Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DATE:

March 18, 2018.

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 (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (4) 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 April 22, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.

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: 7 CFR 1778, Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0110.

Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is authorized under Section 306A of the Consolidated Farm and rural Development Act, 7 U.S.C. 1926(a) to provide grants to rural areas and small communities to secure adequate quantities of safe water. There are two levels of grant limits—$500,000 and $150,000. Grants made under this program shall be made for 100 percent of the project's cost, can serve rural areas with population not in excess of 5,000, and household income should not exceed 100 percent of a State's non-metropolitan median household income. Grants under this program may be made to public bodies and private nonprofit corporations serving rural areas.

Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect the information from applicants applying for grants under 7 CFR 1778. The information is unique to each borrower and emergency situation. Applicants must demonstrate that there is an imminent emergency or that a decline occurred within 2 years of the date the application was filed with Rural Development.

Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; Not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 52.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 3,273.