[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27780-27781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12760]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) 
intention to request information collection in support of the program 
for 7 CFR part 1942-G Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) and 
Televisions Demonstration Grants.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 21, 2003 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Cavanaugh, Specialty Lenders 
Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 3225, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3225, Telephone (202) 690-2516.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Rural Business Enterprise Grants and Televisions 
Demonstration Grants.
    OMB Number: 0570-0022.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The objective of the RBEG program is to facilitate the 
development of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. 
This purpose is achieved through grants made by RBS to public bodies 
and nonprofit corporations. Television Demonstration grants are 
available to private, nonprofit, public television systems to provide 
information on agriculture and other issues of importance to farmers 
and rural residents. The regulation contains various requirements for 
information from the grantees, and some requirements may cause the 
grantees to require information from other parties. The information 
requested is vital for RBS to be able to process applications in a 
responsible manner, make prudent program decisions, and effectively 
monitor the grantees' activities to protect the Government's financial 
interest and ensure that funds obtained from the Government are used 
appropriately. It includes information to determine eligibility, the 
specific purpose for which grant funds will be

[[Page 27781]]

used, timeframes, who will be carrying out the grant purposes, project 
priority, applicant experience, employment improvement, and mitigation 
of economic distress.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Nonprofit corporations and public bodies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 720.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 12.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 8,660.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 22,395.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Cheryl 
Thompson, 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 
RBS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of the RBS 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, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. 
SW., Washington, DC 20250. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: May 12, 2003.
John Rosso,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 03-12760 Filed 5-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P