[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25566-25567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11825]


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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 July 14, 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 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: Request for Release of Lien and/or Approval of Sale.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0041.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) makes mortgage loans 
and loan guarantees to electric and telecommunications systems to 
provide and improve electric and telecommunications service in rural 
areas pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.,) (RE Act). All current and future capital assets of 
RUS borrowers are ordinarily mortgaged or pledged to the Federal 
Government as security for RUS loans. Assets include tangible and 
intangible utility plant, non-utility property, construction in 
progress, and materials, supplies, and equipment normally used in a 
telecommunications system. The RE Act and the various security 
instruments, e.g., the RUS mortgage, limit the rights of a RUS borrower 
to dispose of its capital assets. The RUS Form 793, Request for Release 
of Lien and/or Approval of Sale, allows the telecommunications program 
borrower to seek agency permission to sell some of its assets. The form 
collects detailed information regarding the proposed sale of a portion 
of the borrower's system. RUS telecommunications borrowers fill out the 
form to request RUS approval in order to sell capital assets.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.75 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 206.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853. 
FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request

[[Page 25567]]

for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: May 2, 2003.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 03-11825 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P