[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 6748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1749]


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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).

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 
Form RD 410-8 ``Applicant Reference Letter.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 10, 2006 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gale Richardson, Loan Specialist, 
Single Family Housing, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Mail Stop 0783, Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone 202-720-1459.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Form RD 410-8, ``Applicant Reference 
Letter.''
    OMB Number: 0575-0091.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), under Section 502 of 
Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, provides financial 
assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace, or 
rehabilitate dwellings, which will provide modest, decent, safe, and 
sanitary housing to eligible individuals in rural areas. To assist a 
customer, they must provide the Agency with a standard housing 
application (used by government and private lenders), and provide 
documentation, including their credit history, to support the same. 
Form RD 410-8 is used to obtain information about an applicant's credit 
history that might not appear on a credit report. It is used to 
document an ability to handle credit effectively for applicants who 
have not used sources of credit that appear on a credit report. This 
form provides a mechanism for following up on repayment history for 
debts reported by the applicant on the application that do not appear 
on the credit report. This information is used by the Loan Originator 
serving the area in which the applicant or borrower will live to 
determine whether the applicant's credit history meets the Agency 
criteria. In addition to supplementing or verifying other debts when a 
credit report is limited and unavailable to determine the applicant's 
eligibility and credit worthiness, the Form RD 410-8 is widely used by 
the Agency because credit reports are not always used to obtain credit 
information when an applicant/borrower lives in a remote area.
    RHS must, by law, make available to the applicant, upon request, 
the source of information used to make an adverse decision. Individual 
references may be solicited with the clear understanding that if the 
information is used to deny credit the information will be made 
available to the applicant upon request. Without this information, the 
Agency is unable to determine if a customer would qualify for services.
    Estimate of Burden: Public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Applicants seeking direct single family housing loans 
and grants from the Agency.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,466.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 13,466.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,346 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Brigitte 
Sumter, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0042.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Rural Housing Service, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Rural Housing Service'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, and 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: February 2, 2006.
Russell T. Davis,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-1749 Filed 2-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P