Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; Notice of Request for an Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 31916 [2014-12723]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 31916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12723]


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 106 / Tuesday, June 3, 2014 / 
Notices

[[Page 31916]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; Notice of 
Request for an Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the intention of the Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) to request an 
extension of a currently approved information collection. OASCR will 
use the information collected to process respondents' discrimination 
complaints about programs conducted or assisted by USDA.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 4, 2014 to be 
assured of consideration.

Additional Information or Comments: Contact Anna G. Stroman, Chief, 
Policy Division, by mail at Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, 20250.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form.
    OMB Number: OMB No. 0508-0002.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension of the USDA Program Discrimination 
Complaint Form.
    Abstract: Under 7 CFR 15.6, ``Any person who believe himself/
herself or any specific class of individuals to be subjected to 
discrimination [in any USDA assisted program or activity] * * * may by 
himself/herself or by an authorized representative file * * * a written 
complaint.'' Under CFR 15d.4, ``Any person who believes that he or she 
(or any specific class of individuals) has been, or is being, subjected 
to [discrimination in any USDA conducted program or activity] * * * may 
file on his or her own, or through an authorized representative, a 
written complaint alleging such discrimination.'' The collection of 
this information is an avenue by which the individual or his 
representative may file such a program discrimination complaint.
    The requested information, which can be submitted by filling out a 
form or by submitting a letter, is necessary in order for USDA OASCR to 
address the alleged discriminatory action. The respondent is asked to 
state his/her name, mailing address, property address (if different 
from mailing address), telephone number, email address (if any) and to 
provide a name and contact information for the respondent's 
representative (if any). A brief description of who was involved with 
the alleged discriminatory action, what occurred and when, is 
requested. In the event that the respondent is filing the program 
discrimination complaint more than 180 days after the alleged 
discrimination occurred, the respondent is asked to provide the reason 
for the delay.
    Finally, the respondent is asked to identify which bases are 
alleged to have motivated the discriminatory action. The form explains 
that laws and regulations prohibit on the bases of: Race, color, 
national origin, age, sex, gender identity (including gender 
expression), disability, religion, sexual orientation, marital or 
familial status, or because all or part of the individual's income is 
derived from any public assistance program, but that not all bases 
apply to all programs.
    The program discrimination complaint filing information, which is 
voluntarily provided by the respondent, will be used by the staff of 
USDA OASCR to intake, investigate, resolve, and/or adjudicate the 
respondent's complaint. The program discrimination complaint form will 
enable OASCR to better collect information from complainants in a 
timely manner, therefore, reducing delays and errors in determining 
USDA jurisdiction.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average one hour per response.
    Respondents: Producers, applicants, and USDA customers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,000 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
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 the collection of information 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. Comments may be sent by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: Send comments to Anna.Stroman@ascr.usda.gov.
     Mail: Anna G. Stroman, Chief, Policy Division, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250.
    All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record.

Joe Leonard, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 2014-12723 Filed 6-2-14; 8:45 am]
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