[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] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ 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 appearing in this section. ======================================================================== 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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