Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 78329 [2013-30743]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Notices
Montana official agencies. In the
designation process, we are particularly
interested in receiving comments citing
reasons and pertinent data supporting or
objecting to the designation of the
applicants. Submit all comments to Eric
J. Jabs at the above address or at
https://www.regulations.gov.
We consider applications, comments,
and other available information when
determining which applicants will be
designated.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 71–87k.
Larry Mitchell,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and
Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013–30709 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity;
Comment Request
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites
comments on the following information
collection for which RUS intends to
request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by February 24, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program
Development and Regulatory Analysis,
Rural Utilities Service, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522,
Room 5162, South Building,
Washington, DC 20250–1522.
Telephone: (202) 690–1078. Fax: (202)
720- 8435 or email
Michele.brooks@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires
that interested members of the public
and affected agencies have an
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping activities
(see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice
identifies an information collection that
RUS is submitting to OMB for revision.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:06 Dec 24, 2013
Jkt 232001
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
the Agency’s estimate of the burden of
the 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
respondents, 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: Michele L. Brooks, Director,
Program Development and Regulatory
Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522,
1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–1522.
Telephone: (202) 690–1078, Fax: (202)
720–8435 or email:
Michele.brooks@wdc.usda.gov.
Title: Electric System Emergency
Restoration Plan.
OMB Control Number: 0572–0140.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: USDA Rural Development
administers rural utilities programs
through the Rural Utilities Service
(Agency). The Agency manages loan
programs in accordance with the Rural
Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, 7
U.S.C. 901 et sec., as amended. One of
the Agency’s main objectives is to
safeguard loan security. An important
part of safeguarding loan security is to
make sure Agency financed facilities are
utilized responsibly, adequately
operated and adequately maintained.
Accordingly, RUS borrowers have a
duty to RUS to maintain their respective
systems. In performing this duty,
borrowers further the purposes of the RE
Act while also preserving the value of
electric systems to serve as collateral for
repayment of RUS assistance.
A substantial portion of the electric
infrastructure of the United States
resides in rural America and is
maintained by rural Americans. RUS is
uniquely coupled with the electric
infrastructure of rural America and its
electric borrowers serving rural
America. To ensure that the electric
infrastructure in rural America is
adequately protected, electric borrowers
conduct a Vulnerability and Risk
Assessment (VRA) of their respective
systems and utilize the results of this
assessment to enhance an existing
Emergency Restoration Plan (ERP) or to
create an ERP. The VRA is utilized to
identify specific assets and
infrastructure owned or served by the
electric utility, to determine the
criticality and the risk level associated
with the assets and infrastructure
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
78329
including a risk versus cost analysis, to
identify threats and vulnerabilities, if
present, to review existing mitigation
procedures and to assist in the
development of new and additional
mitigating procedures, if necessary. The
ERP provides written procedures
detailing response and restoration
efforts in the event of a major system
outage resulting from a natural or manmade disaster. The annual exercise of
the ERP ensures operability and
employee competency and serves to
identify and correct deficiencies in the
existing ERP. The exercise may be
implemented individually by a single
borrower, or by an individual borrower
as a participant in a multi-party (to
include utilities, government agencies
and other participants or combination
thereof) tabletop execution or actual
implementation of the ERP.
Electric borrowers maintain ERPs as
part of prudent utilities practices. These
ERPs are essential to continuous
operation of the electric systems. Each
electric borrower provides RUS with an
annual self-certification that an ERP
exists for the system and that an initial
VRA has been performed.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average .5 hour per
response.
Respondents: Not-for-profit
institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
625.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 313 hours.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from Rebecca Hunt,
Program Development and Regulatory
Analysis, at (202) 205–3660, Fax: (202)
720–8435 or email:
Rebecca.hunt@wdc.usda.gov.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the
requests for OMB approval. All
comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Dated: December 19, 2013.
John Charles Padalino,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–30743 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity;
Comment Request
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
26DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 78329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30743]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
invites comments on the following information collection for which RUS
intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB).
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 24, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162, South Building,
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Fax: (202) 720-
8435 or email Michele.brooks@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS
is submitting to OMB for revision.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the
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 respondents, 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: Michele L. Brooks, Director,
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078, Fax: (202) 720-
8435 or email: Michele.brooks@wdc.usda.gov.
Title: Electric System Emergency Restoration Plan.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0140.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities
programs through the Rural Utilities Service (Agency). The Agency
manages loan programs in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act
(RE Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et sec., as amended. One of the Agency's
main objectives is to safeguard loan security. An important part of
safeguarding loan security is to make sure Agency financed facilities
are utilized responsibly, adequately operated and adequately
maintained. Accordingly, RUS borrowers have a duty to RUS to maintain
their respective systems. In performing this duty, borrowers further
the purposes of the RE Act while also preserving the value of electric
systems to serve as collateral for repayment of RUS assistance.
A substantial portion of the electric infrastructure of the United
States resides in rural America and is maintained by rural Americans.
RUS is uniquely coupled with the electric infrastructure of rural
America and its electric borrowers serving rural America. To ensure
that the electric infrastructure in rural America is adequately
protected, electric borrowers conduct a Vulnerability and Risk
Assessment (VRA) of their respective systems and utilize the results of
this assessment to enhance an existing Emergency Restoration Plan (ERP)
or to create an ERP. The VRA is utilized to identify specific assets
and infrastructure owned or served by the electric utility, to
determine the criticality and the risk level associated with the assets
and infrastructure including a risk versus cost analysis, to identify
threats and vulnerabilities, if present, to review existing mitigation
procedures and to assist in the development of new and additional
mitigating procedures, if necessary. The ERP provides written
procedures detailing response and restoration efforts in the event of a
major system outage resulting from a natural or man-made disaster. The
annual exercise of the ERP ensures operability and employee competency
and serves to identify and correct deficiencies in the existing ERP.
The exercise may be implemented individually by a single borrower, or
by an individual borrower as a participant in a multi-party (to include
utilities, government agencies and other participants or combination
thereof) tabletop execution or actual implementation of the ERP.
Electric borrowers maintain ERPs as part of prudent utilities
practices. These ERPs are essential to continuous operation of the
electric systems. Each electric borrower provides RUS with an annual
self-certification that an ERP exists for the system and that an
initial VRA has been performed.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .5 hour per response.
Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 625.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 313 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca
Hunt, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 205-3660,
Fax: (202) 720-8435 or email: Rebecca.hunt@wdc.usda.gov.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
requests for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Dated: December 19, 2013.
John Charles Padalino,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30743 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
