[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 205 (Thursday, October 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67330-67331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23378]


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 Notices
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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 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 205 / Thursday, October 22, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 67330]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-20-ELECTRIC-0040]


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

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 21, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Bennett, Rural Development 
Innovation Center, Regulations Management Division, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0793, Room 4015, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-0793. Telephone: (202) 720-9639. Email: 
[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 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; 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 revision.
    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 
collection 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 by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 
http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and 
Federal Actions'' box, select ``Rural Utilities Service'' from the 
agency drop-down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID 
column, select RUS-20-ELECTRIC-0040 to submit or view public comments 
and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. 
Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after 
the close of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User 
Tips'' link.
    Title: 7 CFR 1726, Electric System Construction Policies and 
Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0107.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the programmatic interest of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (RE Act), and, 
in order to assure that loans made or guaranteed by RUS are adequately 
secured, RUS, as a secured lender, has established certain standards 
and specifications for materials, equipment, and construction of 
electric systems. The use of standard forms, construction contracts, 
and procurement procedures helps assure that appropriate standards and 
specification are maintained, that RUS' loan security is not adversely 
affected, and the loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively 
and for the intended purposes. The list of forms and corresponding 
purposes for this information collection are as follows:
    1. RUS Form 168b, Contractor's Bond. This form is used to provide a 
surety bond for contracts on RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, 790, & 830.
    2. RUS Form 168c, Contractor's Bond (less than $1 million). This 
form is used to provide a surety bond in lieu of RUS Form 168b, when 
contractor's surety has accepted a small business administration 
guarantee.
    3. RUS Form 187, Certificate of Completion-Contract Construction. 
This form is used for the closeout of RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, and 830.
    4. RUS Form 198, Equipment Contract. This form is used for 
equipment purchases.
    5. RUS Form 200, Construction Contract-Generating. This form is 
used for generating plant construction or for the furnishing and 
installation of major items of equipment.
    6. RUS Form 213, Certificate (``Buy American''). This form is used 
to document compliance with the ``Buy American'' requirement.
    7. RUS Form 224, Waiver and Release of Lien. This form is used by 
subcontractors to provide a release of lien in connection with the 
closeout of RUS Forms 198, 200, 257, 786, 790, and 830.
    8. RUS Form 231, Certificate of Contractor. This form is used for 
the closeout of RUS Forms 198, 200, 257, 786, and 830.
    9. RUS Form 238, Construction or Equipment Contract Amendment. This 
form is used to amend contracts except for distribution line 
construction contracts.
    10. RUS Form 254, Construction Inventory. This form is used to 
document the final construction in connection with the closeout of RUS 
Form 830.
    11. RUS Form 257, Contract to Construct Buildings. This form is 
used to construct headquarter buildings, generating plant buildings and 
other structure construction.
    12. RUS Form 307, Bid Bond. This form is used to provide a bid bond 
in RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, 790 and 830.
    13. RUS Form 786, Electric System Communications and Control 
Equipment Contract. This form is used for delivery and installation of 
equipment for system communications.
    14. RUS Form 790, Electric System Construction Contract Non-Site 
Specific Construction (Notice and Instructions to Bidders). This form 
is used for limited distribution construction accounted for under work 
order procedure.
    15. RUS Form 792b, Certificate of Contractor and Indemnity 
Agreement (Line Extensions). This form is used in the closeout of RUS 
Form 790.

[[Page 67331]]

    16. RUS Form 830, Electric System Construction Contract (labor & 
material). This form is used for distribution and/or transmission 
project construction.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for profits; Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 827.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated number of Total Responses: 3,320.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 82 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela 
Bennett, Rural Development Innovation Center, Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 720-9639. 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.

Chad Rupe,
Administrator. Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-23378 Filed 10-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P