[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8898-8899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4485]


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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

AGENCIES: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, 
Rural Utilities Service, and Farm Service Agency, 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 above-named Agencies to request 
an extension for the currently approved information collection in 
support of the servicing of Community and Insured Business Programs 
Loans and Grants.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 24, 1998 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon R. Douglas, Loan Specialist, 
Community Programs Division, Rural Housing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 3222, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3222. Telephone (202) 720-1506.


[[Page 8899]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 7 CFR 1951, subpart O, ``Servicing Cases Where Unauthorized 
Loan or Other Financial Assistance Was Received--Community and Business 
Programs.''
    OMB Number: 0575-0103.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 1998.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The following Community and Insured Business, Indian 
Tribal Land Acquisition, Grazing, Association, Irrigation and Drainage, 
and Water and Waste Disposal programs are serviced by this currently 
approved regulation: 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 1964, Title 3 (Pub. L. 88-452), 
authorizes Economic Cooperative loans to assist incorporated and 
unincorporated associations in providing 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 to 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 310 B(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 310 
B(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 Indian Tribal Land Acquisition program is authorized under 25 
U.S.C., 488, et seq. to make direct loans to Indian Tribes or tribal 
corporations within tribal reservations and Alaskan communities. The 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, also gives the 
authority for grazing, other irrigation and drainage projects, and 
association irrigation and drainage loans.
    The purpose of the loan and grant servicing function for the above 
programs is to service cases where unauthorized assistance was received 
by a borrower or grantee for which there was not regulatory 
authorization or for which the recipient was not eligible. This 
assistance may be in the form of a loan or grant where the recipient 
did not meet the eligibility requirements set forth in program 
regulations or where the recipient qualified for assistance but 
interest subsidy benefit was erroneously granted and the loan was 
closed.
    Supervision by the Agencies include, but is not limited to: review 
of financial data such as facts and written records to assist in the 
determination that the assistance received was unauthorized and the 
necesssary account adjustments can be made. The borrower submits the 
information requested on Rural Development forms or on other forms, if 
desired. The information collected is evaluated by the local Rural 
Development or Farm Service Agency servicing office.
    Information will be collected by the field offices from applicants 
and borrowers. Under the provisions of this regulation, the information 
collected will be primarily financial data.
    Failure to collect information could result in improper servicing 
of these loans.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.86 hours per response.
    Respondents: State, local or tribal Governments, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 14.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tracy 
Gillin, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, (202) 690-1065.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the function of the Agencies, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 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 the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Tracy 
Gillin, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, 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 also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 12, 1998.
Eileen M. Fitzgerald,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
    Dated: February 17, 1998.
Wilber T. Peer,
Acting Administrator Business-Cooperative Rural Service.
    Dated: February 13, 1998.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
    Dated: February 13, 1998.
Bruce R. Weber,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 98-4485 Filed 2-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U