[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76376-76377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31363]


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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).

[[Page 76377]]


DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 10, 2003.

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 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 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: 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: RUS Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of 
Timber Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0076.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: 7 CFR 1728.202 and RUS Bulletin 1728H-702 describe the 
responsibilities and procedures pertaining to the quality control by 
producers and pertaining to inspection of timber products produced in 
accordance with RUS specifications. In order to ensure the security of 
loan funds, adequate quality control of timber products is vital to 
loan security on electric power systems where hundreds of thousands of 
wood poles and crossarms are used. Since RUS and its borrowers do not 
have the expertise or manpower to quickly determine imperfections in 
the wood products or their preservatives treatments, they must obtain 
services of an inspection agency to insure that the specifications for 
wood poles and crossarms are being met.
    Estimate of Burden: This collection of information is estimated to 
average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business or other for 
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 700.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 58.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 40,763 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Michele 
Brooks, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202)690-1078. 
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: December 6, 2002.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 02-31363 Filed 12-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P