[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8236-8237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4962]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection for Which Approval Has Expired

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), this notice announces the Rural 
Utilities Service's (RUS) intentions to reinstate a previously approved 
information collection for which approval has expired.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 3, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dawn D. Wolfgang, Management Analyst, 
Program Support Staff, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 

[[Page 8237]]
Agriculture, 14th & Independence Ave., SW., AG Box 1522, Washington, DC 
20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-0812. FAX: (202) 720-4120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Certification of Authority.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0074.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved information collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages loan programs 
in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 
et seq.), as amended. A major factor in managing loan programs is 
controlling the advance of funds. One reason to control funds is so 
that the actual borrowers get their money. The use of RUS Form 675 
allows this control to be achieved by providing a list of authorized 
signatures against which signatures requesting funds are compared. RUS 
Form 675 provides an effective control against the unauthorized release 
of funds by providing a list of authorized signatures. OMB Circular A-
123, Management Accountability and Control, states that information 
should be maintained on a current basis and that cash should be 
protected from unauthorized use. This form allows borrowers to keep RUS 
up-to-date of any changes in signature authority and controls the 
release of funds only to authorized borrower representatives.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.1 of an hour per response.
    Respondents: Small business or organization.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 490
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 49.
    Copies of this information collection, and related form and 
instructions, can be obtained from Dawn Wolfgang, Program Support 
Staff, at (202) 720-0812.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: F. Lamont 
Heppe, Jr., Deputy Director, Program Support Staff, Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 14th & Independence Ave., SW., 
AG Box 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: February 23, 1996.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 96-4962 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P