[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 7 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1314-1315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-205]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 12, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard C. Annan, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5170 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-8818. FAX: (202) 720-
4120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS 
is submitting to OMB for extension.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 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 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: Richard 
C. Annan, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural 
Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, Room 5170 
South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. 
FAX: (202)720-4120.
    Title: Weather Radio Transmitter Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0124.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The National Weather Service operates an All Hazards 
Early Warning System that alerts people in areas covered by its 
transmissions of approaching dangerous weather and other emergencies. 
The National Weather Service can typically provide warnings of specific 
weather dangers up to fifteen minutes prior to the event. At present, 
this system covers all major metropolitan areas and many smaller cities 
and towns; however, many rural areas lack NOAA Weather Radio coverage. 
The Rural Development Utilities Programs' Service Weather Radio 
Transmitter Grant Program finances the installation of new transmitters 
to extend the coverage of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's Weather Radio system (NOAA Weather Radio) in rural 
America thereby promoting public safety and awareness. The President of 
the United States and the United States Congress have made $5 million 
in grant funds available to facilitate the expansion of NOAA Weather 
Radio system coverage into rural areas that are not covered or are 
poorly covered at this time. This grant program will continue to 
provide grant funds, on an expedited basis, for use in rural areas and 
communities of 50,000 or less inhabitants. Grant funds are available 
immediately and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-
served basis until the appropriation is used in its entirety. Grant 
funds are used to purchase and install NOAA Weather Radio transmitters 
and antennas that are combined with donated tower space and other site 
resources to establish new rural NOAA Weather Radio transmitters. 
Eligible applicants must be non-profit corporations or associations 
(including Rural Development Utilities Programs electric and 
telecommunications borrower cooperatives), units of local or state 
government, or Federally-recognized Indian tribes.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions, State, local or tribal 
government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 113.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 678.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853, 
FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    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.


[[Page 1315]]


    Dated: January 4, 2007.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-205 Filed 1-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P