[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 132 (Monday, July 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42333-42335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17378]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 132 / Monday, July 10, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 42333]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 3, 2000
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (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 assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, D.C. 20503 and to 
Departmental Clearance office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, 
D.C. 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are 
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of 
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 
calling (202) 720-6746.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Request for Release of Lien and/or Approval of Sale
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0041.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It makes 
mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, 
telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural areas. The 
RUS loan portfolio totals nearly $42 billion. RUS manages loan programs 
in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 
et seq., as amended (RE Act). A 1949 amendment to the RE Act 
established the telephone program in RUS with the purpose of making 
loans to furnish and improve rural telephone service. Section 201 of 
the RE Act provides that loans shall not be made unless RUS finds and 
certifies that the security for the loan is reasonably adequate and 
that the loan will be repaid within the time agreed. In addition to 
providing loans and loan guarantees, one of RUS's main objectives is to 
safeguard loan security until the loan is repaid.
    Need and Use of the Information: A borrower's assets provide the 
security for a Government loan. The selling of assets reduces the 
security and increases the risk of loss to the Government. RUS Form 793 
allows the telephone program borrower to seek agency permission to sell 
some of its assets. The form collects detailed information regarding 
the proposed sale of a portion of the borrower's system.
    RUS telephone borrowers fill out the form to request RUS approval 
in order to sell capital assets. Specifics to the sale of capital 
assets, including the use of Form 793 and submission of supporting 
documentation, are covered in REA Bulletin 415-1, ``Sale of Property by 
Telephone Borrowers.'' If the information in Form 793 is not collected 
when capital assets are sold, the capital assets securing the 
Government's loans could be liquidated and the Government's security 
either eliminated entirely or diluted to an undesirable level. This 
increases the risk of loss to the Government in the case of a default.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 75.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 206.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 1786, Prepayment of RUS Guaranteed and Insured 
Loans to Electric and Telephone Borrowers
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0088.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification (RE) Act of 1936, 
as amended, authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to make 
loans in the several States and Territories of the United States for 
rural electrification and for the purpose of furnishing and improving 
electric and telephone service in rural areas and for the purpose of 
assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side management, 
energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy 
systems. This information collection package contains the paperwork and 
reporting burden for 7 CFR Part 1786, subpart E, ``Discounted 
Prepayments on RUS Notes in the Event of a Merger of Certain RUS 
Electric Borrowers,'' subpart F, ``Discounted Prepayments on RUS 
Electric Loans,'' and subpart G, ``Refinancing and Prepayment of RUS 
Guaranteed Federal Financing Bank (FEB) Loans Pursuant to Section 
306(C) of the RE Act.'' 7 CFR 1786, subparts E and F are authorized by 
Section 306(B) of the RE Act of 1936, as amended, and subpart G is 
authorized by Section 306(C) of the RE Act of 1936, as amended. 7 CFR 
Part 1786 also contains subpart B and C, for which authority has 
expired.
    Need and Use of the Information: The overall goal of Subparts E and 
F is to allow RUS borrowers to prepay their RUS loan and the overall 
goal of Subpart G is to refinance. Subpart E allows certain electric 
borrowers to prepay outstanding RUS Notes at the Discounted Present 
Value of the RUS Notes with private financing. Subpart F allows 
borrowers to prepay, with private financing or internally generated 
funds, outstanding RUS Notes evidencing electric loans at the 
Discounted present value of the RUS Note. Subpart G allows the borrower 
of an electric or telephone loan made by the FEB and guaranteed by RUS 
to prepay and refinance a loan or an advance on the loan, or any 
portion of the loan or advance, after meeting certain conditions using 
the procedures prescribed in the borrower's

[[Page 42334]]

