Emergency Request

May 17, 2021
TO: Austin Mudd
Senior Desk Officer
Office of Management and Budget
THROUGH: Levi Harrell
USDA Information Collection Officer
FROM: Michele Brooks
Director, Regulations Management Division
Innovation Center, Rural Development, USDA

MICHELE
BROOKS

Digitally signed by
MICHELE BROOKS
Date: 2021.05.19
09:32:40 -04'00'

SUBJECT: Request for Emergency Approval of a New Information Collection Request
for the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service of the Rural Development (RD) Mission Area
(Agency) within the United States Department of Agriculture, is requesting emergency review
and approval of a new information collection for the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE)
final rule with comment. The Agency is requesting emergency approval by May 28, 2021.
The rule will become effective upon publication in the Federal Register and allow the
Agency to implement the RISE program as authorized by Section 6424 of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-34). Therefore, in order to ensure that any
Information Collection and Recordkeeping activities are approved on the effective date, RD is
requesting emergency approval of the new information collection in coordination with OMB
clearance of the associated rulemaking. Use of the normal clearance procedures is likely to
prevent or disrupt the collection of information from borrowers and proper servicing of
borrowers. Appropriated funding for the program will expire on September 30, 2021. In order to
announce funding and review applications to obligated funds by September 30, the agency must
publish the rule in early June 2021.
The 60-day notice for comments is included in the final rule and comments on the RISE
information collection request is requested in order to submit the regular request to obtain a 3year approval from OMB after receiving the 6-month OMB emergency approval. Due to the
need to consider comments received and then issue another notice for the Federal Register for an
additional thirty days of comment, the Agencies would not be able to complete the information
collection process before the regulation will go into effect, which would hinder the program

processing and servicing. Please note that after the 60-day comment period closes, the Agencies
will submit the collection package for a 3-year approval addressing any comments received.
In compliance with OMB regulations (5 CFR Part 1320), which implements the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the information collection and
recordkeeping requirements that may be imposed by this section are submitted to OMB for
emergency review and approval. Attached are the supporting statement and spreadsheet for the
regulation.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Michele Brooks,
Director, Regulations Management Division, Innovation Center, Rural Development by
telephone at (202) 690-1078 or by email at [email protected] or Lauren Cusick, Branch
Chief, Regulations Management Division, Innovation Center, Rural Development by telephone
at (202) 720-1414 or by email at [email protected].
Thank you in advance for your quick review and response to us.

Attachments