[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9423-9424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03974]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utility Service


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 19, 2016.
    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 are requested regarding (1) 
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; (2) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; (4) 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 regarding this information collection received by March 
28, 2016 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: 
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 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-

[[Page 9424]]

7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
    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: 7 CFR 1728, Electric Standards and Specifications for 
Materials and Construction.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0131.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, (RE Act) in Sec. 4 (7 U.S.C. 904) 
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 and 
improving of electric energy to persons in rural areas. RUS' 
Administrator is authorized to provide financial assistance to 
borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act by guaranteeing loans 
made by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, 
the Federal Financing Bank, and other lending agencies. These loans are 
for a term of up to 35 years and are secured by a first mortgage on the 
borrower's electric system. Manufacturers, wishing to sell their 
products to RUS electric borrowers, request RUS consideration for 
acceptance of their products and submit letters of request with 
certifications as to the origin of manufacture of the products and 
include certified data demonstrating their products' compliance with 
RUS specifications.
    Need and Use of the Information: Manufacturers submit certified 
data demonstrating product compliance with RUS specifications, usually 
in the form of laboratory test results, catalog pages, or drawings. RUS 
will evaluate the data to determine that the quality of the products 
are acceptable and that their use will not jeopardize loan security. 
The information is closely reviewed to be certain that test data; 
product dimensions and product material compositions fully comply with 
RUS technical standards and specifications that have been established 
for the particular product. Without this information, RUS has no means 
of determining the acceptability of products for use in the rural 
environment.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 38.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,000.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-03974 Filed 2-24-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P