[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 206 (Thursday, October 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65334-65335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27063]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 23, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 4036, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-9550. Fax: (202) 720-
4120.

[[Page 65335]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS 
is submitting to OMB for reinstatement.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this 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 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 respondents, 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 F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-4120.
    Title: 7 CFR Part 1724, Electric Engineering, Architectural 
Services and Design Policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0118.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: The rule requires borrower to use three RUS contract 
forms under certain circumstances. The use of standard forms helps 
assure RUS that:
    [sbull] Appropriate standards and specifications are maintained;
    [sbull] RUS loan security is not adversely affected; and
    [sbull] Loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively and for 
the intended purpose.
    Standardization of forms by RUS results in substantial savings to:
    [sbull] Borrowers--If standard forms were not used, borrowers would 
need to prepare their own documents at significant expense; and
    [sbull] Government--If standard forms were not used, each document 
submitted by a borrower would require extensive and costly review by 
both RUS and the Office of General Counsel.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Businesses, not-for-profit institutions and others.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 155.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 155 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Dawn 
Wolfgang, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-
0812. Fax: (202) 720-4120.
    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: October 17, 2002.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 02-27063 Filed 10-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P