2019-11885. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 3, 2019.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to 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 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; and 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 July 8, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

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 Business Cooperative Service

Title: Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program.

OMB Control Number: 0570-0052.

Summary of Collection: Formerly known as the “Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program,” the program has changed its name to “The Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program.” It was authorized by section 2744 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 2006, Public Law 109-97. The Act provides for the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to cooperatives or associations of cooperative whose primary focus is to provide assistance to small, socially-disadvantaged producers and whose governing board and/or membership are comprised of at least 75 percent socially-disadvantaged.

Need and Use of the Information: Rural Business Service needs to receive the information contained in this collection of information to make prudent decisions regarding eligibility of applicants and selection priority among competing applicants, to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and to evaluate the projects it believes will provide the most long-term economic benefit to rural areas.

Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 36.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Semi-Annually; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 620.

Kimble Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.