[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66270-66271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27642]


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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 Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) 
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 December 27, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program 
Development & Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5168--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) implanting 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 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 assumption 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 on 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Room 5166-South, STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-
8435. E-mail: [email protected].
    Title: 7 CFR Part 1726, Electric System Construction Policies and 
Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0107.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the programmatic interest of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (RE Act), and, 
in order to assure that loans made or guaranteed by RUS are adequately 
secured, RUS, as a secured lender, has established certain standards 
and specifications for materials, equipment, and construction of 
electric systems. The use of standard forms, construction contracts, 
and procurement procedures helps assure RUS that appropriate standards 
and specification are maintained; RUS' loan security is not adversely 
affected; and the loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively 
and for the intended purposes. The list of forms and corresponding 
purposes for this information collection are as follows:

1. RUS Form 168b, Contractor's Bond

    This form is used to provide a surety bond for contracts on RUS 
Forms 200, 257, 786, 790, & 830.

2. RUS Form 168c, Contractor's Bond (less than $1 million)

    This form is used to provide a surety bond in lieu of RUS Form 
168b, when contractor's surety has accepted a small business 
administration guarantee.

3. RUS Form 187, Certificate of Completion--Contract Construction

    This form is used for the closeout of RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, and 
830.

4. RUS Form 198, Equipment Contract

    This form is used for equipment purchases.

5. RUS Form 200, Construction Contract--Generating

    This form is used for generating plant construction or for the 
furnishing and installation of major items of equipment.

6. RUS Form 213, Certificate (``Buy American'')

    This form is used to document compliance with the ``Buy American'' 
requirement.

7. RUS Form 224, Waiver and Release of Lien

    This form is used by subcontractors to provide a release of lien in 
connection with the closeout of RUS Forms 198, 200, 257, 786, 790, and 
830.

8. RUS Form 231, Certificate of Contractor

    This form is used for the closeout of RUS Forms 198, 200, 257, 786, 
and 830.

9. RUS Form 238, Construction or Equipment Contract Amendment

    This form is used to amend contracts except for distribution line 
construction contracts.

10. RUS Form 254, Construction Inventory

    This form is used to document the final construction in connection 
with the closeout of RUS Form 830.

[[Page 66271]]

11. RUS Form 257, Contract to Construct Buildings

    This form is used to construct headquarter buildings, generating 
plant buildings and other structure construction.

12. RUS Form 307, Bid Bond

    This form is used to provide a bid bond in RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, 
790 and 830.

13. RUS Form 786, Electric System Communications and Control Equipment 
Contract

    This form is used for delivery and installation of equipment for 
system communications.

14. RUS Form 790, Electric System Construction Contract Non-Site 
Specific Construction (Notice and Instructions to Bidders)

    This form is used for limited distribution construction accounted 
for under work order procedure.

15. RUS Form 792b, Certificate of Contractor and Indemnity Agreement 
(Line Extensions)

    This form is used in the closeout of RUS Form 790.

16. RUS Form 830, Electric System Construction Contract (Labor & 
Material)

    This form is used for distribution and/or transmission project 
construction.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.5 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for profits; not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,210.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 104 hours.
    Copies of this information collection, and related form and 
instructions, can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853.
    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 19, 2011.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27642 Filed 10-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P