[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 116 (Thursday, June 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28879-28881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14335]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 15, 2009.
    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 1730, Review Rating Summary.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0025.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages 
loan programs in accordance with the Rural

[[Page 28880]]

Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended. 
An important part of safeguarding loan security is to see that RUS 
financed facilities are being responsible used, adequately operated, 
and adequately maintained. Future needs have to be anticipated to 
ensure that facilities will continue to produce revenue and loans will 
be repaid as required by the RUS mortgage. Regular periodic operations 
and maintenance (O&M) review can identify and correct inadequate O&M 
practices before they cause extensive harm to the system. Inadequate 
O&M practices can result in public safety hazards, increased power 
outages for consumers, added expense for emergency maintenance, and 
premature aging of the borrower's systems, which could increase the 
loan security risk to RUS.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information using 
form 300 Review Rate Summary to identity items that may be in need of 
additional attention; to plan corrective actions when needed; to budget 
funds and manpower for needed work; and to initiate ongoing programs as 
necessary to avoid or minimize the need for ``catch-up'' programs.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 229.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 916.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Operating Reports for Telecommunications and Broadband 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0031.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the Department of Agriculture. The Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (RE Act) (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) 
authorizes the Secretary to make mortgage loans and loan guarantees to 
finance electric, telecommunications, broadband, and water and waste 
facilities in rural areas. In addition to providing loans and loan 
guarantees, one of RUS' main objectives is to safeguard loan security 
until the loan is repaid. The RE Act also authorizes the Secretary to 
make studies, investigations, and reports concerning the progress of 
borrowers' furnishing of adequate telephone service and publish and 
disseminate this information.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information from the Operating 
Report for both telecommunication and broadband borrowers provides RUS 
with vital financial information needed to ensure the maintenance of 
the security for the Government's loans and service data which enables 
RUS to ensure the provision of quality telecommunications and broadband 
service as mandated by the RE Act of 1936. Form 674, ``Certificate of 
Authority to Submit or Grant Access to Data'' will allow 
telecommunication and broadband borrowers to file electronic Operating 
Reports with the agency using the new USDA Data Collection System. 
Accompanied by a Board Resolution, it will identify the name and USDA 
eAuthentication ID for a certifier and security administrator that will 
have access to the system for purposes of filing electronic Operating 
Reports.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 600.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; quarterly; 
annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,806.

Rural Utility Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0095.
    Summary of Collection: Under the authority of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (ACT), as amended 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., the 
Administrator is authorized and empowered to make loans under certain 
specified circumstances for the purpose of furnishing and improving 
telephone service in rural areas. RUS, in representing the Federal 
Government as Mortgagee, relies on the information provided by the 
borrowers in their financial statements to make lending decisions as to 
borrowers' credit worthiness and to assure that loan funds are 
approved, advanced and disbursed for proper Act purposes. Borrowers are 
required to furnish a full and complete report of their financial 
condition, operations and cash flows, in form and substance 
satisfactory to RUS.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
evaluate borrowers' financial performance, determine whether current 
loans are at financial risk, and determine the credit worthiness of 
future losses. If information were not collected, it would delay RUS' 
analysis of the borrowers' financial strength, thereby adversely 
impacting current lending decisions.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,250.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 13,927.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1744-E, Borrower Investments--Telecommunications Loan 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0098.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Economic Development Act of 1990, 
Title XXIII of the Farm Bill, Public Law 101-624, authorized qualified 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) borrowers to make investments in rural 
development projects without the prior approval of the RUS 
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. RUS requests that the borrower submit (1) A 
description of the rural development project and type of investment; 
(2) a reasonable estimate of the amount the borrower is committed to 
provide to the project including future expenditures; and (3) a pro 
forma balance sheet and cash flow statement for the period covering the 
borrower's future commitments to determine that the ``Excess'' or 
proposed ``Excess'' investments will not impair the borrower's ability 
to repay the loan or cause financial hardship.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
consider whether or not to approve a borrower's request to make an 
investment in a rural development project when such an investment would 
cause the borrower to exceed its allowable investment level. If this 
information was not collected, RUS could not thoroughly assess the 
economic impact of such an investment.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 2.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Use of Consultants Funded by Borrowers, 7 CFR 1789.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0115.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the Department of Agriculture that makes mortgage 
loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, telecommunications, and 
water and waste facilities in rural areas. The loan programs are 
managed in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 
1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, and as prescribed by Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A-129, Policies for Federal Credit 
Programs and Non-Tax Receivable,

[[Page 28881]]

which states that agencies must, based on a review of a loan 
application, determine that an applicant complies with statutory, 
regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for loan 
assistance. RUS has the authority to use consultants voluntarily funded 
by borrowers for financial, legal, engineering, and other technical 
services. However, all RUS borrowers are eligible to fund consultant 
services but are not required to fund consultants.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine whether it is appropriate to use a consultant voluntarily 
funded by the borrower to expedite a particular borrower application. 
If the information were not submitted, RUS would be unable to determine 
if using a consultant would accelerate the specific application 
process.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1728, Electric Standards and Specifications for 
Materials and Construction.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0131.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, (RE Act) in Sec. 4 (7 U.S.C. 904) 
authorizes and empowers the Administrator of the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) to make loans in the several States and Territories of 
the United States for rural electrification and the furnishing and 
improving of electric energy to persons in rural areas. RUS' 
Administrator is authorized to provide financial assistance to 
borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act by guaranteeing loans 
made by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, 
the Federal Financing Bank, and other lending agencies. These loans are 
for a term of up to 35 years and are secured by a first mortgage on the 
borrower's electric system. Manufacturers, wishing to sell their 
products to RUS electric borrowers, request RUS consideration for 
acceptance of their products and submit letters of request with 
certifications as to the origin of manufacture of the products and 
include certified data demonstrating their products' compliance with 
RUS specifications.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
evaluate the data to determine that the quality of the products is 
acceptable and that their use will not jeopardize loan security. The 
information is closely reviewed to be certain that test data; product 
dimensions and product material compositions fully comply with RUS 
technical standards and specifications that have been established for 
the particular product. Without this information, RUS has no means of 
determining the acceptability of products for use in the rural 
environment.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 38.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,000.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-14335 Filed 6-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P