View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package

OMB Control No: 0570-0065	ICR Reference No: 201412-0570-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201404-0570-001
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RBS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program
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: 03/01/2016
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 07/21/2015
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years. In addition, the Agency is reminded that, when it submits this collection for renewal, it should include evidence of outside consultation (including with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained) on availability of data, frequency of collection, clarity of instructions, accuracy of burden estimate, relevance of data elements, and similar matters.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2019	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2017
Responses	790	0	1,051
Time Burden (Hours)	13,180	0	6,253
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: The Biorefinery Assistance Program was authorized under Section 9003 of the 2008 Farm Bill. The program assists in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies for the development of advanced biofuels by providing loan guarantees of up to $250 million. Section 9003 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) modifies various provisions of the program. In addition to renaming the program to "Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program," the 2014 Farm Bill requires several substantive changes. These changes are: • Expanding the program to include biorefineries that primarily produce renewable chemicals and/or biobased products; • Providing loan guarantees to stand-alone biobased product manufacturing facilities; • Defining renewable chemicals and biobased product manufacturing; and • Ensuring that there is diversity in the types of projects approved. This collection of information is necessary in order for Rural Development to identify projects eligible for loan guarantees under the Program. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), Rural Development is submitting this information collection package to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance.

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	790	1,051	-261
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	13,180	6,253	6,927
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	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 interim rule revision replaces the current approved burden in its entirety. This package reflects changes in the burden from the previous submittal. The current approved burden is based on a total of 40 applicants and 10 awardees over four years or equivalently 10 applicants and 2.5 awardees per year. The burden associated with this package is based on approximately 32 applicants and 6 awardees per year. This significant increase in hours is attributable to the Agency having a much better understanding of the efforts required by applicants to prepare an application for the types of projects for which loan guarantees are being sought under this program and shifting the responsibility of preparing the environmental assessment from the Agency to the applicant.

View ICR - OIRA Conclusion