[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 41569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20355]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service (RBS) to request an extension of a currently approved 
information collection in support of the Rural Business Enterprise 
Grants and Television Demonstration Grants (RBEG) Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 8, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carole Boyko, Loan Specialist, Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service, USDA, Specialty Lenders Division, STOP 
1521, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-1521. 
Telephone: (202) 720-0661.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: RBS/Rural Business Enterprise Grants and Television 
Demonstration Grants.
    OMB Number: 0570-0132.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The objective of the RBEG program is to facilitate the 
development of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. 
This purpose is achieved through grants made by RBS to public bodies 
and nonprofit corporations. Television Demonstration grants are 
available to private nonprofit public television systems to provide 
information on agriculture and other issues of importance to farmers 
and the rural residents. The regulations contain various requirements 
for information from the grantees, and some requirements may cause the 
grantees to require information from other parties. The information 
requested is vital for RBS to be able to process applications in a 
responsible manner, make prudent program decisions, and effectively 
monitor the grantees' activities to protect the Government's financial 
interest and ensure that funds obtained from the Government are used 
appropriately. It includes information used to determine eligibility; 
the specific purposes for which grant funds will be used; timeframes; 
who will be carrying out the grant purposes; project priority; 
applicant experience; employment improvement; and mitigation of 
economic distress.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.86 hours per response.
    Respondents: Non-profit corporations, public bodies.
    Estimated number of Respondents: 210.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 33.14.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 12,920 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Sam 
Spencer, Rural Business Team Information Collection Coordinator, at 
(202) 720-9588.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) whether the 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 
the burden of the proposed collection of information including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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 
those who respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Sam 
Spencer, Rural Business Team Information collection Coordinator, 
Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, U. S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0743, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-0743. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments 
will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 1, 1996.
Dayton J. Watkins,
 Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.--
[FR Doc. 96-20355 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-07-P