[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17149-17150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9201]


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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 June 8, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, 
Program Development 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)

[[Page 17150]]

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 an extension.
    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 Development 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 Compliance and Participation.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0047.
    Type of Request: Extension 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.
    RUS Form 268 is designed for use by RUS electric and telephone 
borrowers in complying with the reporting requirements outlined in RUS 
Bulletin 20-19:320-19, ``Nondiscrimination Among Beneficiaries of RUS 
Programs.'' RUS is required to implement regulations of the Department 
of Justice and USDA and to provide for the collection of civil rights 
data and information from applicants for and recipients of Federal 
assistance sufficient to permit effective enforcement of Title VI of 
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (ACTs). RUS Form 268 
serves as a compliance report and facilitates RUS' responsibilities in 
enforcing compliance by electric and telephone borrowers with the 
requirements of the ACTs.
    Respondents: Small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Repondents and Recordkeepers: 1,840.
    Estimated Hours Per Respondent and Recordkeepers: 0.67 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,233 hours.
    Requests for copies of an information collection can be obtained 
from Gail Salgado-Duff, Program Development 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: April 2, 1998.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 98-9201 Filed 4-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P