2025 Justification for a Non-Substantive Change Request 0596-0254 WPIA

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USDA, Forest Service

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)/Information Collection Request (ICR)

Justification for a Nonmaterial/Non-substantive Change Request Formally OMB 83c

OMB Control 0596-0254: Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance

The USDA Forest Service is requesting a nonmaterial/non-substantive change for information collection 0596-0254 Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance. This request is for approval of a nonmaterial/non-substantive change FS Form 1500-0049 related to Section 40804(b)3 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Pub. L. 117-58 (11/15/2021) directs the USDA Forest Service to provide financial assistance to an entity seeking to establish, reopen, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood processing facility in close proximity to a unit of federal or Indian land that has been identified as high or very high priority for ecological restoration. FS Form 1500-0049 is the application form for financial assistance. These changes are being requested to ensure program alignment with Administration priorities. The requested change below does not increase the burden-cost spreadsheet which was associated with the initial data collection approval.

Proposed Changes Related to the Data Collection

Remove the following questions from the 1500-0049 form

• Q8. (a) Using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, please identify if the project facility is or will be located in a disadvantaged community or if the feedstock for the facility will be originating from a disadvantaged community.

• Q8. (b) If you have additional comments and sources on how the proposed project will disadvantaged communities, please add them in the space below.

• Q10 . Identify if the raw material sourcing areas for the project facility will include materials from within the boundaries of the USDA Forest Service Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscapes using the following interactive map Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscapes Interactive Map Weblink.

Additionally, language was revised to align with recent changes to 2 CFR 200. The revised language includes…

• In Section C (page 13)

  • “Line 4” – Remove verbiage “The leasing of mobile equipment is allowed if the lease agreement is not lease-to-own.”

  • “Line 10” – Change verbiage to replace “10% of total direct costs” with “15% of modified total direct costs” (to align with updated 2 CFR guidance)

  • In “Note” under the project budget table, replace “equipment (>$5,000)” with “equipment (>$10,000)” (to align with updated 2 CFR guidance)