[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 67344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27565]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 2, 2010 / 
Notices  

[[Page 67344]]



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) an 
agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural 
Development Utilities Programs invites comments on this information 
collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) will be requested.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 3, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Deputy Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5159 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-8435. Telephone: (202) 690-
4492. Fax: (202) 720-8435. E-mail: [email protected].

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 the proposed 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 
proposed 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 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. Comments may be sent to: Michele 
L. Brooks, 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: Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens.
    OMB Number: 0572-0032.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et 
seq.), as amended (RE Act) authorizes and empowers the Administrator of 
RUS to make and guarantee loans to furnish and improve electric service 
in rural areas. These loans are amortized over a period of up to 35 
years and secured by the borrower's electric assets. The information 
collection covered by OMB Control Number 0572-0032 consists of written 
materials, reports, forms, and certifications to support an application 
for a Distribution loan from RUS. In addition, the collection covers an 
annual submission by Distribution borrowers and Generation and 
Transmission Borrowers (G&Ts) of operation report data. Entities 
applying for a loan follow the procedures outlined in 7 CFR 1710, 
subpart I, to determine the required documentation for a loan 
application.
    At this time, RUS is revising the information collection to require 
additional data to be submitted by Distribution and G&T borrowers 
related to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

Data Pertaining to Renewable Energy Generation

    The current standard form of loan contract has annual reporting 
requirements and these reporting requirements capture all generation 
investment as a generic matter today. The revised data collection 
related to the RUS Form 12 will break out renewable investments as a 
separate line item. Accordingly, the total burden hours total 
associated with reporting these data elements is not materially 
different from before but we will now see investment and project size 
data itemized by type of renewable fuel.

Data Pertaining to Energy Efficiency

    The Agency is implementing an effort to make loans to our utility 
borrowers who will in turn make retail loans to their electric 
consumers to finance energy efficiency improvements on the consumer 
premises. The utilities will design their own energy efficiency 
programs depending on the needs and profile of their service territory. 
The revised data collection related to the RUS Form 7 will capture the 
type of energy efficiency program, the number of customers involved, 
the amount invested and estimated Million British Thermal Unit savings.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15.51 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for profits; not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 650.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.60.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 66,548.
    Copies of this information collection, and related form and 
instructions, can be obtained from Thomas P. Dickson, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 690-4492. FAX: (202) 720-
8435. E-mail: [email protected].
    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 27, 2010.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-27565 Filed 11-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P