[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 18 (Thursday, January 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5142-5143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1951]


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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 United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities 
programs through the Rural Utilities Service. The USDA Rural 
Development invites comments on the following information collections 
for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 30, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development Utilities 
Programs, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162, 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 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 information collections 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

[[Page 5143]]

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, mechanical or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Michele Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-0784.
    Title: Borrower Investments--Telecommunications Loan Program, 7 CFR 
Part 1744, Subpart E.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0098.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Economic Development Act of 1990, Title XXIII 
of the Farm Bill, Public Law 101-624, authorized qualified USDA Rural 
Development borrowers to make investments in rural development projects 
without the prior approval of the Agency's Administrator provided, 
however, that such investments do not cause the borrower to exceed its 
allowable qualified investment level as determined in accordance with 
the procedures set forth in 7 CFR part 1744, subpart E. When a borrower 
exceeds these limits, the security for the Government's loans could be 
in jeopardy. However, in the interest of encouraging rural development, 
USDA Rural Development will consider approving such investments that 
exceed a borrower's qualified investment level. This information 
collection covers those items that a borrower would need to submit to 
USDA Rural Development for consideration of the borrower's request to 
make such an investment.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 9.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not for profit institutions; business or other for-
profit entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 238 hours.

    Dated: January 23, 2009.
James R. Newby,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1951 Filed 1-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P