[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 53 (Friday, March 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14522-14523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6604]


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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 Rural Housing Service (RHS), the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and the Farm 
Service Agency's (FSA) intention to request an extension for a 
currently approved information collection in support of compliance with 
applicable acts for planning and performing construction and other 
development work.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 16, 2000, to be 
assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel J. Hodges III, Architect, 
Program Support Staff, RHS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0761, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0761, Telephone 
(202) 720-9653.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: RD 1924-A, ``Planning and Performing Construction and Other 
Development.''
    OMB Number: 0575-0042
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2000
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The information collection under OMB Number 0575-0042 
enables the Agencies to effectively administer the policies, methods, 
and responsibilities in the planning and performing of construction and 
other development work for the related construction programs.
    Section 501 of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to extend financial assistance 
to construct, improve, repair, replace, or rehabilitate dwellings; farm 
buildings; and/or related facilities to provide decent, safe, and 
sanitary living conditions and adequate farm buildings and other 
structures in rural areas.
    Section 506 of the act requires that all new buildings and repairs 
shall be constructed in accordance with plans and specifications as 
required by the Secretary and that such construction be supervised and 
inspected.
    Section 509 of the act grants the Secretary the power to determine 
and prescribe the standards of adequate farm housing and other 
buildings. The Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 amended 
section 509 (a) and section 515 to require residential buildings and 
related facilities comply with the standards prescribed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, or in any of the nationally recognized model building 
codes.
    Similar authorizations are contained in sections 303, 304, 306, and 
339 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended.
    In several sections of both acts, loan limitations are established 
as percentages of development cost, requiring careful monitoring of 
those costs. Also, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe regulations 
to ensure that Federal funds are not wasted or dissipated and that 
construction will be undertaken economically and will not be of 
elaborate or extravagant design or materials.
    Other information collection is required to conform to numerous 
Public Laws applying to all Federal agencies, such as: Civil Rights 
Acts of 1964 and 1968, Davis-Bacon Act, Historic Preservation Act, 
Environmental Policy Act; and to conform to Executive Orders governing 
use of Federal funds. This information is cleared through the 
appropriate enforcing Agency or other executive Department.
    The Agencies provide forms and/or guidelines to assist in the 
collection and submission of information; however, most of the 
information may be collected and submitted in the form and content 
which is accepted and typically used in normal conduct of planning and 
performing development work in private industry when a private lender 
is financing the activity. The information is usually submitted via 
hand delivery or U.S. Postal Service to the appropriate Agency office.
    The information is used by the Agencies to determine whether a 
loan/grant can be approved, to ensure that the Agency has adequate 
security for the loans financed, to provide for sound construction and 
development work, and to determine that the requirements of the 
applicable acts have been met. The information is also used to monitor 
compliance with the terms and conditions of the Agencies' loan/grant 
programs and to monitor the prudent use of Federal funds.
    If the information were not collected and submitted, the Agencies 
would not have control over the type and quality of construction and 
development work planned and performed with Federal funds. The Agencies 
would not be assured that the security provided for loans is adequate, 
nor would the Agencies be certain that decent, safe, and sanitary 
dwelling or other adequate structures were being provided to rural 
residents as required by the different acts.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .33 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, farms, business or other 
for-profit, non-profit institutions, and small businesses or 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,340.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 12.00.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 94,924 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Diana 
Wareham, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, at (202) 692-
0044.

[[Page 14523]]

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 
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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Diana 
Wareham, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Rural Development, Stop 0742, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0742. 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: March 1, 2000.
James C. Kearney,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
    Dated: March 8, 2000.
Dayton J. Watkins,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
    Dated: March 2, 2000.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
    Dated: March 8, 2000.
Keith Kelly,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 00-6604 Filed 3-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U