[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5499-5500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2554]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; 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's (RUS) 
invites comments on these information collections for which RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 6, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, 
Program Support Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 4036, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-9550. FAX: (202) 720-
4120.

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 reinstatement.
    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. Comments may be sent to: F. Lamont 
Heppe, Jr., Director, Program

[[Page 5500]]

Support and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-4120.

     Title: Report of Progress of Construction and Engineering 
Services and Engineer's Monthly Report of Substation Progress.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0014.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection, without change.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages programs in 
accordance with the Rural Electrification 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 organization.
    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.
    Combined Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 800 hours.

     Title: Request for Mail List Data.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0051.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection, with change.
    Abstract: This RUS Form 87 is used for both the RUS electric and 
telecommunication programs to obtain the names and addresses of the 
borrowers' officials with whom RUS must communicate directly in order 
to administer the agency's lending programs. Changes occurring at the 
borrowers' annual meetings (e.g., the selection of board members, 
managers, attorneys, certified public accountants, or other officials) 
make necessary the collection of this information.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .25 hour per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 905.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 226 hours.

     Title: State Telecommunications Modernization Plan.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0104.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection, with change.
    Abstract: State Telecommunication Modernization Plan (STMP) is a 
plan for improving the public switched telecommunications network. The 
STMP will be reviewed by the RUS telecommunication program staff to 
ensure that it complies with the requirements setforth in 
Secs. 1751.100-1751.106.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 350 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 350 hours.
     Title: Demand Side Management Plan and Integrated Resource 
Plan.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0105.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection, with change.
    Abstract: To be eligible for a loan for DSM, energy conservation 
programs or renewable energy systems, a borrower is required to submit 
an RUS-approved integrated resource plan (IRP) with the loan 
application. An IRP is a plan resulting from a planning and selection 
process that evaluates the benefits and costs of the full range of 
alternatives, including new generating capacity, power purchases, DSM, 
system operating efficiency improvements, and renewable energy sources 
to meet future energy needs flexibility and at the lowest system cost. 
Loan applications for DSM programs must also be supported by a DSM 
plan, which must be consistent with the borrower's own IRP or with its 
power supplier's IRP if it is a member of a power supply borrower's 
system.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 8 hours per respondent.
    Respondents: Small business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 24 hours.
    Requests for copies of an information collection can be obtained 
from Gail Salgado-Duff, Program Support and Regulatory Analysis, at 
(202) 205-3660. FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    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: January 28, 1998.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2554 Filed 2-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P