[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 33476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15234]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 138 / Thursday, July 20, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 33476]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 17, 2017.
    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 August 
21, 2017 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-
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: RUS Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of 
Timber Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0076.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is 
authorized to manage loan programs in accordance with the Rural 
Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended. 
It makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance 
telecommunications, electric, and water and waste facilities in rural 
areas. To ensure the security of loan funds, adequate quality control 
of timber products is vital to loan security on electric power systems 
where hundreds of thousands of wood-poles and cross-arms are used. 
Prior to receiving loan funds, a RUS borrower must enter into a loan 
contract with RUS. In accordance with Article V, Section 5.14 of the 
loan contract, ``the borrower shall use design standards, construction 
standards and lists of acceptable materials in conformance with RUS 
regulations.
    Need and Use of the Information: The purchaser or treating company 
may obtain the services of an inspection agency or third-party 
oversight organization to perform certain inspection services to insure 
that the specifications for wood poles and cross-arms are being met. As 
required by 7 CFR 1728.202(i) copies of test reports on various 
preservatives must accompany each charge (a charge being a load of 
poles treated at the same time in a pressure cylinder). Test reports 
are needed so that the purchaser, the inspectors, and RUS will be able 
to spot-check the general accuracy of the tests. RUS will use the 
information in verifying acceptability of poles and cross-arms 
purchased by RUS borrowers.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 25.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 20,332.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-15234 Filed 7-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-15-P