[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67987-67988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22286]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 3, 2005.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (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 assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCID, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 3550--Direct Single Family Housing Loan and Grant 
Program, HB-1-3550, HB-2-3550.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0172.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is a credit 
agency for rural housing and community development within the Rural 
Development mission area of the Department of Agriculture. Section 501 
of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture to administer such programs and to prescribe 
regulations to ensure that these loans and grants provided with Federal 
Funds are made to eligible applicants for authorized purposes, and that 
subsequent servicing and benefits provided to borrowers are consistent 
with the authorizing statute. RHS offers a supervised credit program to 
extend financial assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, 
replace or rehabilitate dwellings, which will provide modest, decent, 
safe, and sanitary housing to eligible individuals living in rural 
areas. To assist individuals in obtaining affordable housing, a 
borrower's house payment may be subsidized to an interest rate as low 
as 1%. The information requested by RHS is vital to be able to process 
applications for RHS assistance and make prudent credit and program 
decisions. RHS will collect information using several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information to 
verify program eligibility requirements; continued eligibility 
requirements for borrower assistance; servicing of loans; eligibility 
for special servicing assistance such as: payment subsidies, moratorium 
(stop) on payments, delinquency workout agreements; liquidation of 
loans; and, debt settlement. The information is used to ensure that the 
direct Single Family Housing Programs are administered in a manner 
consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. Without 
the information RHS would be unable to determine if a borrower would 
qualify for services or if assistance has been granted to which the 
customer would not be eligible under current regulations and statutes.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit

[[Page 67988]]

institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 300,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 454,539.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-22286 Filed 11-8-05; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XT-M