2017-24223. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 2, 2017.

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 (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; (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 December 7, 2017 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 Utilities Service

Title: Electric System Emergency Restoration Plan.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0140.

Summary of Collection: Electric power systems have been identified in Presidential Decision Directive 63, May 1998, as one of the critical infrastructures of the United States. The term “critical infrastructure” is defined in section 1016(e) of the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)). To ensure that the electric infrastructure in rural America is adequately protected, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) requires that all current 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, create an ERP.

Need and Use of the Information: 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. RUS requires each electric borrower to provide annually a self-certification, in writing, that an ERP exists and that an initial VRA has been performed. If this information were not collected, vulnerabilities may exist in the electric system infrastructure. The result would be increased risk to public safety and may affect the Government loan security.

Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.

Number of Respondents: 625.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 313.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.