[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44555-44556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20340]


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

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 24, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities 
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, Fax: (202) 720-
3485. 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 existing information collection 
that the Agency is submitting to OMB for extension.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this 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 of 
information 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 respond, including through the 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may

[[Page 44556]]

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. Telephone: (202) 690-
4492, Fax: (202) 720-3485, Email: [email protected].
    Title: 7 CFR part 1724, Electric Engineering, Architectural 
Services and Design Policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0118.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Agency requires borrowers to use standard contract 
forms under certain circumstances. The use of standard forms helps 
assure the Agency that appropriate standards and specifications are 
maintained, that the Agency's loan security is not adversely affected, 
and that loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively and for the 
intended purpose. Standardization of forms by the Agency results in 
substantial savings to Borrowers. If standard forms were not used, 
borrowers would be required to prepare documents and the government 
would require extensively and costly review by both the Agency and the 
Office of General Counsel. The contract forms included in this 
collection of information are RUS Form 211, ``Engineering Service 
Contract for the Design and Construction of a Generating Plant,'' RUS 
Form 220, ``Architectural Services Contract,'' and RUS Form 236, 
Engineering Service Contract, ``Electric System Design and 
Construction.''
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.07 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses, not-for-profit institutions and others.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 59.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 63 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 205-3660. 
Fax: (202) 720-3485.
    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 8, 2017.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20340 Filed 9-22-17; 8:45 am]
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