[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 1587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-588]


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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 (RUS) 
invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 13, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., 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:
    Title: 7 CFR 1717, Subpart Y, Settlement of Debt Owed by Electric 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0116.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) makes mortgage loans 
and loan guarantees to electric systems to provide and improve electric 
service in rural areas pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) (RE Act). This information 
collection requirement stems from passage of P. L. 104-127, on April 4, 
1996, which amended section 331(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) to extend to RUS the Secretary 
of Agriculture's authority to settle debts with respect to loans made 
or guaranteed by RUS. Only those electric borrowers that are unable to 
fully repay their debts to the government and who apply to RUS for 
relief will be affected by this information collection.
    The collection will require only that information which is 
essential for determining: the need for debt settlement; the amount of 
relief that is needed; the amount of debt that can be repaid; the 
scheduling of debt repayment; and, the range of opportunities for 
enhancing the amount of debt that can be recovered. The information to 
be collected will be similar to that which any prudent lender would 
require to determine whether debt settlement is required and the amount 
of relief that is needed. Since the need for relief is expected to vary 
substantially from case to case, so will the required information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3,000 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions and other businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimate Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Bob 
Turner, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities 
Service at (202) 720-0696.
    Comments are invited on (a) Whether the 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 including the validity of 
the methodology and assumption 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 F. 
Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Development and Regulatory 
Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Stop 1522, Room 4034 South Building, 
Washington, D.C. 20250-1522.
    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 5, 2000.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 00-588 Filed 1-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P