[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78771-78772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32462]


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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 February 24, 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 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 approval.
    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

[[Page 78772]]

on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technical 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 1728, Electric Standards and Specifications for 
Materials and Construction.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service makes loans and loan 
guarantees in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., (RE Act). Section 4 of the RE Act requires that RUS 
make or guarantee a loan only if there is reasonable assurance that the 
loan, together with all outstanding loans and obligations of the 
borrower, will be repaid in full within the time agreed. In order to 
facilitate the programmatic interests of the RE Act, and, in order to 
assure that loans made or guaranteed by RUS are adequately secure, RUS, 
as a secured lender, has established certain standards and 
specifications for materials, equipment, and the construction of 
electric systems. The use of standards and specifications for 
materials, equipment and construction units helps assure RUS that: (1) 
Appropriate standards and specifications are maintained; (2) RUS loan 
security is not adversely affected; and (3) loan and loan guaranter 
funds are used effectively and for the intended purposes. 7 CFR 1728 
establishes Agency policy that materials and equipment purchased by RUS 
electric borrowers or accepted as contractor-furnished material must 
conform to RUS standards and specifications where they have been 
established and, if included in RUS IP 202-1, ``List of Materials 
Acceptable for Use on Systems of RUS Electrification Borrowers'' (List 
of Materials), must be selected from that list or must have received 
technical acceptance from RUS.
    Estimate of Burden: This collection of information is estimated to 
average 20 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for profits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 38.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.30.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,760 hours.
    Copies of this information 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 18, 2002.
Blaine D. Stockton,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 02-32462 Filed 12-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-M