[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 85 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 22051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10838]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 
the program for the Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 1, 2002 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Allen, Deputy Director, Multi-
Family Housing Processing Guaranteed Loan Division, Rural Housing 
Service, USDA, Room 1263, Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250, telephone, (202) 690-4499.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program.
    OMB Number: 0575-0174.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2002.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: On March 28, 1996, President Clinton signed the ``Housing 
Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996.'' One of the provisions of 
the Act was the authorization of the Section 538 Guaranteed Rural 
Rental Housing Loan Program, adding the program to the Housing Act of 
1949. The program has been designed to increase the supply of 
affordable multifamily housing through partnerships between RHS and 
major lending sources, as well as State and local housing finance 
agencies and bond issuers. Qualified lenders will be authorized to 
originate, underwrite, and close loans for multifamily housing projects 
requiring new construction or acquisition with rehabilitation of at 
least $15,000 per unit will be considered.
    The housing must be available for occupancy only by low or moderate 
income families or persons, whose incomes at the time of initial 
occupancy do not exceed 115 percent of the median income of the area. 
After initial occupancy, a tenant's income may exceed these limits; 
however, rents, including utilities, are restricted to no more than 30 
percent of the 115 percent of area Median Income for the term of the 
loan.
    The Secretary is authorized under Section 510 (k) to prescribe 
regulations to ensure that these federally funded loans are made to 
eligible applicants for authorized purposes. The lender must evaluate 
the eligibility, cost, benefits, feasibility, and financial performance 
of the proposed project. The information submitted by the lender to the 
Agency is used by the Agency to manage, plan, evaluate, and account for 
Government resources. This information is required to ensure the proper 
and judicious use of public funds.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .53 man hours per response.
    Respondents: Nonprofit and for-profit lending corporations and 
public bodies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 60.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 3005.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,581 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. 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: April 19, 2002.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-10838 Filed 5-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P