[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60176-60177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27285]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCIES: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Housing Service (RHS), the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intention
to request an extension for a currently approved information collection
in support of compliance with Civil Rights laws.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 20, 2018 to
be assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angilla Denton, Equal Opportunity
Specialist, Rural Development, Civil Rights Staff, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 0703, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC
20250-0703, Telephone (202) 692-0099 (voice) or 692-0107 (TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 7 CFR 1901-E, Civil Rights Compliance Requirements.
OMB Number: 0575-0018.
[[Page 60177]]
Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2018.
Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information
Collection.
Abstract: The information collection under OMB Number 0575-0018
enables the RHS, RBS, and RUS, 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 RBS, RHS, and RUS 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 RBS, RHS, and RUS 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 from RBS, RHS, and RUS is used internally by these
agencies 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, RBS, RHS, RUS 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
RBS, RHS, RUS 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: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 7.5 hours per response.
Respondents: Recipients of RBS, RHS, and RUS Federal financial
assistance, loan, and loan guarantee programs.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 27,000.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.72.
Estimated Number of Responses: 73,559.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 550,276.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jeanne
Jacobs, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services
Division, at (202) 692-0040.
Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Rural Development, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agencies' 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 Jeanne Jacobs, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch,
Support Services Division, Rural Development, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 0742, Washington, DC 20250-0742. 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: December 4, 2017.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27285 Filed 12-18-17; 8:45 am]
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