[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68556-68557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23561]


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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) 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 February 4, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5159 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-8435.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 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 
L. Brooks, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence 
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-8435.
    Title: Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens.
    OMB Number: 0572-0032.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et 
seq.), as amended (RE Act) authorizes and empowers the Administrator of 
RUS to make and guarantee loans to furnish and improve electric service 
in rural areas. These loans are amortized over a period of up to 35 
years and secured by the borrower's electric assets. In the interest of 
protecting loan security, monitoring compliance with debt covenants, 
and ensuring that RUS loan funds are used for purposes authorized by 
law, RUS requires that borrowers prepare and submit for RUS evaluation, 
certain

[[Page 68557]]

studies and reports. Some of these studies and reports are required 
only once for each loan application; others must be submitted 
periodically until the loan is completely repaid.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 14 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for profits; not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 680.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 65,673.
    Copies of this information collection, and related form and 
instructions, 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: November 29, 2007.
James Andrew,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23561 Filed 12-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P