[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 3921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1043]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 15 / Wednesday, January 23, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 3921]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 16, 2008.
    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: 7 CFR Part 1744, Subpart B, Lien Accommodations and 
Subordination Policy.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0126.
    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. The 
Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandates that universally available and 
affordable telecommunications services, including advanced services, be 
made available to all U.S. citizens--weather in rural areas or city 
centers, affluent, or poor communities. In support of this mandate, RUS 
is amending its regulation to ensure that, with the assistance of 
advanced telecommunications technology, rural citizens be provided the 
same economic, educational, and health care benefits available in the 
large metropolitan areas.
    Need and Use of the Information: This regulation will help RUS 
facilitate funding from non-RUS sources in order to meet the growing 
capital needs of rural Local Exchange Carriers and enable the providers 
to compete in an expanding number of telecommunications services. RUS 
will use the information to provide ``automatic'' approval for 
borrowers requesting lien accommodations that meet the required 
financial tests. These tests are designed to ensure that the financial 
strength of the borrower is more than sufficient to protect the 
government's loan security interests; hence, the lien accommodations 
will not adversely affect the government's financial interests.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 30.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 23.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Electric System Emergency Restoration Plan.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0140.
    Summary of Collection: Electric power systems have been identified 
in Presidential Decision Directive 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)). To ensure that the electric 
infrastructure in rural America is adequately protected, Rural 
Utilities Service requires that all current electric borrowers enhance 
an existing Emergency Restoration Plan (ERP) or, if none exists, 
develop and maintain an ERP.
    Need and Use of the Information: Rural Development Utilities 
Programs (RDUP) requires that all current electric borrowers conduct a 
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) of its respective systems and 
utilize the results of this assessment to enhance an existing ERP or 
create an ERP if none exists. The ERP provides written procedures 
detailing response and restoration efforts in the event of a major 
system outage resulting from a natural or man made disaster. RDUP 
requires each electric borrower to provide annually a self-
certification, in writing, that an ERP exists and that an initial VRA 
has been performed. If this information were not collected, 
vulnerabilities may exist in the electric system infrastructure. The 
result would be increased risk to public safety and may affect the 
Government loan security.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 676.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 338.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-1043 Filed 1-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P