2018-23074. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 18, 2018.

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 (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 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 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 November 23, 2018 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 Housing Service

Title: 7 CFR 1944-I, “Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants.”

OMB Control Number: 0575-0043.

Summary of Collection: Authorized under Public Law 90-448, section 523 of the Title 5 Housing Act of 1949, this regulation sets forth the policies and procedures and delegates the authority for providing technical assistance funds to eligible applicants to finance programs of technical and supervisory assistance for the Mutual and Self-Help Housing (MSH) program. The MSH program affords very low and low-income families the opportunity for home ownership by constructing their own homes. The MSH program provides funds to non-profit organizations for supervisory and technical assistance to the homebuilding families. Three types of funds are available under the MSH program: (1) Technical assistance grants, (2) Pre-development grants and (3) Site option loans.

Need and use of the Information: Rural Housing Service (RHS) will collect information from non-profit organizations that want to develop a MSH program in their area to increase the availability of affordable housing. The information is collected at the local, district and state levels. The information requested by RHS includes financial and organizational information about the non-profit organization. RHS needs this information to determine if the organization is capable of successfully carrying out the requirements of the MSH program. The information is collected on an as requested or needed basis. RHS has reviewed the program's need for the collection of information versus the burden placed on the public.

Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 100.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 3,177.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.