[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 173 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 45209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19344]



[[Page 45209]]

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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 (USDA) Rural Utilities Service 
(RUS) invites comments on the following information collections 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 November 5, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Team Lead, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Room 5162, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-
1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. 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 information collections that USDA 
Rural Development 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 respondents, 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: Michele Brooks, Team Lead, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
STOP 1522, Room 5162, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. 
Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Email [email protected].
    Title: Mergers and Consolidations of Electric Borrowers, 7 CFR 
1717, subpart D.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0114.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et 
seq.), as amended (RE Act) authorizes and empowers the administration 
of RUS to make and guarantee loans to furnish and improve electric 
service in rural areas. Due to deregulation and restructuring 
activities in the electric industry, RUS borrowers may find it 
advantageous to merge or consolidate to meet the challenges of industry 
change. This information collection addresses the requirements of RUS 
policies and procedures for mergers and consolidations of electric 
program borrowers.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.32 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not for profit institutions; business or other for-
profit entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10.6.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 140 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble 
Brown, Innovation Center, at (202) 692-0043, or email: 
[email protected]. 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: August 29, 2018.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-19344 Filed 9-5-18; 8:45 am]
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