[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68589-68590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30437]


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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), Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 
the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) grant program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 9, 2004 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Jones, Senior Loan Specialist, 
Community Programs Direct Loan and Grant Processing and Servicing 
Branch, RHS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Mail Stop 0787, 
Washington, DC 20250-0787, Telephone (202) 720-1498, E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications 
for the Rural Community Development Initiative.
    OMB Number: 0575-0180.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: RHS, an Agency within the USDA Rural Development mission 
area, will administer the RCDI grant program through their Community 
Facilities Division. The intent of the RCDI grant program is to develop 
the capacity and ability of rural area recipients to undertake projects 
through a program of financial and technical assistance provided by 
qualified intermediary organizations. The eligible recipients are 
nonprofit organizations, low-income rural communities, or Federally 
recognized tribes. The intermediary may be a qualified private, 
nonprofit, or public (including tribal) organization. The intermediary 
is the applicant. The intermediary must have been organized a minimum 
of 3 years at the time of application. The intermediary will be 
required to provide matching funds, in the form of cash or committed 
funding, in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.72 hours per response.
    Respondents: Intermediaries and recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 146.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.48.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,026.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Brigitte 
Sumter, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0042.

[[Page 68590]]

    Comments: 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 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 Brigitte Sumter, 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 OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: November 24, 2003.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30437 Filed 12-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P