The Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Household Program (SEARCH) Grant Program will use grant funds for feasibility studies, design assistance, and technical assistance for direct loans, grants and guaranteed loans, to financially distressed communities in rural areas with populations of 2,500 or fewer inhabitants for water and waste disposal projects.
The Administrator of RUS is required to prescribe regulations to implement the provisions of the Farm Bill. In conjunction with this paperwork package, the Agency is planning to publish an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking comments for the development of a proposed rule to implement the SEARCH Program as well as publish a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA). This new authority in the Farm Bill allows the Agency to fund predevelopment costs with 100 percent grants for needy rural communities and more importantly to help those communities get ready to use Recovery Act funds to fund construction. Before grant funds can become available, paperwork clearance is required on the associated burden.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.