[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 1815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-711]


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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; 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 
Form RD 410-8 ``Applicant Reference Letter.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 17, 2003 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gale Richardson, Loan Specialist, 
Single Family Housing, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Mail Stop 0783, Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone (202) 720-
1459.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Form RD 410-8, ``Applicant Reference 
Letter.''
    OMB Number: 0575-0091.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), under section 502 of 
Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, provides financial 
assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace, or 
rehabilitate dwellings, which will provide modest, decent, safe, and 
sanitary housing to eligible individuals in rural areas. To assist a 
customer, they must provide the Agency with a standard housing 
application (used by government and private lenders), and provide 
documentation, including their credit history, to support the same. 
Form RD 410-8 is used to obtain information about an applicant's credit 
history that might not appear on a credit report. It is used to 
document an ability to handle credit effectively for applicants who 
have not used sources of credit that appear on a credit report.
    This form provides a mechanism for following up on repayment 
history for debts reported by the applicant on the application that do 
not appear on the credit report. This information is used by the Loan 
Originator serving the area in which the applicant or borrower will 
live to determine whether the applicant's credit history meets the 
Agency criteria. In addition to supplementing or verifying other debts 
when a credit report is limited and unavailable to determine the 
applicant's eligibility and credit worthiness, the Form RD 410-8 is 
widely used by the Agency because credit reports are not always used to 
obtain credit information when an applicant/borrower lives in a remote 
area.
    RHS must, by law, make available to the applicant, upon request, 
the source of information used to make an adverse decision. Individual 
references may be solicited with the clear understanding that if the 
information is used to deny credit the information will be made 
available to the applicant upon request. Without this information, the 
Agency is unable to determine if a customer would qualify for services.
    Estimate of Burden: Public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Applicants seeking direct single family housing loans 
and grants from the Agency.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 10,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Renita 
Bolden, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0035.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Rural Housing Service, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Rural 
Housing Service'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 Renita Bolden, Regulations and Paperwork 
Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, 
STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, and DC 20250-0742. 
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: January 2, 2003.
David J. Villano,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-711 Filed 1-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U