[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 52 (Friday, March 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10723-10724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6182]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
invites comments on certain information collections for which RUS 
intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 14, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Please address written comments 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. Telephone: (202) 720-0736. Comments may also 
be faxed to (202) 720-4120. Comments should identify the OMB control 
number.
    Requests for copies of an information collection should be directed 
to Dawn Wolfgang, Program Support Staff, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 14th & Independence Ave., SW., AG Box 1522, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-0812. Fax: (202) 720-
4120.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dawn D. Wolfgang, Management Analyst, 
Program Support Staff, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 14th & Independence Ave.,

[[Page 10724]]
SW., AG Box 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-0812.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) require that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies information collection that RUS is 
submitting to OMB for extension and/or revision to currently approved 
information collections, as appropriate.
    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.
    The following information is provided for each information 
collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control 
number; (3) expiration date; (4) type of request; (5) abstract of the 
information collection activity; (6) respondents; and (7) estimate of 
burden:
    Title: Report of Progress of Construction and Engineering Services 
and Engineer's Monthly Report of Substation Progress.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0014.
    Expiration Date: April 30, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages programs in 
accordance with the Rural Electrication Act (RE Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 
901 et seq., as amended, and as prescribed by OMB Circular A-129, 
Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax Receivables.
    The Act authorizes RUS to lend funds for construction of various 
facilities under terms and conditions which will safeguard the security 
of the loans. One method of safeguarding loan security is to see that 
the facilities for which funds are loaned are actually constructed.
    RUS therefore requires borrowers to submit RUS Form 178, Report of 
Progress of Construction and Engineering Services, and RUS Form 457, 
Engineer's Monthly Report of Substation Progress. These forms keep RUS 
abreast of progress on these construction projects on a month-by-month 
basis. The frequency of the report allows RUS to detect any potential 
problems before they reach a critical stage and to make the necessary 
adjustments to place construction back on schedule.
    Respondents: Small business or organizations.
    Annual Reporting Burden: 
    RUS Form 178:
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 300 hours.
    RUS Form 457:
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 500 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 800 hours.
    Title: Lien Accommodations and Subordinations.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0100.
    Expiration Date: May 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The RE Act of 1936, as amended, authorized and empowers 
the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service to make loans in the 
several States and Territories of the United States for rural 
electrification and the furnishing of electric energy to persons in 
rural areas who are not receiving central station service. The RE Act 
also authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to provide 
financial assistance to borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act 
by accommodating or subordinating loans made by the National Rural 
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, 
and other lending agencies.
    Title 7 Part 1717, subparts R and S, sets forth policy and 
procedure to facilitate and support borrowers' efforts to obtain 
private sector financing of their capital needs, to allow borrowers 
greater flexibility in the management of their business affairs without 
compromising RUS loan security, and to reduce the cost to borrowers, in 
terms of time, expense and paperwork, of obtaining lien accommodations 
and subordinations.
    Respondents: Small business or organizations.
    Annual Reporting Burden:
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 100 hours.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: There are a number of 
components associated with this information collection. Not all apply 
to every respondent.
    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: March 8, 1996.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 96-6182 Filed 3-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P