[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1812-1813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-726]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 9 / Tuesday, January 14, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 1812]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Utilities Service

Farm Service Agency


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCIES: Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), and Farm Service Agency 
(FSA), USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the above-named Agencies to request 
an extension for the currently approved information collection in 
support of the servicing of Community and Direct Business Programs 
Loans and Grants.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For inquiries on the Information 
Collection Package, contact Cheryl Thompson, Regulations and Paperwork 
Management Branch, at (202) 692-0043. For program content, contact Beth 
Jones, Senior Loan Specialist, Community Programs Servicing and Special 
Authorities Branch, RHS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Mail Stop 
0787, Washington, DC 20250-0787, Telephone (202) 720-1498, E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 7 CFR 1951-E, Servicing of Community 
and Direct Business Programs Loans and Grants.
    OMB Number: 0575-0066.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The following Community and Direct Business Programs 
Loans and Grants are serviced by this currently approved docket (0575-
0066): The Community Facilities loan and grant program is authorized by 
Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1926) to make loans to public entities, nonprofit corporations, 
and Indian tribes through the Community Facilities program for the 
development of essential community facilities primarily serving rural 
residents. The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, Title 3 (Pub. L. 88-
452), authorizes Economic Cooperative Loans to assist incorporated and 
unincorporated associations to provide to low-income rural families 
essential processing, purchasing, or marketing services, supplies, or 
facilities.
    The Food Security Act of 1985, section 1323 (Pub. L. 99-198), 
authorizes loan guarantees and grants to Nonprofit National 
Corporations to provide technical and financial assistance to for-
profit or nonprofit local businesses in rural areas.
    The Water and Waste Disposal program is authorized by section 
306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1926(a)) to provide basic human amenities, alleviate health hazards, 
and promote the orderly growth of the rural areas of the Nation by 
meeting the need for new and improved water and waste disposal systems.
    The Business and Industry program is authorized by section 310 B (7 
U.S.C. 1932) (Pub. L. 92-419, August 30,1972) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act to improve, develop, or finance business, 
industry, and employment and improve the economic and environmental 
climate in rural communities, including pollution abatement control.
    The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, section 310 B(c) 
(7 U.S.C. 1932(c)), authorizes Rural Business Enterprise Grants to 
public bodies and nonprofit corporations to facilitate the development 
of private businesses in rural areas.
    The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, section 310 
B(f)(i) (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)), authorized Rural Cooperative Development 
Grants to nonprofit institutions for the purpose of enabling such 
institutions to establish and operate centers for rural cooperative 
development.
    The FSA is authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488-494 to make loans through 
its Indian Tribal Land Acquisition loan program to individuals, tribes, 
or tribal corporations, within tribal reservations and Alaskan 
communities. The authority for FSA to make loans for grazing, 
irrigation and drainage, and farm ownership recreation loans is 
provided by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act CONACT)(7 
U.S.C. 1926 330-381).
    The purpose of the loan and grant servicing function for the above 
programs is to assist recipients to meet the objectives of the loans 
and grants, repay loans on schedule, comply with agreements, and 
protect the Government's financial interest. Routine servicing 
responsibilities include collection of payments, compliance reviews, 
security inspections, review of financial reports, determining 
applicant/borrower eligibility and project feasibility for various 
servicing actions, and supervision activities.
    Supervision by the Agencies include, but is not limited to: Review 
of budgets, management reports, audits and financial statements; 
performing security inspections and providing, arranging, or 
recommending technical assistance; evaluating environmental impacts of 
proposed actions by the borrower; and performing civil rights 
compliance reviews.
    Information will be collected by the field offices from applicants, 
borrowers, consultants, lenders, and attorneys.
    Failure to collect information could result in improper servicing 
of these loans.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: State, local or tribal Governments, Not-for-profit 
institutions, businesses, and individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 275.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 421.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 465.
    Copies of the information collection can be obtained from Cheryl 
Thompson,

[[Page 1813]]

Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0043.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agencies, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agencies' 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 Cheryl 
Thompson, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Rural Development, 7th Floor, Room 701, 300 7th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20024. 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 16, 2002.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
    Dated: December 20, 2002.
John Rosso,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
    Dated: December 20, 2002.
Hilda Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
    Dated: December 23, 2002.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 03-726 Filed 1-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U