[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 42788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17673]


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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 United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on 
the following information collections for which the RUS intends to 
request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 18, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities 
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. Fax: 
(202) 720-8435 or 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 information collections that USDA 
Rural Development is submitting to OMB for extension.
    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 respondents, 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 Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. Fax: (202) 720-
8435 or email [email protected].
    Title: Borrower Investments--Telecommunications Loan Program, 7 CFR 
1744, Subpart E.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0098.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Economic Development Act of 1990, Title XXIII 
of the Farm Bill, Public Law 101-624, authorized qualified Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) borrowers to make investments in rural 
development projects without the prior approval of the Agency's 
Administrator provided that such investments do not cause the borrower 
to exceed its allowable qualified investment level as determined in 
accordance with the procedures set forth in 7 CFR part 1744, subpart E. 
When a borrower exceeds these limits, the security for the Government's 
loans could be in jeopardy. However, in the interest of encouraging 
rural development, RUS will consider approving such investments that 
exceed a borrower's qualified investment level. This information 
collection covers those items that a borrower would need to submit to 
RUS for consideration of the borrower's request to make such an 
investment.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Not for profit institutions; business or other for-
profit entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1 hour.
    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 10, 2015.
Brandon McBride,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17673 Filed 7-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-15-P