[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 4281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00650]



[[Page 4281]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection Request; General Program Administration

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on an extension with a revision of a 
currently approved information collection associated with FSA's Farm 
Loan Programs (FLP) General Program Administration. The information 
collected is used to ensure that applicants meet statutory eligibility 
requirements, loan funds are used for authorized purposes, and the 
Government's interest in security is adequately protected.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by March 14, 2017.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include date, volume, and page number of this issue of the 
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Niki Chavez, Senior Loan Officer, USDA/FSA/FLP, STOP 
0521, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0521.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20253. Copies of the information collection may 
be requested by contacting Niki Chavez at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Niki Chavez, (202) 690-6129.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Farm Loan Programs, General Program Administration.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0238.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 05/31/2017.
    Type of Request: Extension with a revision.
    Abstract: General Program Administration, as specified in the 7 CFR 
761, contains requirements that are applicable to making and servicing 
direct loans. The information collections are necessary to ensure that 
applicants meet statutory eligibility requirements, loan funds are used 
for authorized purposes, and the Federal Government's interest in 
security is adequately protected. Specific information collection 
requirements include financial information in the form of a balance 
sheet and cash flow projection used in loan making and servicing 
decisions; information needed to establish joint bank accounts in which 
loan funds, proceeds derived from the sale of loan security and 
insurance proceeds, may be deposited; collateral pledges from financial 
institutions when the balance of a supervised bank account will exceed 
the maximum amount insurable by the Federal Government; and documents 
that construction plans and specifications to comply with state and 
local building standards.
    Since the introduction of Microloan Loan (ML) Program certain forms 
are being used less in this request and there are fewer farmers and 
businesses reporting information resulting in a total program changes 
decrease of 6,997 respondents; 16,392 responses; and 19,678 burden 
hours.
    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the 
formula used to calculate the total burden hours is the estimated 
average time per response multiplied by the estimated total annual 
responses.
    Estimated Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 1.12 hours per 
response. The average travel time, which is included in the total 
annual burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other 
for profit and farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 84,833.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.40.
    Estimated Total Annual Number of Responses: 204,438.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 1.12 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 229,203 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of FSA, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the FSA's estimate of burden including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of the 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.
    All responses to this notice, including name and addresses when 
provided, will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

Val Dolcini,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2017-00650 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P