[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44157-44158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20076]


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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, the 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information 
collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 20, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. Fax: 
(202) 720-8435 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 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 
collection 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 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 Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1522, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4493, Fax: (202) 
720-8435. Email: [email protected].
    Title: 7 CFR 1726, Electric System Construction Policies and 
Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0107.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the programmatic interest of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (RE Act), and, 
in order to assure that loans made or guaranteed by RUS are adequately 
secured, RUS, as a secured lender, has established certain standards 
and specifications for materials, equipment, and construction of 
electric systems. The use of standard forms, construction contracts, 
and procurement procedures helps assure that appropriate standards and 
specification are maintained, that RUS' loan security is not adversely 
affected, and the loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively 
and for the intended purposes. The list of forms and corresponding 
purposes for this information collection are as follows:

1. RUS Form 168b, Contractor's Bond

    This form is used to provide a surety bond for contracts on RUS 
Forms 200, 257, 786, 790, & 830.

2. RUS Form 168c, Contractor's Bond (less than $1 million)

    This form is used to provide a surety bond in lieu of RUS Form 
168b, when contractor's surety has accepted a small business 
administration guarantee.

3. RUS Form 187, Certificate of Completion-Contract Construction

    This form is used for the closeout of RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, and 
830.

4. RUS Form 198, Equipment Contract

    This form is used for equipment purchases.

5. RUS Form 200, Construction Contract-Generating

    This form is used for generating plant construction or for the 
furnishing and installation of major items of equipment.

6. RUS Form 213, Certificate (``Buy American'')

    This form is used to document compliance with the ``Buy American'' 
requirement.

7. RUS Form 224, Waiver and Release of Lien

    This form is used by subcontractors to provide a release of lien in 
connection with the closeout of RUS Forms 198, 200, 257, 786, 790, and 
830.

8. RUS Form 231, Certificate of Contractor

    This form is used for the closeout of RUS Forms 198, 200, 257, 786, 
and 830.


[[Page 44158]]


9. RUS Form 238, Construction or Equipment Contract Amendment

    This form is used to amend contracts except for distribution line 
construction contracts.

10. RUS Form 254, Construction Inventory

    This form is used to document the final construction in connection 
with the closeout of RUS Form 830.

11. RUS Form 257, Contract to Construct Buildings

    This form is used to construct headquarter buildings, generating 
plant buildings and other structure construction.

12. RUS Form 307, Bid Bond

    This form is used to provide a bid bond in RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, 
790 and 830.

13. RUS Form 786, Electric System Communications and Control Equipment 
Contract

    This form is used for delivery and installation of equipment for 
system communications.

14. RUS Form 790, Electric System Construction Contract Non-Site 
Specific Construction (Notice and Instructions to Bidders)

    This form is used for limited distribution construction accounted 
for under work order procedure.

15. RUS Form 792b, Certificate of Contractor and Indemnity Agreement 
(Line Extensions)

    This form is used in the closeout of RUS Form 790.

16. RUS Form 830, Electric System Construction Contract (labor & 
material)

    This form is used for distribution and/or transmission project 
construction.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for profits; Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,161.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimate of Burden: Average of 1.5 minutes per response.
    Estimated number of Total Responses: 4.063
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 98 hours.
    Copies of this information collection, and related forms and 
instructions, can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853. 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: September 13, 2017.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20076 Filed 9-20-17; 8:45 am]
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