Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 16576-16577 [2021-06488]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
16576
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 30, 2021 / Notices
notice are not offers and cannot be
accepted by the Government to form a
binding contract. Additionally, the U.S.
Government will not pay for response
preparation or for the use of any
information contained in the response.
To inform the Federal government’s
decision-making and establish the
Nation’s guiding principles in the
promotion of the Rural Energy Pilot
Program, USDA now seeks public input
on how U.S. Government action might
appropriately support the expansion of
a nationwide effort. To that end,
responders are specifically requested to
answer one or more of the following
questions in their submissions.
Consortia responses are also
encouraged.
1. How might distributed energy
technologies, innovations, and/or
solutions be deployed to advance
environmental justice, racial equity, and
economic opportunity?
2. What specific distributed energy
technologies, innovations, and/or
solutions are available or have the
potential to advance environmental
justice, racial equity, and economic
opportunity through their deployment
and/or development?
3. What type of assistance or incentive
(made available through a Rural Energy
Pilot Program) would encourage the
development and deployment of such
distributed energy technologies,
innovations, and/or solutions?
4. How should USDA measure, assess,
and analyze the impacts of distributed
energy solutions on environmental
justice, racial equity, and economic
opportunity?
5. Who should be eligible to receive
such assistance?
6. What types of technology and/or
infrastructure should be eligible under
such a Rural Energy Pilot Program?
a. Generation;
b. Storage;
c. Controller/smart grid.
7. Should a Rural Energy Pilot
Program incentivize efficiency,
resilience, or some other value?
8. Should the Rural Energy Pilot
Program include minimum standards
for equipment? Or a recognized
standard of development such as
commercially available?
9. What types of efforts have proven
to be effective to promote the
deployment of distributed energy
solutions or innovations that advance or
have the potential to advance
environmental justice, racial equity, and
economic opportunity?
a. What are the technologies
associated with these efforts?
b. Why and how do these
technologies advance of environmental
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:59 Mar 29, 2021
Jkt 253001
justice, racial equity, and economic
opportunity?
c. Should there be a minimum
investment requirement?
10. If cost-sharing is required, what
minimum level of cost-share (owner
contribution) should be required of
recipients of funding? What would you
consider to be the most cost-effective
level of cost-share while also supporting
the objective of advancing
environmental justice, racial equity, and
economic opportunity?
11. What programmatic or
administrative structures, policies,
incentives, or requirements will support
the advancement of environmental
justice, racial equity, and economic
opportunity through the Rural Energy
Pilot Program? What structures,
policies, incentives, or requirements
might obstruct or otherwise undermine
its advancement?
12. What programmatic or
administrative and other barriers exist
that may limit participation in the Rural
Energy Pilot Program or the availability
of program benefits? What should be
done to ensure equitable program
participation by those who would
otherwise be unlikely to apply? What
specific actions could USDA take to
guide a transformation and/or
expansion of a Rural Energy Pilot
Program, in both the short- and longterm?
13. Given the objective, how should
USDA measure the outcomes of the
Rural Energy Pilot Program?
14. To what extent should current
investments be required to
accommodate future, anticipated
technologies?
15. Please provide feedback on the
effectiveness of any known distributed
energy or rural energy pilot program of
which you are aware.
16. From your perspective, how much
post-award reporting is reasonable for
recipients of funding?
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil
rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its
agencies, offices, and employees, and
institutions participating in or
administering USDA Programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/
parental status, income derived from a
public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior
civil rights activity, in any program or
activity conducted or funded by USDA
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means of communication for
program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign
Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET
Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and
TTY) or contact USDA through the
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339.
Additionally, program information may
be made available in languages other
than English.
To file a program discrimination
complaint, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form, AD–
3027, found online at https://
www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-aprogram-discrimination-complaint and
at any USDA office or write a letter
addressed to USDA and provide in the
letter all of the information requested in
the form. To request a copy of the
complaint form, call (866) 632–9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to
USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250–9410; or
(2) Email: OAC@usda.gov
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Mark Brodziski,
Acting Administrator, Rural BusinessCooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–06489 Filed 3–29–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket # RHS–21–SFH–0005]
Notice of Request for Extension of a
Currently Approved Information
Collection
Rural Housing Service, USDA.
Proposed collection; comments
requested.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Housing
Service’s (RHS or Agency) intention to
request an extension for a currently
approved information collection in
support of the programs under the Code
of Federal Regulations.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by June 1, 2021 to be assured
consideration.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM
30MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 30, 2021 / Notices
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shannon Chase, Branch Chief, Single
Family Housing Direct Loan
Origination, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, STOP 0783, Washington, DC
20250–0783, Telephone: (515) 305–
0399, Email: shannon.chase@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Direct Single Family Housing
Loans and Grants.
OMB Number: 0575–0172.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31,
2021.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Through its direct single
family housing loan and grant programs
(specifically the Sections 502 and 504
programs), RHS provides eligible
applicants with financial assistance to
own adequate but modest homes in
rural areas. The financing and servicing
is provided directly by RHS. The
Section 502 direct loan program
provides 100 percent loan financing to
assist low- and very low-income
applicants purchase modest homes in
eligible rural areas by providing
payment assistance to increase an
applicant’s repayment ability. The
Section 504 loan program provides one
percent interest rate loans to very lowincome homeowners in eligible rural
areas to repair, improve, or modernize
their home or to remove health and
safety hazards. The Section 504 grant
program provides grants to elderly very
low-income homeowners in eligible
rural areas to remove health and safety
hazards, or accessibility barriers from
their home, often in conjunction with a
Section 504 loan.
