[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30600-30601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11872]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 22, 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 Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1951-E, ``Servicing of Community and Direct Business 
Programs Loans and Grants''.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0066.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Development (Agency) is the credit

[[Page 30601]]

agency for agriculture and rural development for the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture. The Community Facilities program is authorized to make 
loans and grants for the development of essential community facilities 
primarily serving rural residents. The Direct Business and Industry 
Program is authorized to make loans to improve, develop, or finance 
business, industry, and employment, and improve the economic and 
environmental climate in rural communities. Section 331 and 335 of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Agency, to establish 
provisions for security servicing policies for the loans and grants in 
question. If there is a problem which exists, a recipient of the loan, 
grant, or loan guarantee must furnish financial information which is 
used to aid in resolving the problem through reamortization, sale, 
transfer, debt restructuring, liquidation, or other means provided in 
the regulations.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Agency will collect 
information from applicants, borrowers, consultants, lenders and 
attorneys. This information is used to determine applicant/borrower 
eligibility and project feasibility for various servicing actions. The 
information enables field staff to ensure that borrowers operate on a 
sound basis and use loan and grant funds for authorized purposes.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; not-
for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 587.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,042.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: RD 3550-28, ``Authorization Agreement for Preauthorization 
Payments''; RD 1951-65, ``Customer Initiated Payments (CIP)'' and RD 
1951-66, ``Fedwire Worksheet''.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0184.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Development (RD) uses electronic 
methods for receiving and processing loan payments and collections. 
These electronic collection methods are approved by Treasury and 
include Preauthorized Debits (PAD), Customer Initiated Payments (CIP), 
and FedWire. These electronic collection methods provide the borrower 
the ability to submit their loan payments the day prior to, or the day 
of their installment due date. To administer these electronic payment 
methods, RD will use approved agency forms for collecting financial 
institution routing information. Form RD 3550-28, Authorization 
Agreement for Preauthorized Payments, is prepared by the borrower to 
authorize RD to electronically collect regular loan payments from a 
borrower's account at a financial institution (FI) as preauthorized 
debits. Form RD 1951-65 is prepared by the borrower to enroll in CIP. 
CIP is an electronic collection method that enables borrowers to input 
payment data to a contract bank via telephone (touch tone and voice) or 
computer terminal. Form RD 1951-66, FedWire Worksheet, is completed by 
the borrower to establish an electronic FedWire format with their FI.
    Need and Use of the Information: RD will request that borrowers 
make payments electronically via PAD, CIP, or FedWire. The information 
is collected only once unless the FI routing information changes. If 
the information were not collected, RD would be unable to collect loan 
payments electronically.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 23,520.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 11,761.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-11872 Filed 5-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XT-P