Empowering Rural America Program

OMB Control No: 0572-0158	ICR Reference No: 202308-0572-002
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202305-0572-001
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RUS	Agency Tracking No: 0572-0158
Title: Empowering Rural America Program
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 10/24/2023

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2023
Responses	5,824	5,824
Time Burden (Hours)	185,514	185,514
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: On August 16, 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-169). Subtitle C, Section 22004 of IRA amended Section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103) by adding subjection (j). Through the passing of IRA, the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program was established with the goal of providing financial assistance to electric cooperatives to achieve the greatest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the cooperatives’ voluntary transformation of rural electric systems in a way that promotes resiliency and reliability of rural electric systems and affordability for their members. The New ERA Program is being administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), that provides, mortgage loans and loan guarantees to electric systems to provide and improve electric service in rural areas pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., RE Act). Section 22004 of IRA provided the Agency with $9,700,000,000 in Budget Authority (BA), to remain available until September 30, 2031. With this BA, the Agency, through the New ERA Program, will provide financial assistance in the form of loans, loan and grant combinations, loan refinancing and modifications and other financial assistance.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 117 - 169 Subtitle C, Section 22004 Name of Law: Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

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:
	88 FR 31218	05/16/2023
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 72987	10/24/2023
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 Empowering Rural America Program

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	5,824	5,824	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	185,514	185,514	0	0	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $6,642,736

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: Pamela Bennett 202 720-9639 [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: 10/24/2023

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