[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 173 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45209-45210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19345]


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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, an agency of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development mission area, invites comments on 
this information collection for which approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 6, 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 an information collection that will 
be submitted to OMB for approval. 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: 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: RUS Form 675, Certification of Authority.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0074.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages loan programs 
in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.) (RE Act). A major factor in managing loan programs 
is controlling the advance funds, including assuring that actual 
borrowers receive their funds. OMB Circular A-

[[Page 45210]]

123, Management Accountability and Control, provides that information 
should be maintained on a current basis and that funds should be 
protected from unauthorized use. The use of RUS Form 675 allows 
effective control against unauthorized release of funds by providing a 
list of authorized borrower signatures against which signatures 
requesting funds are compared. Form 675 allows borrowers to keep RUS up 
to-date of changes in signature authority and controls release of funds 
only to authorized borrower representatives.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .10 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 163.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16.0 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Robin M. 
Jones, Innovation Center, at (202) 772-1172. 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. 2018-19345 Filed 9-5-18; 8:45 am]
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