[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 71931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30519]


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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, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request 
an extension for a currently approved information collection in support 
of Housing Application Packaging Grants.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 3, 2003 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria L. Denson, Loan Specialist, 
Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division, RHS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 0783, South Building, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone 
202-720-1474. (This is not a toll free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Housing Application Packaging Grants.
    OMB Number: 0575-0157.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) under section 509 of the 
Housing Act of 1949, 42 U.S.C. 1479, provides grants to public and 
private nonprofit organizations and state and local governments to 
package housing applications for loans under sections 502, 504, 514, 
515, and 524 grants under section 533 of the Housing Act of 1949 in 
colonias and designated undeserved counties. RHS reimburses eligible 
organizations for part or all of the costs of conducting, administering 
and coordinating an effective housing application packaging program in 
colonias and designated underserved counties. Eligible organizations 
assist very low and low-income families that are without adequate 
housing to buy, build, or repair housing for their own use. Also, the 
organizations package applications for loans to buy, build or repair 
rental units for lower income families.
    RHS will be collecting information from grantees to assure the 
organizations participating in this program are eligible entities and 
have participated in RHS training in application packaging. The 
respondents are nonprofit organizations, States, State agencies, and 
units of general local government. The information required for 
approval of housing application packaging grants is used by RHS 
personnel to verify program eligibility requirements. The information 
is collected at the RHS field office responsible for the processing of 
the application being submitted. The information is also used to ensure 
the program is administered in a manner consistent with legislative and 
administrative requirements. If not collected, RHS would be unable to 
determine if a grantee would qualify for grant assistance.
    The grantees facilitate the application process by helping 
applicants submit complete applications to RHS. This saves RHS time by 
prescreening applicants, making preliminary determinations of 
eligibility, ensuring that the application is complete, and helping the 
applicant understand the program.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.12 hours per response.
    Respondents: Private and public nonprofit organizations and State 
and local governments.
    Estimate Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 900 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Brigitte 
Sumter, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0040.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
RHS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of RHS's estimates 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 
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent to Brigitte Sumter, Regulations and 
Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Stop 0742, 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: November 18, 2002.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-30519 Filed 12-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P