[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63056-63057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28061]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the above-named Agency to request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 
the Community Facilities Grant Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 6, 2004 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derek L. Jones, Loan Specialist, 
Community Programs, RHS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mail Stop 
0787, Washington, DC 20250-0787. Telephone: (202)720-1504. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Community Facilities Grant Program.
    OMB Number: 0575-0173.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Community Programs, a division of the Rural Housing 
Service (RHS), is part of the United States Department of Agriculture's 
Rural Development mission area. The Agency is authorized by Section 
306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1926), as amended, to make grants to public agencies, nonprofit 
corporations, and Indian tribes to develop essential community 
facilities and services for public use in rural areas. These facilities 
include schools, libraries, child care, hospitals, clinics, assisted-
living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community 
centers, public buildings, and transportation. Through its Community 
Programs, the Department of Agriculture is striving to ensure that such 
facilities are readily available to all rural communities.
    Information will be collected by the field offices from applicants, 
consultants, lenders, and public entities. The collection of 
information is considered the minimum necessary to effectively evaluate 
the overall scope of the project.
    Failure to collect information could have an adverse impact on 
effectively carrying out the mission,

[[Page 63057]]

administration, processing, and program requirements.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .63 hours per response.
    Respondents: Public bodies, nonprofit corporations and 
associations, and federally recognized Indian tribes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 863.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.96.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,070 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tracy 
Givelekian, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-
0039.
    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 Tracy 
Givelekian, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0742, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-0742. 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: October 28, 2003.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-28061 Filed 11-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P