[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27309-27310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12544]


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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 the RUS intends to request approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 13, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Room 5164 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. Fax: (202) 720-
8435 or email to: [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 as extension to an existing collection with Agency 
adjustment.
    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 
proposed 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 
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 
P. Dickson, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory 
Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 
1522, Room 5164, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-
1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492; Fax: (202) 720-8435.
    Title: 7 CFR 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers and Grantees.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0095.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service relies on the information 
provided by the borrowers in their financial

[[Page 27310]]

statements to make lending decisions as to borrowers' credit worthiness 
and to assure that loan funds are approved, advanced and disbursed for 
proper RE Act purposes. These financial statements are audited by a 
certified public accountant to provide independent assurance that the 
data being reported are properly measured and fairly presented.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 8.08 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 1,300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.3746.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 14,439 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Telephone: (202) 
205-3660, Fax: (202) 720-8435.
    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.

Kenneth L. Johnson,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-12544 Filed 6-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE