[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 50744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21491]



[[Page 50744]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection--Farm Loan Programs Account Servicing Policies

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intent of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request 
an extension of a currently approved information collection for ``Farm 
Loan Programs Account Servicing Policies'' used in support of the FSA, 
Farm Loan Programs (FLP). This renewal does not involve any revisions 
to the program regulations.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before October 
21, 2003 to be assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bashir Duale, Senior Loan Officer, 
USDA, Farm Service Agency, Loan Servicing and Property Management 
Division, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0523, Washington, DC 
20250-0523; Telephone (202) 720-1645; Electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Farm Loan Programs Account Servicing Policies.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0161.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension of Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The regulation describes the policies and procedures the 
Agency will use in servicing delinquent FLP loans. Servicing of the 
accounts is administered in accordance with the provisions of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT), as amended. The 
CONACT establishes required notification by the Agency and response 
time frame requirements for the borrower and Agency actions on the 
borrower's request. Specifically, it requires a borrower to document 
that they can meet family living and farm operating expenses and 
service all debts, including the loan they are proposing to be 
restructured by the Agency. This information submitted by the borrowers 
to the Agency is used by the Agency officials to consider a financially 
distressed or delinquent borrower's request for debt restructuring, 
including rescheduling, re-amortization, consolidation, deferral, and 
write down.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 45 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other for 
profit and farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,672.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 25,302.
    Comments are sought on these requirements including: (a) Whether 
the 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 
burden 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 should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20503 and to Bashir Duale, USDA, FSA, Farm Loan 
Programs, Loan Servicing and Property Management Division, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0523, Washington, DC 20250-0523. Copies 
of the information collection may be obtained from Bashir Duale at the 
above address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval of the information collection. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 15, 2003.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 03-21491 Filed 8-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P