[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9733-9734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5244]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 42 / Tuesday, March 4, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9733]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service
Rural Business--Cooperative Service
Rural Utilities Service
Farm Service Agency


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: The Rural Housing Service, Rural Business--Cooperative Service, 
Rural Utilities Service, Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of l995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request 
an extension for the currently approved information collection in 
support of the program for Community Facilities loans.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 5, 1997 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon R. Douglas, Loan Specialist, 
Community Programs Division, RHS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 
3222, l400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3222. 
Telephone (202) 720-1506.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: 7 CFR l956, Subpart C, Debt Settlement--Community and 
Business Programs.
    OMB Number: 0575-0124.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.

Abstract

    The Community Facilities loan program is authorized by Section 306 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to 
make loans to public entities, nonprofit corporations and Indian tribes 
for the development of community facilities for public use in rural 
areas.
    The Economic Opportunity Act of l964, Title 3 (Pub.L. 88-452), 
authorizes Economic Cooperative loans to assist incorporated and 
unincorporated associations provide to low-income rural families 
essential processing, purchasing, or marketing services, supplies, or 
facilities.
    The Water and Waste Disposal program is authorized by Section 
306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1926(a)) to provide basic human amenities, alleviate health hazards, 
and promote the orderly growth of the rural areas of the Nation by 
meeting the need for new and improved water and waste disposal systems.
    The Business and Industry program is authorized by Section 310 B (7 
U.S.C. 1932) (Pub.L. 92-419, August 30, 1972) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act to improve, develop, or finance business, 
industry, and employment and improve the economic and environmental 
climate in rural communities, including pollution abatement and 
control.
    The Food Security Act of 1985, Section 1323 (Pub.L. 99-198), 
authorizes loan guarantees and grants to Nonprofit National 
Corporations to provide technical and financial assistance to for-
profit or nonprofit local businesses in rural areas.
    The Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978, Section 601 (42 
U.S.C. 8401), authorizes Energy Impact Assistance Grants to states, 
councils of local government, and local governments to assist areas 
impacted by coal or uranium development activities. Assistance is for 
the purposes of growth management, housing planning, and acquiring and 
developing sites for housing and public facilities.
    The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Section 310B(c) (7 
U.S.C. 1932 (c)), authorizes Rural Business Enterprise Grants to public 
bodies and nonprofit corporations to facilitate the development of 
private businesses in rural areas.
    The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Section 310B(f)(i) 
(7 U.S.C. 1932 (c)), authorizes Rural Technology and Cooperative 
Development Grants to nonprofit institutions for the purpose of 
enabling such institutions to establish and operate centers for rural 
technology or cooperative development.
    The Farm Ownership loan program is authorized by the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act, Pub.L. 91-229, to make insured loans to 
Indian Tribes or tribal corporations within tribal reservations and 
Alaskan communities. The Act also gives Farmer Programs the authority 
to make loans for grazing, other irrigation and drainage projects, and 
association irrigation and drainage loans.
    The debt settlement program authorizes debt restructuring for the 
above programs. The debt restructuring actions would be available to 
the borrowers who are delinquent due to no fault of their own and who 
have acted in good faith in connection with their loans. These 
servicing actions are: writing down of principal and interest, 
deferral, loan consolidation and adjustment of interest rates and 
terms. However, any debt restructuring must result in a net recovery to 
the Federal Government during the term of the loan as restructured that 
would be more than or equal to the net recovery to the Federal 
Government from an involuntary liquidation or foreclosure on the 
property securing the loan.
    The information collected under this program is considered the 
minimum necessary to conform to the requirements of the regulation 
established by law. Also, the information collected is considered to be 
the minimum necessary to ensure that the intent of the law is achieved.
    Information will be collected by the field offices from applicants 
and borrowers. Under the provisions of this regulation, the information 
collected will primarily be financial data.
    Failure to collect this information could result in improper 
servicing of these loans.
    Estimate of Burden: 8.14 hours per response.
    Respondents: Public Bodies and nonprofit organizations.
    Estimate Number of Respondents: 17.
    Estimate Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.23.
    Estimate Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 448.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Barbara 
Williams,

[[Page 9734]]

Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, at (202) 720-9734.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the function of the Agency, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate, 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 are to respond, including the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to Barbara Williams, Regulations and Paperwork 
Management Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Stop 9743, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9743. 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 5, 1997.
Jan E. Shadburn,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.

    Dated: February 12, 1997.
Dayton J. Watkins,
Administrator, Rural Business--Cooperative Service.

    Dated: February 18, 1997.
Wally B. Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.

    Dated: February 20, 1997.
Grant Buntrock,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 97-5244 Filed 3-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U