[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58588-58589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26786]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 13, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 58588]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 7, 2017.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to 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; and (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 January 
12, 2018 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 Housing Service

    Title: Fire and Rescue Loans--7 CFR 1942, Subpart C, ``Fire and 
Rescue Loans and Other Small Community Facilities Projects''.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0120.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is 
authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to make loans to public agencies, 
nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes for the development of 
essential community facilities primarily servicing rural residents. The 
primary regulation for administering this Community Facility program is 
7 CFR 1942-A. The Community Facilities program has been used to finance 
about 100 different types of facilities varying in size and complexity 
from fire trucks to hospitals. A significant portion of the loans made 
have been used for public safety to finance fire stations, fire trucks, 
ambulances, and rescue facilities and other small Community Facilities 
projects. The information must be collected to determine eligibility, 
analyze financial feasibility, take security, monitor the use of loan 
funds, and monitor the financial condition of borrowers, and otherwise 
assisting borrowers.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Rural Development requires 
that an application form SF-424 be completed by applicant/borrowers 
with each application package in addition to other necessary 
information. This form gives basic information regarding the applicant, 
including the type of loan/grant assistance they are seeking. This 
information will be used to determine applicant/borrower eligibility, 
project feasibility, and ensure borrowers operate on a sound basis and 
use loan funds for authorized purposes.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,968.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 24,865.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1902-A, Supervised Bank Accounts.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0158.
    Summary of Collection: 7 CFR 1902-A, Supervised Bank Accounts 
(SBA), prescribes the policies and procedures for disbursing loan and 
grant funds, establishing and closing supervised accounts, and placing 
Multi-Family housing reserve accounts in supervised accounts. The Rural 
Business Service extends financial assistance to applicants that do not 
qualify for loans under commercial rates and terms. The Rural Housing 
Service (RHS) is the credit agency for agriculture and rural 
development in USDA. Supervised accounts are accounts with a financial 
institution in the names of a borrower and the United States 
Government, represented by Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, Rural Utilities Service, (Agency). Section 339 of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S.C. 1989 and 
Section 510 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 1480) is 
the legislative authorities requiring the use of supervised accounts.
    Need and Use of the Information: The agency's state and field 
offices will collect information from borrowers and financial 
institutions. The Agency use SBA's as a mechanism to (1) ensure correct 
disbursement and expenditure of all funds designated for a project; (2) 
help a borrower properly manage its financial affairs; (3) ensure that 
the Government's security is protected adequately from fraud, waste and 
abuse. The consequence to Federal program and policy activities if the 
collection of information was not conducted would be detrimental to 
both the Government and to borrowers.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 15,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 26,169.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 3565, ``Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program'' 
and Its Supporting Handbook.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0174.
    Summary of Collection: On March 28, 1996, the Housing Opportunity 
Program Extension Act of 1996 was signed. One

[[Page 58589]]

of the provisions of the Act was the authorization of the section 538 
Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP), adding the program to 
the Housing Act of 1949. The purpose of the GRRHP is to increase the 
supply of affordable rural rental housing through the use of loan 
guarantees that encourage partnerships between the Rural Housing 
Service (RHS), private lenders and public agencies. RUS will approve 
qualified lenders to participate and monitor lender performance to 
ensure program requirements are met. RHS will collect information from 
lenders on the eligibility cost, benefits, feasibility, and financial 
performance of the proposed project.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information from 
lenders to manage, plan, evaluate, and account for Government resources 
and from time to time, propose demonstration programs that use loan 
guarantees or interest credit. The GRRHP regulation and handbook will 
provide lenders and agency staff with guidance on the origination, and 
servicing of GRRHP loans and the approval of qualified lenders. RHS 
will use the information to evaluate a lender's request and make 
determination that the interests of the government are protected. 
Failure to collect information could have an adverse impact on the 
agency ability to monitor lenders and assess program effectiveness and 
effectively guarantee loans.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit Institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 150.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,059.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: RD 1951-65, ``Customer Initiated Payments'', RD 1951-66, 
``FedWire Worksheet'', and 3550-28, ``Authorization Agreement for 
Preauthorization Payments''.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0184.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Development (RD) uses electronic 
methods for receiving and processing loan payments and collections. 
These electronic collection methods are approved by Treasury and 
include Preauthorized Debits (PAD), Customer Initiated Payments (CIP), 
and FedWire. These electronic collection methods provide the borrower 
the ability to submit their loan payments the day prior to, or the day 
of their installment due date. To administer these electronic payment 
methods, RD will use approved agency forms for collecting financial 
institution routing information. Form RD 3550-28, Authorization 
Agreement for Preauthorized Payments, is prepared by the borrower to 
authorized RD to electronically collect regular loan payments from a 
borrower's account at a financial institution (FI) as preauthorized 
debits. Form RD 1951-65, is prepared by the borrower to enroll in CIP. 
CIP is an electronic collection method that enables borrowers to input 
payment data to a contract bank via telephone (touch tone and voice) or 
computer terminal. Form RD 1951-66, FedWire Worksheet, is completed by 
the borrower to establish an electronic FedWire format with their FI.
    Need and Use of the Information: RD will request that borrowers 
make payments electronically via PAD, CIP, or FedWire. The information 
is collected only once unless the FI routing information changes. If 
the information were not collected, RD would be unable to collect loan 
payments electronically.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 8,260.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,242.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-26786 Filed 12-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P