Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 31715-31717 [2024-08884]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31715-31717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08884]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    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: whether 
the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance 
of the functions of the agency, including

[[Page 31716]]

whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of 
the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information to be collected; 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 May 28, 
2024 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of 
the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    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: Rural Energy Savings Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0151.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural 
Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), provides RESP loans to eligible entities that agree to, in 
turn, make loans to qualified consumers for energy efficiency measures, 
including cost effective energy storage and renewable energy systems. 
These loans are made available under the authority of section 6407 of 
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as amended, 
(section 6407). Eligible energy efficiency measures must be for or at a 
property or properties served by a RESP borrower, using commercially 
available technologies that would allow qualified consumers to decrease 
their energy use or costs through cost-effective energy efficiency 
investments. Loans made by RESP borrowers under this program are repaid 
through a recurring bill to the qualified consumer for the property or 
properties for, or at which, the energy efficiencies measures are or 
will be implemented.
    Since its inception in 2016, the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP 
or the Program) has evolved. New and clarifying authorities have been 
added to the program including changes made by the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 115-334) which 
reauthorized the implementation of the RESP. Title VI, subtitle C, 
section 6303 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 introduced 
several amendments to section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107a). The amendments include an 
increase in the maximum amount RUS eligible borrowers may charge to 
their qualified consumers, streamlining the accounting requirements, 
and the use of a recurring bill to the qualified consumer as a 
repayment mechanism for the RUS borrowers. The governing regulation for 
this program is 7 CFR 1719.
    Need and Use of the Information: This collection receives 
information only from those RUS electric borrowers or eligible entities 
who submit letters of intent to apply for the Rural Energy Savings 
Program and those who subsequently are invited to submit applications. 
Several qualified entities will be invited to submit applications for a 
RESP loan after notifying the agency of their interest. The information 
required from the respondents is limited to essential criteria for 
screening to determine if proposed activities and investment are 
consistent with the purpose of the statute, determining eligibility, 
evaluating the likelihood of fulfilling requirements of a complete 
application, and to make a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of 
the business model contemplated by the applicant in order to protect 
the interests of the Government when making the loan. The information 
collected is consistent with requirements necessary to determine 
acceptable qualifications and evaluate applications. Some of the 
relending projects outlined in applications may vary substantially in 
complexity and administration and so, the individual respondent's 
burden may vary as well. The information submitted is used by RUS to 
determine public interest in the program, determine eligibility of 
applicants for loans under RESP, and to ensure borrowers use the funds 
for purposes consistent with goals of RESP.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 9.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 849.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: OneRD Guaranteed Loan Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0155.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Development is implementing a new 
consolidated guaranteed loan program. This rule created a new 
guaranteed loan program that combined four existing guaranteed loan 
programs under one regulatory platform. These four programs, described 
below, are: (1) the Community Facilities Program, (2) the Water and 
Waste Disposal Program, (3) the Business and Industry Program, and (4) 
the Rural Energy for America Program (formerly known as the Renewable 
Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program under Title 
IX, Section 9007 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
(2008 Farm Bill).
    Community Facilities Program. The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is 
authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to make loans to public agencies, 
nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes for the development of 
essential community facilities primarily serving rural residents. RHS 
has been making guaranteed loans through its Community Programs, which 
was authorized by Congress in 1990. Community Program guaranteed loans 
are used to finance many types of projects varying in size and 
complexity from large general hospitals to small firefighting equipment 
loans. The guaranteed loan program encourages lender participation and 
provides specific guidance in the processing and servicing of 
guaranteed Community Facility loans.
    Water and Waste Disposal Program. The Rural Utilities Service is 
authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to make loans to public agencies, 
nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes for the development of water 
and waste disposal facilities primarily serving rural residents. Water 
and Waste Disposal Programs (WW), which has been in existence for 
approximately 60 years, was authorized with the Appropriations Act of 
1990, when Congress appropriated funds, to implement the Water and 
Waste Disposal guaranteed loan program. Water and waste disposal 
guaranteed loans are used to finance many types of projects varying in 
size and complexity. The guaranteed loan program encourages lender 
participation and provides specific guidance in the

[[Page 31717]]

processing and servicing of guaranteed WW loans.
    Business and Industry Program. The Business and Industry (B&I) 
Guaranteed Loan Program was legislated in 1972 under Section 310B of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended. The 
purpose of the program is to improve, develop, or finance businesses, 
industries, and employment and improve the economic and environmental 
climate in rural communities. This purpose is achieved through 
bolstering the existing private credit structure through the 
guaranteeing of quality loans made by lending institutions, thereby 
providing lasting community benefits.
    Rural Energy for America Program. The Rural Energy for America 
Program is authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill to make loan guarantees 
and grants to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses to purchase 
renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. The 
program is designed to help farmers, ranchers, and rural small business 
reduce energy cost and consumption, develop new income streams, and 
help meet the nation's critical energy needs.
    In an effort to reduce paperwork and make Rural Development forms 
more consistent with each other, thereby improving customer service, RD 
has revised the forms in this burden package to accommodate all four 
programs.
    Need and Use of the Information: Lending entities who wish to 
participate in this program must submit an application and/or certain 
information to Rural Development. This information will be used to 
determine their eligibility for participation in this program.
    Eligible lenders and their prospective borrowers who are seeking 
guaranteed loans will have to submit applications with specified 
information, certifications, and agreements to the State Office. This 
information will be used to determine borrower eligibility, to 
determine project eligibility and feasibility, and to ensure that 
borrowers operate on a sound basis and use funds for authorized 
purposes.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 464.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 64,694.


Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-08884 Filed 4-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P