[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 123 (Thursday, June 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34439-34440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16745]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service
Rural Utilities Service
Rural Business Service
Farm Service Agency


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing 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 Agency's intention to seek continued OMB approval 
for a currently approved information collection contained in 7 CFR 
1927-B, Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 25, 1997, to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. Sue Smith, Senior Loan Specialist, 
Single Family Housing Processing Division, RHS, U. S. Department of 
Agriculture, Ag Stop 0783, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20250-0783, Telephone (202) 690-4507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing.
    OMB Number: 0575-0147.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Section 501 of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as 
amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to extend financial 
assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace or 
rehabilitate dwellings, farm buildings and/or related facilities to 
provide decent, safe, and sanitary living conditions and adequate farm 
buildings and other structures in rural areas. Title Clearance is 
required to assure the Agency(s) that the loan is legally secured and 
has the required lien priority.
    The Agency will be collecting information to assure that those 
participating in this program remain eligible to proceed with loan 
closing and to ensure that loans made with Federal funds are legally 
secured. The respondents are individuals or households, farms, 
businesses, and non-profit institutions. The information required is 
used by Agency personnel to verify that the required lien position has 
been obtained. The information is collected at the field office 
responsible for processing a loan application through loan closing. The 
information is also used to insure the program is administered in a 
manner consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. If 
not collected, the Agency would be unable to determine if the loan is 
adequately and legally secured.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .23 per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, Farms, Business, Non-Profit 
Institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 70,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.81.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 96,780.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from the 
Barbara Williams, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support 
Services Division, at (202) 720-9734.

[[Page 34440]]

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 Agencies' 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 are 
to 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 Barbara 
Williams, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services 
Division, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 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 also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 16, 1997.
Jan E. Shadburn,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.

    Dated: June 11, 1997.
Bruce R. Weber,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 97-16745 Filed 6-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P