to certify that grant participants are complying with 
applicable program regulations, and the data collected is the minimum 
information necessary to effectively carry out program requirements.
    Information collection requirements in this request are essential 
to carry out the intent of section 751 of the CAA, to provide 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
program.
    Upon OMB approval of the PRS information collection package, AMS 
will request OMB approval to merge this information collection into the 
currently approved information collection OMB control number 0581-0240 
approved on January 13, 2021.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4 hours per response.
    Respondents: Grant applicants; or grant recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 800,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping: 
1,000,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
916,660 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of agency 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
new collection of information, including the validity of 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 information collection on those who are to respond, 
including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Obtaining OMB's approval of this new information collection enables 
AMS Grants Division to publish a Request for Applications (RFA) to 
establish application requirements, the review and approval process, 
and grant administration procedures, which will

[[Page 48973]]

enable eligible entities to develop appropriate grant applications for 
the program so that AMS can adequately evaluate these new proposals and 
obligate funds as required by the CAA.

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator. Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18810 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P


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