[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 94 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 26287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12070]


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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 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: RUS Loan Prepayments and Related Reporting Burdens.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0088.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: 7 CFR Part 1786 establishes policies and procedures 
mandated by legislation. This part deals with the prepayment of certain 
loans held by the Federal Financing Bank (FFB), a wholly-owned 
government instrumentality under the supervision of the Secretary of 
the Treasury, and guaranteed by RUS.
    This regulation sets forth policy and procedures implementing 
section 306(A) of the RE Act which permits an RUS-financed electric or 
telephone system to prepay an FFB loan (or any loan advance thereunder) 
by paying the outstanding principal balance due on the loan (or 
advance).
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.21 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profits organizations; business or, other for-
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 28.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 62 hours.
    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 for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: May 9, 2003.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 03-12070 Filed 5-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P