60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Electric System Emergency Restoration Plan; OMB Control No.: 0572-0140, 71528-71529 [2023-22839]
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ACTION:
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 17, 2023 / Notices
Notice of meeting.
The Forestry Research
Advisory Committee (FRAC) will hold a
public meeting according to the details
shown below. The Committee is
authorized under the Agriculture and
Food Act of 1981 (the Act) and operates
in compliance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The
purpose of this Committee is to make
recommendations to and advise the
Secretary of Agriculture on forestry
research. The Agriculture and Food Act
directs the Secretary to appoint the
FRAC which advises on how to
efficiently accomplish the purposes of
the McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962. The
FRAC focuses on developing and
utilizing the Nation’s forest resources,
forestry schools, and forest industries.
FRAC recommendations support states
in carrying out a program of forestry
research through land-grant colleges or
agricultural experiment stations and
other state-supported colleges and
universities that offer graduate training
in forestry. The FRAC also provides
advice related to the Forest Service
research program which is authorized
by the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Research Act of 1978.
DATES: An in-person meeting will be
held on November 15, 2023, and
November 16, 2023, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Written and Oral Comments: Anyone
wishing to provide oral comments must
pre-register by 11:59 p.m. EST on
November 10, 2023. Written public
comments will be accepted by 11:59
p.m. EST on November 10, 2023.
Comments submitted after this date will
be provided to the Forest Service, but
the Committee may not have adequate
time to consider those comments prior
to the meeting.
All committee meetings are subject to
cancellation. For status of the meeting
prior to attendance, please contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held in
person at the USDA Forest Service,
Sidney R. Yates Building, 201 14th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20250 in the
Yates Training Room. Committee
information and meeting details can be
found at the following website: https://
www.fs.usda.gov/research/about/frac or
by contacting the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Written Comments: Written comments
must be sent by email to
arthur.a.duggan@usda.gov or via mail to
David Lytle, Research and Development
2NW, USDA Forest Service, 201 14th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20250. The
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SUMMARY:
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Forest Service strongly prefers
comments be submitted electronically.
Oral Comments: Persons or
organizations wishing to make oral
comments must pre-register by 11:59
p.m. EST November 10, 2023, and
speakers can only register for one
speaking slot. Oral comments must be
sent by email to arthur.a.duggan@
usda.gov or via mail to David Lytle,
Research and Development 2NW, USDA
Forest Service, 201 14th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Arthur Duggan, Jr., Science Quality
Services Program Manager, by phone at
510–542–0081 or email at
arthur.a.duggan@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the meeting is to:
1. Discuss the current purpose of the
Committee;
2. Discuss questions Federal forestry
researchers are attempting to address
and how they are addressing them; and
3. Identify topics for future meetings.
The agenda will include time for
individuals to make oral statements of
three minutes or less. Individuals
wishing to make an oral statement
should make a request in writing at least
three days prior to the meeting date to
be scheduled on the agenda. Written
comments may be submitted to the
Forest Service up to 14 days after the
meeting date listed under DATES.
Please contact the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, by
or before the deadline, for all questions
related to the meeting. All comments,
including names and addresses when
provided, are placed in the record and
are available for public inspection and
copying. The public may inspect
comments received upon request.
Meeting Accommodations: The
meeting location is compliant with the
Americans with Disabilities Act, and the
USDA provides reasonable
accommodation to individuals with
disabilities where appropriate. If you are
a person requiring reasonable
accommodation, please make requests
in advance for sign language
interpretation, assistive listening
devices, or other reasonable
accommodation to the person listed
under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section, or contact USDA’s
TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600
(voice and TTY) or USDA through the
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339.
Additionally, program information may
be made available in languages other
than English.
USDA programs are prohibited from
discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, gender
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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 (not all bases apply to
all programs). Remedies and complaint
filing deadlines vary by program or
incident.
Equal opportunity practices in
accordance with USDA’s policies will
be followed in all appointments to the
Committee. To ensure that the
recommendations of the Committee
have taken into account the needs of the
diverse groups served by USDA,
membership shall include to the extent
possible individuals with demonstrated
ability to represent minorities, women,
and persons with disabilities. USDA is
an equal opportunity provider,
employer, and lender.
