[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 207 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65693-65694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27285]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utility Service


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 22, 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: Certification of Authority.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0074.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It makes 
mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, 
telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural areas. 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, 
(RE ACT) and as prescribed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circular A-129, Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax 
Receivables, which states that agencies must, based on a review of a 
loan application, determine that an applicant complies with statutory, 
regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for loan 
assistance. A major factor in managing loan programs is controlling the 
advancement of funds. RUS Form 675 allows this control to be achieved 
by providing a list of authorized signatures against which signatures 
requesting funds are compared.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
ensure that only authorized representatives of the borrower signs the 
lending requisition form. Without the information RUS would not know if 
the request for a loan advance was legitimate or not and the potential 
for waste, loss, unauthorized use, and misappropriation would be 
increased.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 250.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 25.

[[Page 65694]]

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Lien Accommodations and Subordinations 7 CFR part 1717, 
subparts R and S.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0100.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 
1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, 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 electric energy to persons in rural 
areas who are not receiving central station service. The RE Act also 
authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to provide financial 
assistance to borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act by 
accommodating or subordinating loans made by the National Rural 
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, 
and other lending agencies.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will use the information to 
determine an applicant's eligibility for a lien accommodation or lien 
subordination under the RE Act; facilitates an applicant's solicitation 
and acquisition of non-RUS loans as to converse available Government 
funds; monitor the compliance of borrowers with debt covenants and 
regulatory requirements in order to protect loan security; and 
subsequently to granting the lien accommodation or lien subordination, 
administer each so as to minimize its cost to the Government. If the 
information were not collected, RUS would not be able to accomplish its 
statutory goals.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 290.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1717 Subpart D, Mergers and Consolidations of Electric 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0114.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It makes mortgage 
loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, telecommunications, 
water and waste and water facilities in rural areas. Loan programs are 
managed in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 
1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended and as prescribed by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-129, Policies for Federal 
Credit Programs and Non-tax Receivable, states that agencies must base 
on a review of a loan application determine that an applicant complies 
with statutory, regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements 
for loan assistance.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
streamline procedures and allow borrowers the flexibility to meet new 
business challenges and opportunities. The information is necessary for 
RUS to conduct business with successor entity while protecting the 
security of Government loans and avoiding defaults and to grant merger 
approval when required.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 140.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Use of Consultants Funded by Borrowers, 7 CFR 1789.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0115.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the Department of Agriculture that makes mortgage 
loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, telecommunications, and 
water and waste facilities in rural areas. The loan programs are 
managed in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 
1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, and as prescribed by Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A-129, Policies for Federal Credit 
Programs and Non-Tax Receivable, which states that agencies must, based 
on a review of a loan application, determine that an applicant complies 
with statutory, regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements 
for loan assistance. RUS has the authority to use consultants 
voluntarily funded by borrowers for financial, legal, engineering, and 
other technical services. However, all RUS borrowers are eligible to 
fund consultant services but are not required to fund consultants.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine whether it is appropriate to use a consultant voluntarily 
funded by the borrower to expedite a particular borrower application. 
If the information were not submitted, RUS would be unable to determine 
if using a consultant would accelerate the specific application 
process.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-27285 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P