[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 155 (Thursday, August 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40807-40808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19427]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 155 / Thursday, August 13, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 40807]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 10, 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 part 1786, Prepayment of RUS Guaranteed and Insured 
Loans to Electric and Telephone Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0088.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification (RE) Act of 1936, 
as amended, authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to make 
loans in the States and Territories of the United States for rural 
electrification and for the purpose of furnishing and improving 
electric and telephone service in rural areas and to assist electric 
borrowers to implement demand side management, energy conservation 
programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. 7 CFR part 
1786, subparts E and F are authorized by this section.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information will be collected 
from borrowers requesting to prepay their notes and to determine that 
the borrower is qualified to prepay under the authorizing statues. The 
overall goal of subparts E and F is to allow RUS borrowers to prepay 
their RUS loan and the overall goal of subpart G is to refinance.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 5.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 16.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1703, subparts D, E, F, and G, Distance Learning and 
TelemedicineLoan and Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0096.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the Department of Agriculture and is authorized by 
Chapter 1 of subtitle D of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and 
Trade Act of 1990. The purpose of the Distance Learning and 
Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program is to improve telemedicine services 
and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of 
telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced 
technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals and rural 
residents.
    Need and Use of the Information: The various forms and narrative 
statements required are collected from eligible applicants that are 
public and private, for-profit and not-for-profit rural community 
facilities, schools, libraries, hospitals, and medical facilities. The 
purpose of this information is to determine such factors as: 
eligibility of the applicant; the specific nature of the proposed 
project; the purposes for which loan and grant funds will be used; 
project financial and technical feasibility; and compliance with 
applicable laws and regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 230.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 13,451.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1703-H, Deferments of RUS Loan Payments for Rural 
Development Projects.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0097.
    Summary of Collection: Subsection (b) of section 12 of the Rural 
Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 912), a 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric or telephone borrower may defer 
the payment of principal and interest on any insured or direct loan 
made under the RE Act invest the deferred amounts in rural development 
projects. The Deferment program is used to encourage borrowers to 
invest in and promote rural development and rural job creation projects 
that are based on sound economic and financial analyses.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine eligibility; specific purposes for which the deferment amount 
will be utilized; the term of the deferment the borrower will receive; 
the cost of the total project and degree of participation in the 
financing from other sources; verification that the purposes will not 
violate limitations established in 7 CFR 1703-H. If the information 
were not collected, RUS would be unable to determine eligibility for a 
project.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit; Business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 11.

[[Page 40808]]

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Lien Accommodations and Subordinations 7 CFR part 1717, 
subparts R and S.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0100.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 
1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, 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 electric energy to persons in rural 
areas who are not receiving central station service. The RE Act also 
authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to provide financial 
assistance to borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act by 
accommodating or subordinating loans made by the National Rural 
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, 
and other lending agencies.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will used the information to 
determine an applicant's eligibility for a lien accommodation or lien 
subordination under the RE Act; facilitates an applicant's solicitation 
and acquisition of non-RUS loans as to converse available Government 
funds; monitor the compliance of borrowers with debt covenants and 
regulatory requirements in order to protect loan security; and 
subsequently to granting the lien accommodation of lien subordination, 
administer each so as to minimize its cost to the Government. If the 
information were not collected, RUS would not be able to accomplish its 
statutory goals.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 290.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1751 subpart B/State Telecommunications Modernization 
Plan.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0104.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Loan Restructuring 
Act (RELRA, Pub. L. 103-129), November 1, 1993, amended the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (the RE Act). RELRA 
required that a State Telecommunications Modernization Plan 
(Modernization Plan or Plan), meet all the statutory requirements of 
RELRA (part 1751, Subpart B). The plan at a minimum must provide for: 
(1) The elimination of party line service; (2) the availability of 
telecommunications services for improved business, educational, and 
medical services; (3) must encourage computer networks and information 
highways for subscribers in rural areas; (4) must provide for 
subscribers in rural areas to be able to receive through telephone 
lines: (a) conference calling; (b) video images; and (c) data at a rate 
of 1 million bits of information per second; and, the proper routing of 
information to subscribers.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
telecommunications program staff will review the Modernization Plan and 
approve the plans, if it complies with the requirements of the 
regulation. If the proposed Modernization Plan is approved, RUS will 
notify the developer of the approval. If not, RUS will make specific 
written comments and suggestions for modifying the proposed 
Modernization Plan so that it will comply with the requirements of the 
regulation. If the information is not collected, RUS' authority to make 
loans under the Rural Electrification Act will be restricted.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 350.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1721, Extensions of Payments of Principal and 
Interest.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0123.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric 
program provides loans and loan guarantees to borrowers at interest 
rates and on terms that are more favorable than those generally 
available from the private sector. Procedures and conditions which 
borrowers may request extensions of the payment of principal and 
interest are authorized, as amended, in section 12 of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, and section 236 of the Disaster Relief Act 
of 1970. As a result of obtaining Federal financing, RUS borrowers 
receive economic benefits that exceed any direct economic costs 
associated with complying with (RUS) regulations and requirements.
    Need and Use of the Information: The collection of information 
occurs only when the borrower requests an extension of principal and 
interest. Eligible purposes include financial hardship, energy resource 
conservation loans, renewable energy project, and contributions-in-aid 
of construction. The collections are made to provide needed benefits to 
borrowers while also maintaining the integrity of RUS loans and their 
repayment of taxpayer's monies.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 45.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 424.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-19427 Filed 8-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15- P