[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 65175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31054]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCIES: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, 
and Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Agencies' intention to request an extension for a 
currently approved information collection in support of Form RD 1910-
11, ``Application Certification, Federal Collection Policies for 
Consumer or Commercial Debts.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 19, 2002, 
to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: H. Richard Kelly, Chief, Program 
Operations Branch, Water Programs Division, Rural Utilities Service, 
USDA, STOP 1570, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-
1570, telephone (202) 720-9589.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Form RD 1910-11, ``Application Certification, Federal 
Collection Policies for Consumer or Commercial Debts.''
    OMB Number: 0575-0127.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2002.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The water and waste loans, community facilities loans, 
intermediary relending program loans, rural housing site loans, and 
business and industry direct loans are authorized by various sections 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, (7 U.S.C. 1921 et 
seq.), as amended. The water and waste program provides loan funds for 
water and waste projects serving rural communities. Community 
facilities loans assist rural communities to develop facilities that 
are essential for their communities. The rural housing site loans 
provide financing for the purchase and development of housing sites for 
low- and moderate-income families. The intermediary relending program 
provides loans to intermediary organizations to establish revolving 
loan funds that assist with rural economic and community development. 
The direct business and industry direct loan program provides funds to 
rural businesses that cannot get adequate financing from other sources.
    OMB Circular A-129, ``Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-
Tax Receivables'' requires that an agency will inform its loan 
applicants of the Federal government's debt collection policies and 
procedures prior to extending credit. The Circular states that further 
information on the implementation of credit management and debt 
collection can be found in the Treasury Financial Manual. A supplement 
to the Treasury Financial Manual requires that the Agency will ask the 
applicant to sign a debt collection certification statement to certify 
knowledge of the Government's policies. This certification statement 
details the consequences of delinquency on Federal loans.
    The Agencies will use Form RD 1910-11 to meet the requirements of 
OMB Circular A-129 and the supplement to the Treasury Financial Manual 
for the identified programs. This form will uniformly advise applicants 
of the debt collection methods that will be used in recovering 
delinquent or defaulted loans.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit organizations, not-for-
profit institutions, public organizations and local or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,625.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,625.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 406 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tracy 
Gillin, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0039.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 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 the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
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 Tracy 
Gillin, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. 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: December 5, 2001.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.

    Dated: December 7, 2001.
John Rosso,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

    Dated: December 7, 2001.
James. C. Alsop,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-31054 Filed 12-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-U