Pandemic Response and Safety Program; Request for Emergency Approval of a New Information Collection
| Published date | 01 September 2021 |
| Record Number | 2021-18810 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Agricultural Marketing Service |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48972-48973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18810]
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Notices
Federal Register
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or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 /
Notices
[[Page 48972]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Document No. AMS-TM-21-0026]
Pandemic Response and Safety Program; Request for Emergency
Approval of a New Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of emergency request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to seek approval from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information
collection to administer the Pandemic Response and Safety Program (PRS)
under its Grants Division. AMS Grants Division is implementing this new
grant program under section 751 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2021 (CAA), which directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide
``grants and loans to small or midsized food processors or
distributors, seafood processing facilities and processing vessels,
farmers markets, producers, or other organizations to respond to
coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).''
DATES: Submit comments on or before November 1, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning
this notice by using the electronic process available at
www.regulations.gov. Written comments may also be submitted to Grants
Division; Transportation and Marketing Program; AMS; USDA; 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 2055-South Building, Stop 0201;
Washington, DC 20250-0264. All comments should reference the docket
number AMS-TM-21-0026, the date of submission, and the page number of
this issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be
posted without change, including any personal information provided, at
www.regulations.gov and will be included in the record and made
available to the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Miklozek, Director, Grants
Division; (202) 720-1403 or email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview of This Information Collection
Agency: USDA, AMS.
Title: Pandemic Response and Safety Program.
OMB Number: 0581-NEW.
Type of Request: Emergency Approval of a New Information
Collection.
Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) (7 U.S.C.
1621 et seq.) directs and authorizes USDA to administer Federal grant
programs. AMS Grant Programs are administered through the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance for Grants and Agreements based on
its regulations under the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 200)
(85 FR 49506; December 13, 2020). Information collection requirements
in this emergency request are needed for AMS to administer a new
competitive grant program, in accordance with 2 CFR part 200, entitled
the Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) under OMB No. 0581-NEW.
PRS is authorized pursuant to the authority of section 751 of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) (Pub. L. 116-260) in
response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and worker protections in
food processing, distribution, farmers markets, and agricultural
production. The AMS Grants Division requests to collect information for
this new grant program from individuals, small businesses, and
nonprofit organizations working in food processing, distribution,
farmers markets, and agricultural production.
Because this is a voluntary program, respondents request or apply
for this specific competitive grant, and in doing so, they provide
information. Information collected is used only by authorized
representatives of USDA, AMS, Transportation and Marketing Program's
Grants Division to certify that grant participants are complying with
applicable program regulations, and the data collected is the minimum
information necessary to effectively carry out program requirements.
Information collection requirements in this request are essential
to carry out the intent of section 751 of the CAA, to provide
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the
program.
Upon OMB approval of the PRS information collection package, AMS
will request OMB approval to merge this information collection into the
currently approved information collection OMB control number 0581-0240
approved on January 13, 2021.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 4 hours per response.
Respondents: Grant applicants; or grant recipients.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 800,000.
Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping:
1,000,000.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers:
916,660 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of agency
functions, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
new collection of information, including the validity of methodology
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize
the burden of information collection on those who are to respond,
including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Obtaining OMB's approval of this new information collection enables
AMS Grants Division to publish a Request for Applications (RFA) to
establish application requirements, the review and approval process,
and grant administration procedures, which will
[[Page 48973]]
enable eligible entities to develop appropriate grant applications for
the program so that AMS can adequately evaluate these new proposals and
obligate funds as required by the CAA.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator. Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18810 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
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