Applicants must provide the Agency
with a uniform residential loan
application and supporting
documentation (e.g., verification of
income, assets, liabilities, etc.) when
applying for assistance. The information
requested regarding the applicant and
the property is vital in order for the
Agency to make sound eligibility and
underwriting decisions that comply
with the laws and regulations that
govern the programs. The information
requested is comparable to that required
by any public or private mortgage
lender.
When servicing loans, RHS offers
servicing options that are standard to
the industry. In addition, RHS offers
unique servicing options (e.g., payment
subsidies and payment moratoriums)
and is required to take unique servicing
actions (e.g., review borrowers for their
ability to refinance with private credit).
Borrowers must provide the Agency
with pertinent information when a
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:59 Mar 29, 2021
Jkt 253001
servicing option/action is requested/
required in order for the Agency to
make sound servicing decisions that
comply with the laws and regulations
that govern the programs.
Estimate of Burden: Public burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average .48 hours per
response.
Respondents: Approximately 26,000
applicants seeking direct single family
housing loans and grants from the
Agency and approximately 222,919
existing borrowers who have active
loans and grants under the Section 502
and 504 programs.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
248,919.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 2.5.
Estimated Total Number of
Responses: 638,077.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents (hours): 305,646.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from Lynn Gilbert,
Regulations Management Division at
(202) 690–2682.
Comments: 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 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 by the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://
beta.regulations.gov and, in the ‘‘Search
Regulations and Federal Actions’’ box,
select ‘‘RHS’’ from the agency dropdown menu, then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ In
the Docket ID column, select 0575–0172
to submit or view public comments and
to view supporting and related materials
available electronically. Information on
using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the
docket after the close of the comment
period, is available through the site’s
‘‘User Tips’’ link. All responses to this
notice will be summarized and included
in the request for OMB approval. All
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
16577
comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Chadwick Parker,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–06488 Filed 3–29–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket Number: RHS–21–CF–0006]
Notice of Request for Extension of a
Currently Approved Information
Collection; Comments Requested
Rural Housing Service, USDA.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Housing
Service’s intention to request an
extension for a currently approved
information collection in support of the
Community Facilities Grant Program.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by June 1, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robin M. Jones, Management Analyst,
Regulations Management Division,
Innovation Center, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW, South Building, Washington, DC
20250–1522. Telephone: (202) 772–
1172. Email: robin.m.jones@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
will be submitted to OMB for extension
and revision.
SUMMARY:
Comments
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 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
E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM
30MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16576-16577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06488]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket # RHS-21-SFH-0005]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS or Agency) intention
to request an extension for a currently approved information collection
in support of the programs under the Code of Federal Regulations.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 1, 2021 to be
assured consideration.
[[Page 16577]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Chase, Branch Chief, Single
Family Housing Direct Loan Origination, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
STOP 0783, Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone: (515) 305-0399, Email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Direct Single Family Housing Loans and Grants.
OMB Number: 0575-0172.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2021.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Through its direct single family housing loan and grant
programs (specifically the Sections 502 and 504 programs), RHS provides
eligible applicants with financial assistance to own adequate but
modest homes in rural areas. The financing and servicing is provided
directly by RHS. The Section 502 direct loan program provides 100
percent loan financing to assist low- and very low-income applicants
purchase modest homes in eligible rural areas by providing payment
assistance to increase an applicant's repayment ability. The Section
504 loan program provides one percent interest rate loans to very low-
income homeowners in eligible rural areas to repair, improve, or
modernize their home or to remove health and safety hazards. The
Section 504 grant program provides grants to elderly very low-income
homeowners in eligible rural areas to remove health and safety hazards,
or accessibility barriers from their home, often in conjunction with a
Section 504 loan.
Applicants must provide the Agency with a uniform residential loan
application and supporting documentation (e.g., verification of income,
assets, liabilities, etc.) when applying for assistance. The
information requested regarding the applicant and the property is vital
in order for the Agency to make sound eligibility and underwriting
decisions that comply with the laws and regulations that govern the
programs. The information requested is comparable to that required by
any public or private mortgage lender.
When servicing loans, RHS offers servicing options that are
standard to the industry. In addition, RHS offers unique servicing
options (e.g., payment subsidies and payment moratoriums) and is
required to take unique servicing actions (e.g., review borrowers for
their ability to refinance with private credit). Borrowers must provide
the Agency with pertinent information when a servicing option/action is
requested/required in order for the Agency to make sound servicing
decisions that comply with the laws and regulations that govern the
programs.
Estimate of Burden: Public burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .48 hours per response.
Respondents: Approximately 26,000 applicants seeking direct single
family housing loans and grants from the Agency and approximately
222,919 existing borrowers who have active loans and grants under the
Section 502 and 504 programs.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 248,919.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.5.
Estimated Total Number of Responses: 638,077.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents (hours): 305,646.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Lynn
Gilbert, Regulations Management Division at (202) 690-2682.
Comments: 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 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 by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://beta.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search Regulations and Federal
Actions'' box, select ``RHS'' from the agency drop-down menu, then
click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 0575-0172 to
submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related
materials available electronically. Information on using
Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the
comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips'' link. 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.
Chadwick Parker,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-06488 Filed 3-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
