[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 55240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21913]



[[Page 55240]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing 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 Housing Service (RHS) invites 
comments on this information collection for which approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested. The intention 
is to request a revision for a currently approved information 
collection in support of the program for 7 CFR Part 1927-B, Real Estate 
Title Clearance and Loan Closing.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 12, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shantelle C. Gordon, Program Analyst, 
USDA Rural Housing Service, Single Family Housing, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., STOP 0783, Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone: (202) 205-
9567. Fax: (202) 720-2232. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) required 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 RHS 
is submitting 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:
    Title: Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing.
    OMB Number: 0575-0147.
    Expiration Date: December 31, 2013.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Section 501 of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as 
amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to extend financial 
assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace or 
rehabilitate dwellings, farm buildings, and/or related facilities to 
provide decent, safe, and sanitary living conditions and adequate farm 
buildings and other structures in rural areas. Title clearance is 
required to assure the Agency (s) that the loan is legally secured and 
has the required lien priority.
    RHS will be collecting information to assure that those 
participating in this program remain eligible to proceed with loan 
closing and to ensure that loans are made with Federal funds are 
legally secured. The respondents are individuals or households, 
businesses and non-profit institutions. The information required is 
used by the USDA personnel to verify that the required lien position 
has been obtained. The information is collected at the field office 
responsible for processing a loan application through loan closing. The 
information is also used to ensure the program is administered in 
manner consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. If 
not collected, the Agency would be unable to determine if the loan is 
adequately and legally secure. RHS continually strives to ensure that 
information collection burden is kept to a minimum.
    Estimate of Burden: Public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses, closing agents/
attorneys and the field office staff.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,280.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimate Number of Responses: 31,484.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 9,353 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
RHS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of the RHS' 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 
forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Jeanne Jacobs, 
Regulation and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services Division, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0742, 
Washington, DC 20250-0742. 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: September 3, 2013.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-21913 Filed 9-9-13; 8:45 am]
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