7 CFR part 1970, Environmental Policies and Procedures

OMB Control No: 0575-0197	ICR Reference No: 202108-0575-005
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201902-0575-003
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RHS	Agency Tracking No: 0575-0197
Title: 7 CFR part 1970, Environmental Policies and Procedures
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 01/15/2025
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 12/22/2022
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years. The agency is required to display the OMB Control Number and inform respondents of its legal significance in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.5(b). The agency is also required to provide electronic copies or screenshots of all data collection instruments. Please ensure the next renewal incorporates these actions.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	01/31/2028	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2025
Responses	2,454	0	2,807
Time Burden (Hours)	240,816	0	192,700
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: 7 CFR part 1970 covers all the rules and procedures that deal with environmental review and environmental law. It is necessary to obtain information from applicants regarding their proposals and to determine whether these proposals have the potential to affect environmental resources and historic properties either at the project site or in the project vicinity.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 4321 - 4346 Name of Law: National Enivronmental 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:
	87 FR 47960	08/05/2022
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 78631	12/22/2022
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 Business - 7 CFR 1970 Government/Tribal - 7 CFR 1970 Individuals - 7 CFR part 1970

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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	2,454	2,807	0	-72	-281	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	240,816	192,700	0	0	48,116	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This information collection package is related to the combined environmental policies and procedures of RB-CS, RHS and RUS. The agencies had multiple EISs in active status which caused costs to increase greatly. Prior calculations did not include categorical exclusions without environmental reports, which does not substantially change the current applicant burden, but does greatly change the accuracy of the agency costs. A decrease in the number of responses occurred in the current collection. In the previous collection there were 2,807 responses. There are 2,597 responses in the current collection. The number of burden hours increased from 192,700 in the previous collection to 240,816 in the current collection. This is due to an Agency adjustment of response time to categorical exclusions with Environmental Reports. Response time was 60 hours in the previous information collection. It has increased to 80 hours per response for this collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $9,300,480

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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? No

Agency Contact: Crystal Pemberton 202 556-8038 [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: 12/22/2022

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