[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 75901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27759]



[[Page 75901]]

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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's (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 by February 18, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Annan, Acting Director, 
Program Development & Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5168 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-0784. FAX: (202) 720-
4120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implanting 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 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 assumption 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 on 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Dawn 
Wolfgang, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Room 5166-South, STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-
4120. E-mail: [email protected].
    Title: Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0032.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection, with change.
    Abstract: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et 
seq.), as amended (RE Act) authorizes and empowers the Administrator of 
RUS to make and guarantee loans to furnish and improve electric service 
in rural areas. These loans are amortized over a period of up to 35 
years and secured by the borrower's electric assets. In the interest of 
protecting loan security, monitoring compliance with debt convenants, 
and ensuring that RUS loan funds are used for purposes authorized by 
law, RUS requires that borrowers prepare and submit for RUS evaluation, 
certain studies and reports. Some of these studies and reports are 
required only once for each loan application; others must be submitted 
periodically until the loan is completely repaid.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 14 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for profits; not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 680.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 65,673.
    Copies of this information collection, and related form and 
instructions, can be obtained from Dawn Wolfgang, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-0812.
    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: December 14, 2004.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 04-27759 Filed 12-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P