[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20369-20370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10219]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 June 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 extension.
    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 Form 675, Certification of Authority.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0074.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages loan programs 
in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.) (RE Act). A major factor in managing loan programs 
is controlling the advance of funds. One reason to control funds is so 
that the actual borrowers get their money. The use of RUS Form 675 
allows this control

[[Page 20370]]

to be achieved by providing a list of authorized signatures against 
which signatures requesting funds are compared. RUS Form 675 provides 
an effective control against the unauthorized release of funds by 
providing a list of authorized signatures. OMB Circular A-123, 
Management Accountability and Control, states that information should 
be maintained on a current basis and that cash should be protected from 
unauthorized use. Form 675 allows borrowers to keep RUS up-to-date of 
any changes in signature authority and controls the release funds only 
to authorized borrower representatives.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .10 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; and State, Local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 625.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 62.50 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: April 18, 2003.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10219 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P