[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 33447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11339]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, 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 Business-Cooperative Service's intention to 
request an extension for a currently approved information collection in 
support of the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 8, 2005 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Specialty Lenders Division, 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
STOP 3225, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-3225, 
Telephone (202) 720-1400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.
    OMB Number: 0570-0035.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: Under this program, loans and grants are provided to 
electric and telecommunications utilities that have borrowed funds from 
RUS. The purpose of the program is to encourage these electric and 
telecommunications utilities to promote rural economic development and 
job creation projects such as business start-up costs, business 
expansion, community development, and business incubator projects. The 
utilities must use program loan funds to make a pass-through loan to an 
ultimate recipient such as a business. The utility is responsible for 
fully repaying its loan to the government even if the ultimate 
recipient does not repay its loan. The intermediary must use program 
grant funds, along with its required contribution, to create a 
revolving loan fund that the utility will operate and administer. Loans 
to the ultimate recipient are made from the revolving loan fund for a 
variety of community development projects.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.
    Respondents: Rural Utilities Service Electric and 
Telecommunications Borrowers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 120.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 12.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,440.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,143.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Cheryl 
Thompson, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services 
Division at (202) 692-0043.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of USDA, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of USDA'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 Cheryl 
Thompson, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services 
Division, 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: May 27, 2005.
Peter J. Thomas,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11339 Filed 6-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P