[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 141 (Thursday, July 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43708-43709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18060]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
invites comments on the following information collections for which RUS 
intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 21, 2015.

[[Page 43709]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5818, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. 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 information collections that RUS 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, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 690-4492.
    Title: Use of Consultants Funded by Borrowers, 7 CFR part 1789.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0115.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 18(c) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(RE Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) authorizes RUS to use 
consultants voluntarily funded by borrowers for financial, legal, 
engineering and other technical services. Consultants may be used to 
facilitate timely action on loan applications by borrowers for 
financial assistance and for approvals required by RUS, pursuant to the 
terms of outstanding loans, or other wise. RUS may not require 
borrowers to fund consultants. The provision of section 18(c) may be 
utilized only at the borrower's request. This collection of information 
implements RUS policies and procedures for use of consultants funded by 
RUS Borrowers to facilitate timely action on a borrower's loan 
application for financial assistance and for RUS approvals.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not for profit institutions; business or other for-
profit entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2 hours.

    Dated: July 16, 2015.
Brandon McBride,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-18060 Filed 7-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P