[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65825-65826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26315]


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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 January 5, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5818, 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 this 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 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 respondents, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic,

[[Page 65826]]

mechanical or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Michele L. Brooks, 
Director, 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: Advance of Loan Funds and Budgetary Control and Other 
Related Burdens.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0015.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: This collection is necessary to comply with the 
applicable provisions of the RUS loan contract. Borrowers submit 
requisitions to RUS for funds for project costs incurred. Insured loan 
funds will be advanced only for projects which are included in the RUS 
approved borrower's construction workplan or approved amendment and in 
an approved loan, as amended. The process of loan advances establishes 
the beginning of the audit trail of the use of loan funds which is 
required for subsequent RUS compliance audits.
    The RUS Form 595 is used as a requisition for advances of funds. 
The form helps to assure that loan funds are advanced only for the 
budget purposes and amount approved by RUS. According to the applicable 
provisions of the RUS loan contract, borrowers must certify with each 
request for funds to be approved for advance, which such funds are for 
projects previously approved.
    When a prospective borrower requests and is granted an RUS loan, a 
loan contract is established between the Federal government, acting 
through the RUS Administrator, and the borrower. At the time this 
contract is entered into, the borrower must provide RUS with a list of 
projects for which loan funds will be spent, along with an itemized 
list of the estimated costs of these projects. Thus, the borrower 
receives a loan based upon estimated cost figures.
    RUS Form 219, Inventory of Work Orders, is one of the documents the 
borrower submits to RUS to support actual expenditures and an advance 
of loan funds. The form also serves as a connecting link and provides 
an audit trail that originates with the advance of funds and terminates 
with evidence supporting the propriety of expenditures for construction 
or retirement projects.
    Estimate of Burden: The Public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 1.57 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for 
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 670.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15.37.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16,215.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853. 
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: October 29, 2008.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26315 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P