[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44832-44833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22485]


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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 October 20, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, 
Program Development & Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 4034 South Building, 
Washington, D.C. 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-0736. 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)).
    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.

Background

    The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 901 et 
seq. (RE Act) authorizes RUS to make and guarantee loans for electric 
facilities to serve rural consumers. Most loans are fully amortized 
over a period of 35 years and are secured by a lien on the borrower's 
assets.
     Title: RUS Loan Prepayments and Related Reporting Burdens.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0088.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection, with change.
    Abstract: Title 7 CFR Part 1786 establishes policies and procedures 
mandated by legislation. This part deals with the prepayment of certain 
loans held by the Federal Financing Bank (FFB), a wholly-owned 
government instrumentality under the supervision of the Secretary of 
the Treasury, and guaranteed by RUS.
    This regulation sets forth policy and procedures implementing 
section 306(A) of the RE Act which permits an RUS-financed electric or 
telephone system to prepay an FFB loan (or any loan advance thereunder) 
by paying the outstanding principal balance due on the loan (or 
advance).
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 90 hours.
     Title: Wholesale Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of 
Electric Power.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0089.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection, with change.
    Abstract: Most RUS financed electric systems are cooperatives and 
are organized in a two-tiered structure. Retail customers are members 
of the distribution system that brings electricity to their homes and 
business. Distribution cooperatives, in turn, are members of power 
supply cooperatives, also known as generation and transmission 
cooperatives (G&T's) that generate or purchase power and transmit the 
power to the distribution systems.
    For a distribution system a lien on the borrower's assets generally 
represents adequate security. However, since most G&T revenues flow 
from its distribution members, RUS requires, as a condition of a loan 
or loan guarantee to a G&T that its distribution members enter into a 
long-term requirements wholesale power contract to purchase their power 
from the G&T at rates that cover all the G&T's expenses, including debt 
service and margins.
    RUS Form 444 is the standard form of the wholesale power contract. 
Most borrowers adapt this form to meet their specific needs. The 
contract is prepared and executed by the G&T and each member and by 
RUS.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 900 hours.
     Title: Electric System Construction Policies and 
Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0107.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection, with change.
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the programmatic interest of the 
RE Act, and, in order to assure that loans made or guaranteed by RUS 
are adequately secured, RUS, as a secured lender, as established 
certain standards and specifications for materials, equipment, and the 
construction of electric systems. The use of standard forms, 
construction contracts, and procurement procedures helps assure RUS 
that appropriate standards and specifications are maintained, RUS' loan 
security is not adversely affected; and the loan and loan guarantee 
funds are used effectively and for the intended purposes. The following 
are RUS forms included in this package: 168b, 168c, 180, 181, 187, 198, 
200, 201, 203, 213, 224, 231, 238, 251, 254, 257, 307, 764, 786, 790, 
792, 792a-c, 830, and 831.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 870.

[[Page 44833]]

    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 629 hours.
    Copies of this information collection, and related forms and 
instructions, can be obtained from Dawn Wolfgang, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, phone: (202) 720-0812, fax: (202) 720-4120, e-
mail: [email protected].
    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: August 13, 1998.
Christopher A. McLean,
Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22485 Filed 8-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P