[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32913-32914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8786]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 7, 2006 / 
Notices  

[[Page 32913]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 1, 2006.
    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, OCIO, 
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 Utilities Service

    Title: Request for Approval to Sell Capital Assets.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0020.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It makes 
mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, 
telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural areas. In 
addition to providing loans and loan guarantees, one of RUS' main 
objectives is to safeguard loan security until the loan is repaid. 
Accordingly, RUS manages loan programs in accordance with the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, (RE ACT) 
and as prescribed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-
129, Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax Receivables, 
which states that agencies must, based on a review of a loan 
application, determine that an applicant complies with statutory, 
regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for loan 
assistance.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS borrower will use form 369, 
Request for Approval to sell capital assets, to seek agency permission 
to sell some of its assets. The form is used to collect detailed 
information regarding the proposed sale of a portion of the borrower's 
systems. RUS will collect information to determine whether or not the 
agency should approve a sale and also to keep track of what property 
exists to secure the loan. If the information in Form 369 is not 
collected when capital assets are sold, the capital assets securing the 
Government's loans could be liquidated and the Government's security 
either eliminated entirely or diluted to an undesirable level.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 5.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 15.

Rural Utility Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1755, Telecommunications Standards and 
Specifications.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0132.
    Summary of Collection: 7 CFR part 1755 establishes Agency policy 
that materials and equipment purchased by RUS telecommunications 
borrowers or accepted as contractor-furnished material must conform to 
RUS standards and specifications where they have been established and, 
if included in RUS IP 344-02, ``List of Materials Acceptable for Use on 
Telecommunications System of RUS Borrowers'', must be selected from 
that list or must have received technical acceptance from RUS. To 
protect the security of loans it makes and to ensure that the 
telecommunications services provided to rural Americans are comparable 
to those offered in urban and suburban areas, RUS establishes the 
minimum acceptable performance criteria for materials and equipment to 
be employed on telecommunications system financed by RUS. Manufacturers 
wishing to sell their products to RUS borrowers, request RUS' 
consideration for acceptance of their products and submit data 
demonstrating their products' compliance with RUS specification.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will evaluate the data to 
determine that the quality of the products is acceptable and that their 
use will not jeopardize loan security. The information is closely 
reviewed to be certain that test data, product dimensions and product 
material compositions fully comply with RUS technical standards and 
specifications that have been established for the particular product.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,400.

Rural Utility Service

    Title: Telecommunications Field Trials.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0133.
    Summary of Collection: Title 7 CFR part 1755.3 prescribes the 
conditions and provision of a field trial. Field trials are contractual 
obligations that a manufacturer and Rural Utility Service (RUS) 
telecommunications borrower enter into. They consist of limited field 
installation of a qualifying product in closely monitored situations 
designed to

[[Page 32914]]

determine, to RUS' satisfaction, the products effectiveness under 
actual field conditions. RUS will use field trials as a means for 
determining the operational effectiveness of a new or revised product 
where such experience does not already exist. Field trial process 
allows: Manufacturers a means of immediate access to the RUS borrower 
market, RUS borrowers opportunity to immediately utilize advance 
products, and provides for RUS a means to safely obtain necessary 
information on technically advanced products which will address the 
products suitability for use in the harsh environment of rural America.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will use various forms to 
enter into contractual obligations, to establish an agreement by RUS, 
the manufacturer and a borrower, or identify the product(s) that are 
under field trial. Telecommunication borrowers participate in field 
trials do so on a voluntary basis. The information is closely reviewed 
to determine that the products comply with the established RUS 
standards and specifications and that the products are otherwise 
acceptable for use on rural telecommunications systems. Without this 
information, RUS has no means of determining the acceptability of 
advanced technology in a manner that is timely enough for RUS borrowers 
to take advantage of the improved benefits and promise that such 
products may provide for rural America.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 3.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 54.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-8786 Filed 6-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P