[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 22 (Thursday, February 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4630-4631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01983]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2018 / 
Notices  

[[Page 4630]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 29, 2018.
    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 March 5, 
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 Utilities Service

    Title: Accounting Requirements for RUS Electric and 
Telecommunications Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0003.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a credit 
agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that makes loans (direct 
and guaranteed) to finance electric and telecommunications facilities 
in rural areas. This collection is primarily a recordkeeping 
requirement. 7 CFR parts 1767 and 1770 set forth basic accounting 
requirements for maintaining financial accounting records on an accrual 
basis that are unique to RUS borrowers. The agency is requiring 
borrowers to establish an index of records. RUS does not own or operate 
rural electric facilities. Its function is to provide, through self-
liquidating loans and technical assistance, adequate and dependable 
electric and telecommunications service to rural people under rates and 
conditions that permit productive use of these utility services. RUS 
borrowers, as all businesses, need accounting systems for their own 
internal use as well as external use. Such records are maintained as 
part of normal business practices. Without systems, no records would 
exist, for example, or what they own or what they owe. Such records 
systems provide borrowers with information that is required by the 
manager and board of directors to operate on a daily basis, to complete 
their tax returns, and to support requests to state regulatory 
commissions for rate approvals.
    Need and Use of the Information: Currently there are approximately 
600 active electric borrowers and 350 RUS telecommunications borrowers. 
Borrowers may utilize any information technology that meets their 
records management needs. RUS uses the information to evaluate a 
borrower's financial performance, to determine whether current loans 
are at risk, and to determine the credit worthiness of future loans. If 
basic financial records were not maintained, the borrower, its 
investors, and RUS would be unable to evaluate a borrower's financial 
performance, to determine whether current loans are at risk, and to 
determine the credit worthiness of future loans.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other-for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 950.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On Occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 25,650.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1724 and Part 1738 Electric Engineering, 
Architectural Services and Design Policies and Procedures; and Rural 
Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0118.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, authorizes Rural Utilities Service 
(RUS) to make loans in several States and Territories of the United 
States for broadband access and rural electrification and the 
furnishing and improving of electric energy to persons in rural areas. 
Title 7 CFR 1724 requires each borrower to select a qualified architect 
to perform certain architectural services and to use the designated 
form that provides for these services. The agency has developed 
standardized contractual forms used by borrowers to contract for 
services.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected 
stipulates the parties to the agreement, contain certain information 
relating to the approved loan or loan guarantee, and provide detailed 
contractual obligations and services to be provided and performed 
relating to construction, project design, construction management, 
compensation, and related information. The contractual forms provide 
standardized contract agreements between the electric or broadband 
borrower and the engineering or architectural firm providing services 
to the borrower. This has resulted in substantial savings to borrowers 
by reducing preparation of the documentation and the costly review by 
the government.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 59.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

[[Page 4631]]

    Total Burden Hours: 63.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-01983 Filed 1-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-15-P