[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80315-80316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32442]


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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's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on 
this information collection for which the Agency intends to request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 22, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. Fax: (202) 720-
8435.

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 RUS 
is submitting to OMB as a revision to an existing collection. Comments 
are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 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 proposed 
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 are to 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: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting 
Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, Room 5164, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-
8435.
    Title: 7 CFR part 1728, Electric Standards and Specifications for 
Materials and Construction.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0131.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: RUS provides loans and loan guarantees in accordance with 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as 
amended, (RE Act). Section 4 of the RE Act requires that the Agency 
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. In order to 
facilitate the programmatic interests of the RE Act and, in order to 
assure that loans made or guaranteed by the Agency are adequately 
secure, RUS, as a secured lender, has established certain standards and 
specifications for materials, equipment, and the construction of 
electric systems. The use of standards and specifications for 
materials, equipment and construction units helps assure the Agency 
that: (1) Appropriate standards and specifications are maintained; (2) 
RUS loan security is not adversely affected, and; (3) Loan and loan 
guarantee funds are used effectively and for the intended purposes. The 
regulation, 7 CFR part 1728, establishes Agency policy that materials 
and equipment purchased by RUS Electric Borrowers or accepted as 
contractor-furnished material must

[[Page 80316]]

conform to Agency standards and specifications where established and, 
if included in RUS Publication IP 202-1, ``List of Materials Acceptable 
for Use on Systems of Agency Electrification Borrowers'' (List of 
Materials), must be selected from that list or must have received 
technical acceptance from RUS.
    Estimate of Burden: This collection of information is estimated to 
average 20 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 38.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.63.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 205-3660, 
Fax: (202) 720-8435.
    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: December 18, 2015.
Brandon McBride,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32442 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
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