[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 5981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03162]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice for request and comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
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 April 26, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Regulatory Division 
Team 2, Rural Development Innovation Center, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Stop 1522, Washington, DC 
20250. Phone: 202-690-4492. Cell: 202-689-9521. 
[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 RUS 
is submitting to OMB for extension. 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: Comments may be sent to Thomas P. 
Dickson, Regulatory Division Team 2, Rural Development Innovation 
Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Stop 
1522, Washington, DC 20250. Phone: 202-690-4492. Cell: 202-689-9521. 
[email protected].
    Title: Request for Release of Lien and/or Approval of Sale, RUS 
Form 793.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0041.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) makes mortgage loans 
and loan guarantees to electric and telecommunications systems to 
provide and improve electric and telecommunications service in rural 
areas pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.) (RE Act). All current and future capital assets of 
RUS borrowers are ordinarily mortgaged or pledged to the Federal 
Government as security for RUS loans. Assets include tangible and 
intangible utility plant, non-utility property, construction in 
progress, and materials, supplies, and equipment normally used in a 
telecommunications system. The RE Act and the various security 
instruments, e.g., the RUS mortgage, limit the rights of a RUS borrower 
to dispose of capital assets.
    The RUS Form 793, Request for Release of Lien and/or Approval of 
Sale, allows telecommunications program borrowers to seek agency 
permission to sell some of its assets. The form collects detailed 
information regarding the proposed sale of a portion of the borrower's 
system. RUS telecommunications borrowers fill out the form to request 
RUS approval in order to sell capital assets.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.75 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for- profit; not-for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 110.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Regulatory Team 2, Rural Development Innovation Center, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Stop 1522, 
Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 720-7853. Email: MaryPat 
[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: February 14, 2019.
Bette B. Brand,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-03162 Filed 2-22-19; 8:45 am]
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