[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40847-40848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16685]


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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, 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 September 10, 2012.

[[Page 40848]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Deputy Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Fax: (202) 720-
8435. Email: [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 will 
be submitted to OMB for approval.
    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 
Brooks, Deputy Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, 
USDA Rural Development, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-8435.
    Title: RUS Form 675, Certification of Authority.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0074.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages loan programs 
in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.) (RE Act). A major factor in managing loan programs 
is controlling the advance funds, including assuring that actual 
borrowers receive their funds. OMB Circular A-123, Management 
Accountability and Control, provides that information should be 
maintained on a current basis and that funds should be protected from 
unauthorized use. The use of RUS Form 675 allows effective control 
against unauthorized release of funds by providing a list of authorized 
borrower signatures against which signatures requesting funds are 
compared. Form 675 allows borrowers to keep RUS up-to-date of changes 
in signature authority and controls release of funds only to authorized 
borrower representatives.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .10 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 250.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 25.0 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Michele 
Brooks, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 690-1078. 
Fax: (202) 720-3485. Email: [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: July 2, 2012.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-16685 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
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