[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 4338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1556]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 21, 2010.
    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 Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Making and Loan 
Servicing--ARRA Funding.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0060.
    Summary of Collection: Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan 
Program was legislated in 1972 under Section 310B of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (Act). The purpose of the 
B&I program, as authorized by the Act, is to improve, develop, or 
finance businesses, industries, employment and improve the economic and 
environmental climate in rural communities including pollution 
abatement and control by bolstering the existing private credit 
structure through the guaranteeing of quality loans made by lending 
institutions, thereby providing lasting community benefits. The B&I 
program is administered by Rural Business Service (RBS) through Rural 
Development State and sub-State Offices serving each State. The 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5) (Recovery 
Act) provided approximately $126,100,000 in supplemental budget 
authority for the B&I Program.
    Need and Use of The Information: To appropriately use these 
additional Recovery Act funds for guaranteeing B&I loans, necessary 
information is obtain on rural areas experiencing persistent poverty, 
outmigration, high unemployment, and under-served and under-represented 
groups and areas, which are among those areas hardest hit by the 
current economic crisis. The information is used by RBS loan officers 
and approval officials to determine program eligibility and to monitor 
the guaranteed loan portfolio to ensure that the lenders are servicing 
the loans adequately.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit;
    Number of Respondents: 700.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually and On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 15,915.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-1556 Filed 1-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XT-P