Environmental Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR 1794

OMB Control No: 0572-0117	ICR Reference No: 201303-0572-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201003-0572-005
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Environmental Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR 1794
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 11/26/2014
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 06/18/2013
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the collection is approved for 3 years. Upon re-submission, the agency should assess and where necessary update and correct any assumptions used in calculating estimated burden. The agency should also include a description of the method used to calculate the number of responses and burden.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2017	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2014
Responses	7,261	0	3,321
Time Burden (Hours)	353,650	0	486,440
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The purpose of this information collection is to ensure RUS electric, telecommunications, and water and environmental program borrowers provide environmental documentation requirements contained in NEPA as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 4321-4346 Name of Law: National environmental Policy Act of 1969

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 21098	04/09/2013
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 35848	06/14/2013
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Environmental Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR 1794

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	7,261	3,321	0	3,940	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	353,650	486,440	0	-132,790	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Due to a reduction in loan applications submitted and approved, there was a decrease in respondents from 1,339 to 1,176. The decrease in submissions and a detailed review of response times in several of the environmental review categories, resulted in an adjustment decrease of 132,790 burden hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $9,774,514

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Rebecca Hunt 202 205-3660 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(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;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
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.
Certification Date: 06/18/2013

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