[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 109 (Thursday, June 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31549-31550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10943]


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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 an agency 
delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, invites comments on this information collection for 
which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be 
requested.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 6, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5168 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Fax: (202) 720-
8435.

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: Michele 
Brooks, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, 
USDA Rural Development, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-8435.
    Title: 7 CFR Part 1730, Electric System Emergency Restoration Plan.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0140.
    Type of Request: Request for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Electric power systems have been identified in 
Presidential Decision Directive 63 (PDD-63), May 1998, as one of the 
critical infrastructures of the United States. The term ''critical 
infrastructure'' is defined in section 1016(e) of the USA Patriot Act 
of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as ``systems and assets, whether physical 
or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or 
destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact 
on security, national economic security, national public health or 
safety, or any combination of those matters.'' Damage to or loss of 
critical or significant parts of the U.S. electric power system can 
cause enormous damage to the environment, loss of life and economic 
loss and can affect the national security of the United States. Such 
damage or loss can be caused by acts of nature or human acts, ranging 
from an accident to an act of terrorism. Of particular concern are 
physical and cyber threats from terrorists. Protecting America's 
critical infrastructure is the shared responsibility of Federal, State, 
and local government in active partnership with the private sector. 
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7), December 2003, 
established a national policy for Federal departments and agencies to 
identify and prioritize United States critical infrastructure and key 
resources and to protect them from terrorist attacks. America's open 
and technologically complex society includes a wide array of critical 
infrastructure and key resources that are potential terrorist targets. 
The majority of these are owned and operated by the private sector and 
State or local governments. These critical infrastructures and key 
resources are both physical and cyber-based and span all sectors of the 
economy. A substantial portion of the electric infrastructure of the 
United States resides in, and is maintained by, rural America. To 
ensure that the electric infrastructure in rural America is adequately 
protected, RUS is instituting the requirement that all current electric 
borrowers enhance an existing ERP or, if none exists, develop and 
maintain an ERP.
    Title 7 CFR Part 1730, Electric System and Maintenance, establishes 
a

[[Page 31550]]

requirement for electric program distribution, generation, and 
transmission borrowers to develop an ERP or expand an existing ERP and 
to provide RUS with a written certification that they have an ERP based 
upon a VRA.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Not for profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 676.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 338 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Joyce 
McNeil, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis at (202) 720-0812. 
FAX: (202) 720-8435.
    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: May 31, 2007.
James M. Andrew,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E7-10943 Filed 6-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P