Dated: October 10, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023–22867 Filed 10–16–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket No. RUS–23–Telecom–0012]
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: Electric System Emergency
Restoration Plan; OMB Control No.:
0572–0140
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
announces its’ intention to request an
extension of a currently approved
information collection and invites
comments on this information
collection.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by December 18, 2023 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by the Federal eRulemaking
Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and, in the ‘‘Search Field’’ box, labeled
‘‘Search for dockets and documents on
agency actions,’’ enter the following
docket number: (RUS–23–Telecom–
0012), and click ‘‘Search.’’ To submit
public comments, select the ‘‘Comment’’
button. Before inputting your
comments, you may also review the
‘‘Commenter’s Checklist’’ (optional).
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM
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lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 17, 2023 / Notices
Insert your comments under the
‘‘Comment’’ title, click ‘‘Browse’’ to
attach files (if applicable). Input your
email address and select an identity
category then click ‘‘Submit Comment.’’
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 ‘‘FAQ’’ link.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Crystal Pemberton, Management
Analyst, Branch 1, Rural Development
Innovation Center—Regulations
Management Division, United States
Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, South
Building, Washington, DC 20250–1522.
Telephone: (202) 260–8621. Email:
Crystal.Pemberton@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 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 the
following information collection that
RUS is submitting to OMB as extension
to an existing collection with Agency
adjustment.
Title: Electric System Emergency
Restoration Plan.
OMB Control Number: 0572–0140.
Expiration Date of Approval: March
31, 2024.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
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:
41.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 20.5 hours.
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 seq., 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:02 Oct 16, 2023
Jkt 262001
operated, and 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 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 applicant provides RUS with a
written self-certification letter form that
an ERP exists for the system and that an
initial VRA has been performed as part
of the application process.
Comments are invited on:
(a) 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;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the collection
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71529
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. All responses
to this notice will be summarized and
included in the request for OMB
approval. All comments will become a
matter of public record.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from Crystal Pemberton,
Rural Development Innovation Center—
Regulations Management Division, at
(202) 260–8621. Email:
Crystal.Pemberton@usda.gov.
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.
Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–22839 Filed 10–16–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Generic Clearance for
Internet Panel Pretesting and
Qualitative Survey Methods Testing
Census Bureau, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection,
request for comment.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Commerce, in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, invites the general public and
other Federal agencies to comment on
proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. The purpose of this
notice is to allow for 60 days of public
comment on the proposed extension of
the Generic Clearance for Internet Panel
Pretesting and Qualitative Survey
Methods Testing, prior to the
submission of the information collection
request (ICR) to OMB for approval.
DATES: To ensure consideration,
comments regarding this proposed
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71528-71529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22839]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket No. RUS-23-Telecom-0012]
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Electric System
Emergency Restoration Plan; OMB Control No.: 0572-0140
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service
(RUS) announces its' intention to request an extension of a currently
approved information collection and invites comments on this
information collection.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 18, 2023 to
be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
Go to https://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search Field'' box,
labeled ``Search for dockets and documents on agency actions,'' enter
the following docket number: (RUS-23-Telecom-0012), and click
``Search.'' To submit public comments, select the ``Comment'' button.
Before inputting your comments, you may also review the ``Commenter's
Checklist'' (optional).
[[Page 71529]]
Insert your comments under the ``Comment'' title, click ``Browse'' to
attach files (if applicable). Input your email address and select an
identity category then click ``Submit Comment.'' 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 ``FAQ'' link.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Pemberton, Management Analyst,
Branch 1, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management
Division, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202)
260-8621. Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 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 the following information collection
that RUS is submitting to OMB as extension to an existing collection
with Agency adjustment.
Title: Electric System Emergency Restoration Plan.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0140.
Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2024.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
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: 41.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20.5 hours.
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 seq., 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 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 applicant provides RUS with a written
self-certification letter form that an ERP exists for the system and
that an initial VRA has been performed as part of the application
process.
Comments are invited on:
(a) 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;
(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. All responses to this notice
will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All
comments will become a matter of public record.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Crystal
Pemberton, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management
Division, at (202) 260-8621. Email: [email protected].
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.
Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-22839 Filed 10-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
