[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19125-19126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07506]


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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) 
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 June 3, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities 
Service, Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164, 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 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)

[[Page 19126]]

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, USDA Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: 
(202) 720-8435. Email: [email protected].
    Title: Wholesale Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Electric 
Power.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0089.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Most RUS financed electric systems are cooperatives and 
are organized in a two-tiered structure. Retail customers are members 
of the distribution system that provides electricity to their homes and 
business. Distribution cooperatives, in turn, are members of power 
supply cooperatives, also known as generation and transmission 
cooperatives (G&T's) that generate or purchase power and transmit the 
power to the distribution systems.
    For a distribution system, a lien on the borrower's assets 
generally represents adequate security. However, since most G&T 
revenues flow from its distribution members, RUS requires, as a 
condition of a loan or loan guarantee to a G&T the long-term 
requirements wholesale power contract to purchase their power from the 
G&T at rates that cover all the G&T's expenses, including debt service 
and margins. RUS Form 444 is the standard form of the wholesale power 
contract. The Form is used by RUS G&T borrowers to enter into agreement 
with their distribution members for purchase of power from the G&T. 
Most borrowers adapt this form to meet their specific needs. The 
contract is prepared and executed by the G&T and each member and by RUS 
and the information allows RUS to determine credit quality and credit 
worthiness to determine repayment ability for loans and loan 
guarantees.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 120 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, RUS Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 205-
3660; Facsimile: (202) 720-8435 or Email: [email protected].
    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: March 28, 2016.
Brandon McBride,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-07506 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am]
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