[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15835-15836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6137]


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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 May 31, 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: 7 CFR 1726, Electric System Construction Policies and 
Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0107.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the programmatic interest of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (RE Act), and, 
in order to assure that loans made or guaranteed by RUS are adequately 
secured, RUS, as a secured lender, has established certain standards 
and specifications for materials, equipment, and construction of 
electric systems. The use of standard forms, construction contracts, 
and procurement procedures helps assure RUS that appropriate standards 
and

[[Page 15836]]

specification are maintained; RUS' loan security is not adversely 
affected; and the loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively 
and for the intended purposes.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.5 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for profits; Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 697.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 71 hours.
    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: March 22, 2005.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6137 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P