[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4247-4248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01437]


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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 Rural Utilities Service (RUS) an 
agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural 
Development Utilities Programs invites comments on this information 
collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) will be requested.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 28, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5159 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202)720-8435. Telephone: (202) 690-
4492. 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 an information collection that RUS 
is submitting to OMB for extension.
    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

[[Page 4248]]

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: Michele L. Brooks, 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)720-8435.
    Title: Review Rating Summary, RUS Form 300, 7 CFR part 1730.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0025.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: RUS manages loan programs in accordance with the RE Act 
of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.). An important part of 
safeguarding loan security is to see that RUS financed facilities are 
being responsibly used, adequately operated, and adequately maintained. 
Future needs must be anticipated to ensure that facilities will 
continue to produce revenue and loans will be repaid as required by the 
RUS mortgage. A periodic operations and maintenance (O&M) review, using 
the RUS Form 300, in accordance with 7 CFR part 1730, is an effective 
means for RUS to determine whether the Borrower's systems are being 
properly operated and maintained, thereby protecting the loan 
collateral. The O&M review is also used to rate facilities and can be 
used for appraisals of collateral as prescribed by OMB Circular A-129, 
Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Taxable Receivables.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 217.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 868.

Brandon McBride,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01437 Filed 1-25-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P