[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52759-52760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14818]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 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

[[Page 52760]]

displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1942-A, Community Facility Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0015.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RUS) is a credit 
agency within the Rural Development mission area of the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture (USDA). The Community Programs Division of the RHS 
administers the Community Facilities program under 7 CFR part 1942, 
subpart A. Rural Development provides loan and grant funds through the 
Community Facilities program to finance many types of projects varying 
in size and complexity, from large general hospitals to small fire 
trucks. The facilities financed are designed to promote the development 
of rural communities by providing the infrastructure necessary to 
attract residents and rural jobs. RUS will collect information using 
several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine applicant/borrower eligibility, project feasibility, and to 
ensure borrowers operate on a sound basis and use loan and grant funds 
for authorized purposes. Failure to collect proper information could 
result in improper determinations of eligibility, improper use of 
funds, and/or unsound loans.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 3,768.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 57,177.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1924-F, Complaints and Compensation Defects.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0082.
    Summary of Collection: Section 509 of Title V of the Housing Act of 
1949, as amended, authorizes the Rural Housing Service (RHS) to pay the 
costs for correcting defects or compensate borrowers of Section 502 
Direct loan funds for expenses arising out of defects with respect to 
newly constructed dwellings and new manufactured housing units with 
authorized funds. This regulation provides instruction to all RHS 
personnel to enable them to implement a procedure to accept and process 
complaints from borrowers/owners against builders and dealers/
contractors, to resolve the complaint informally. When the complaint 
involves structural defects which cannot be resolved by cooperation of 
the builder or dealer/contractor, authorization for expenditure to 
resolve the defect with grant funds. Resolution could involve 
expenditure for (1) repairing defects; (2) reimbursing for emergency 
repairs; (3) pay temporary living expenses or (4) convey dwelling to 
RHS with release of liability for the RHS loan.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information is collected from 
agency borrowers and the local agency office serving the county in 
which the dwelling is located. This information is used by Rural 
Housing Staff to evaluate the request and assist the borrower in 
identifying possible causes and corrective actions. The information is 
collected on a case-by-case basis when initiated by the borrower. 
Without this information, RHS would be unable to assure that eligible 
borrowers would receive compensation to repair defects to their newly 
constructed dwellings.
    Description of Respondents: Business or for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 500.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 200.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-14818 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XT-P