[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 68121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29053]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intent of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request 
an extension of a currently approved information collection for a 
regulation used in support of the FSA Farm Loan Program (FLP). This 
renewal does not involve any revisions to the program rules.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before January 
16, 2001 to be assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phillip Elder, Senior Loan Officer, 
USDA, Farm Service Agency, Loan Servicing Division, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., STOP 0523, Washington, DC 20013-0523; Telephone (202) 690-
4012; Electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 7 CFR, Part 1951-S--Farmer Program Account Servicing 
Policies.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0161.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2001.
    Type of Request: Extension of Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The regulations describe the policies and procedures the 
Agency will use in servicing delinquent FLP loans. Servicing of 
accounts is administered in accordance with the provisions of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT), as amended by the 
Food Security Act of 1985, the Agriculture Credit Act of 1987, the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, the Agricultural 
Credit Improvement Act of 1992, and the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996. The CONACT establishes notification by the 
Agency and response by the borrower and actions on the borrower's 
request. Specifically, it requires a borrower to document that they can 
meet family living and farm operating expenses and service all debts, 
including the loans they are proposing be restructured by the Agency. 
This information collection is submitted by Agency borrowers to FSA and 
used by Agency officials to consider a financially distressed or 
delinquent borrower's request for debt restructuring including 
rescheduling, reamortization, consolidation, deferral, and write down.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 47 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other for 
profits and farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.73.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16,000 hours.
    The Agency is soliciting comments on the burden of all of the above 
subparts 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. These comments should be sent to 
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 and to 
Phillip Elder, Senior Loan Officer, USDA, FSA, Farm Loan Programs, Loan 
Servicing Division, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0523, 
Washington, DC 20250-0523.
    Comments regarding paperwork burden will be summarized and included 
in the request for OMB approval of the information collection. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on November 3, 2000.
L.W. Mitchell,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 00-29053 Filed 11-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P