[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1885-1886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00408]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 14, 2015 / 
Notices  

[[Page 1885]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 8, 2015.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (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 assumptions used; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; (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 should 
be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive 
Office Building, 725--17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters 
are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
(202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1726, Electric System Construction Policies and 
Procedures--Electric.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0107.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, (RE ACT) in Sec. 4 (7 U.S.C. 904) 
authorizes and empowers the Administrator of the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) to make loans in the several States and Territories of 
the United States for rural electrification and the furnishing and 
improving of electric energy to persons in rural areas. These loans are 
for a term of up to 35 years and are secured by a first mortgage on the 
borrower's electric system. In the interest of protecting loan security 
and accomplishing the statutory objective of a sound program of rural 
electrification, Section 4 of the RE Act further requires that RUS make 
or guarantee a loan only if there is reasonable assurance that the 
loan, together with all outstanding loans and obligations of the 
borrower, will be repaid in full within the time agreed. RUS will 
collect information using various RUS forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
implement certain provisions of the RUS standard form of loan documents 
regarding the borrower's purchase of materials and equipment and the 
construction of its electric system by contract or force account. The 
use of standard forms and procurement procedures helps assure RUS that 
appropriate standards and specifications are maintained; agency loan 
security is not adversely affected; and loan and loan guarantee funds 
are used effectively and for the intended purposes. The information 
will be used by RUS electric borrowers, their contractors and by RUS. 
If standard forms were not used, borrowers would need to prepare their 
own documents at a significant expense; and each document submitted by 
a borrower would require extensive and costly review by both RUS and 
the Office of the General Counsel.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,161.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 98.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1724 and part 1738 Electric Engineering, 
Architectural Services and Design Policies and Procedures; and Rural 
Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0118.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, authorizes Rural Utilities Service 
(RUS) to make loans in several States and Territories of the United 
States for broadband access and rural electrification and the 
furnishing and improving of electric energy to persons in rural areas. 
Title 7 CFR 1724 requires each borrower to select a qualified architect 
to perform certain architectural services and to use the designated 
form that provides for these services. The agency has developed 
standardized contractual forms used by borrowers to contract for 
services.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected 
stipulates the parties to the agreement, contain certain information 
relating to the approved loan or loan guarantee, and provide detailed 
contractual obligations and services to be provided and performed 
relating to construction, project design, construction management, 
compensation, and related information. The contractual forms provide 
standardized contract agreements between the electric or broadband 
borrower and the engineering or architectural firm providing services 
to the borrower. This has resulted in substantial savings to borrowers 
by reducing preparation of the documentation and the costly review by 
the government.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 59.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

[[Page 1886]]

    Total Burden Hours: 63.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-00408 Filed 1-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P