The Special Evaluation Assistance for
Rural Communities and Household Program (SEARCH) Grant Program will
use grant funds for feasibility studies, design assistance, and
technical assistance for direct loans, grants and guaranteed loans,
to financially distressed communities in rural areas with
populations of 2,500 or fewer inhabitants for water and waste
disposal projects.
The Administrator of RUS
is required to prescribe regulations to implement the provisions of
the Farm Bill. In conjunction with this paperwork package, the
Agency is planning to publish an Advanced Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking comments for the development of a
proposed rule to implement the SEARCH Program as well as publish a
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA). This new authority in the Farm
Bill allows the Agency to fund predevelopment costs with 100
percent grants for needy rural communities and more importantly to
help those communities get ready to use Recovery Act funds to fund
construction. Before grant funds can become available, paperwork
clearance is required on the associated burden.
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:
(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;
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.