[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66691-66692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26615]


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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 
of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 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 9, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA--Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5818 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Fax: (202) 720-
3485. 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) 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 this 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 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 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, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA--Rural Utilities Service, 
STOP 1522, 1400 Independence

[[Page 66692]]

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-3485.
    Title: 7 CFR Part 1724, Electric Engineering, Architectural 
Services and Design Policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0118.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: The Agency requires borrowers to use standard contract 
forms under certain circumstances. The use of standard forms helps 
assure the Agency that:
     Appropriate standards and specifications are maintained;
     The Agency's loan security is not adversely affected; and
     Loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively and for 
the intended purpose.
    Standardization of forms by the Agency results in substantial 
savings to:
     Borrowers--If standard forms were not used, borrowers 
would need to prepare their own documents at significant expense; and
     Government--If standard forms were not used, each document 
submitted by a borrower would require extensive and costly review by 
both the Agency and the Office of General Counsel.
    The contract forms included in this collection of information are 
RUS Form 211, ``Engineering Service Contract for the Design and 
Construction of a Generating Plant,'' RUS Form 220, ``Architectural 
Services Contract,'' and RUS Form 236, Engineering Service Contract, 
``Electric System Design and Construction.''
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.07 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses, not-for-profit institutions and others.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 59.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 63 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Matthew 
Mullen, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-1255.
    Fax: (202) 720-3485.
    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: November 4, 2014.
Jasper Schneider,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-26615 Filed 11-7-14; 8:45 am]
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