note. The information will be collected from borrowers requesting to 
prepay their notes and will be used to determine that the borrower is 
qualified to prepay under the authorizing statutes.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 28.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 62.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program (7 
CFR 1703, Subpart D, E, F and G).
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0096.
    Summary of Collection: The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan 
and Grant (DLT) Program provides loans and grants for advanced 
telecommunications services to improve rural areas' access to 
educational and medical services.
    Need and Use of the Information: The various forms and narrative 
statements required are collected from eligible applicants (7 CFR 
Section 1703.103) such as rural community facilities, schools, 
libraries, hospitals, and medical facilities. The purpose of this 
information is to determine such factors as: eligibility of the 
applicant; the specific nature of the proposed project; the purposes 
for which loan and grant funds will be used; project financial and 
technical feasibility; and compliance with applicable laws and 
regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 17,741.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: State Telecommunications Modernization Plan.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0104.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Loan Restructuring 
Act (RELRA, Pub. L. 103-129), November 1, 1993, amended the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (the RE Act). RELRA 
required that a State Telecommunications Modernization Plan 
(Modernization Plan or Plan), covering at a minimum the Rural Utilities 
(RUS) borrowers in a State, be prepared in a State or RUS could not 
make hardship or concurrent cost-of-money and Rural Telephone Bank 
(RTB) loans for construction in that State. The Modernization Plan must 
meet all the statutory requirements of RELRA (Part 1751, Subpart B). 
The minimum requirements for a Plan are: (1) The Plan must provide for 
the elimination of party line service; (2) The Plan must provide for 
the availability of telecommunications services for improved business, 
educational, and medical services; (3) The Plan must encourage computer 
networks and information highways for subscribers in rural areas; (4) 
The Plan must provide for: (i) Subscribers in rural areas to be able to 
receive through telephone lines: (a) Conference calling; (b) Video 
images; and (c) Data at a rate of 1 million bits of information per 
second; and, (ii) The proper routing of information to subscribers; (5) 
The plan must provide for uniform deployment schedules to ensure that 
advanced services are deployed at the same time in rural and non-rural 
areas; (6) The plan must provide for such additional requirements for 
service standards as may be required by the Administer.
    Need and Use of the Information: Modernization Plans will be 
reviewed by the RUS telecommunications program staff to ensure that it 
complies with the requirements of the regulation. If the proposed 
Modernization Plan does comply, RUS will approve it and notify the 
developer of the approval. If not, RUS will make specific written 
comments and suggestions for modifying the proposed Modernization Plan 
so that it will comply with the requirements of the regulation. If the 
information is not collected, RUS' authority to make loans under the 
Rural Electrification Act will be restricted.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 350.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: Rural Housing Loans, 7 CFR 1980-D.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0078.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is a credit 
agency for rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
The purpose of the Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH) program is to assist 
low and moderate-income individuals and families in acquiring or 
constructing a single-family residence in a rural area with loans made 
by private lenders. The information requested by RHS includes borrower 
financial information such as household income, assets and liabilities, 
and monthly expenses. RHS will collect information using several agency 
forms.
    Need and use of the Information: All information collected is vital 
for RHS to determine if borrowers qualify for loans and to ensure they 
receive all assistance for which they are eligible. Information 
requested from lenders is required to ensure they are eligible to 
participate in the GRH program and are in compliance with OMB Circular 
A-129.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; business or 
other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 47,200.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 154,250.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1951-F, Analyzing Credit Needs and Graduation of 
Borrower.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0093.
    Summary of Collection: Section 333 of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act and Section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949, 
require the Rural Housing Service (RHS), the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service (RBS), and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to graduate their 
direct loan borrowers to other credit when they are able to do so. 
Graduation is an integral part of Agency lending, as Government loans 
are not meant to be extended beyond a borrower's need for subsidized 
rates of non-market terms. The notes, security instruments, or loan 
agreements of most borrowers require borrowers to refinance their 
Agency loans when other credit becomes available at reasonable rates 
and terms. If a borrower finds other credit is not available at 
reasonable rates and terms, the Agency will continue to review the 
borrower for possible graduation at periodic intervals. Information 
will be collected from the borrowers concerning their loans.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will 
include financial data such as amount of income, farm operating 
expenses, asset values, and liabilities. The information collected is 
submitted by FSA, RBS, or RHS borrowers to Agency offices. The 
information will be used in the Agency's effort to graduate direct 
borrowers to private credit with or without the use of Agency loan 
guarantees.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Farms; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 25,047.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 75,361.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Farmers' Market Questionnaire.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0169.

[[Page 42335]]

    Summary of Collection: The Transportation and Marketing (T&M) 
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) conducts research to find 
better designs, development techniques, and operating methods for 
modern farmers' markets under the Agency's Wholesale and Alternative 
Markets Program. Recommendations are made available to local decision-
makers interested in constructing modern farmers' markets to serve area 
producers and consumers. Individual studies are conducted in close 
cooperation with local interested parties. The information will be 
collected using form TM-6 ``Farmers' Market Questionnaire.''
    Need and Use of the Information: Conventional wisdom states that 
the number and size of farmers' markets has grown over the last several 
years. Research has not been done to prove that point. The form 
submitted for approval will serve as a survey instrument to obtain a 
clearer picture of existing farmers' market structure to provide a 
basis for the future design of modern direct marketing facilities and 
will provide a measure of growth over the last 4 years. T&M researchers 
will survey by mail, with telephone follow-up, the managers of farmers' 
markets identified in the 2000 National Farmers' Market Directory. In 
addition, provision will be made for e-mail reporting. These markets 
represent a varied range of sizes, geographical locations, types, 
ownership, and structure. These markets will provide a valid overview 
of farmers' markets in the United States. Information such as the size 
of markets, operating times and days, retail and wholesale sales, 
management structure, and rules and regulations governing the markets 
are all important questions that need to be answered in the design of a 
new market. The information developed by this survey will support 
better designs, development techniques, and operating methods for 
modern farmers' markets and outline improvements that can be applied to 
revitalize existing markets.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Biennially.
    Total Burden Hours: 300.

Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-17378 Filed 7-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M