[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 68036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23691]


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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's Rural Utilities Service 
(RUS), invites comments on this information collection for which the 
Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 28, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimble Brown, Management Analyst, 
Innovation Center, USDA Rural Development, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-6780, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 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 existing information collection that the Agency 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 the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 
http://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search'' box, enter the Docket 
ID No ``RUS-20-ELECTRIC-0041'' 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 
``Help'' button at the top of the page.
    Title: Accounting Requirements for Electric and Telecommunications 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service is a credit agency of the 
USDA which makes direct and guaranteed loans to finance electric and 
telecommunications facilities in rural areas. Accounting requirements 
that are unique to RUS borrowers are contained in 7 CFR parts 1767 and 
1770 which establish basic accounting requirements for the recording of 
financial information that must be available to the management, 
investors, and lenders of any business enterprise. This collection is 
primarily a record keeping requirement, although the Agency is 
requiring borrowers to establish an index of records. The hours of 
burden to maintain this index are directly related to the portions of 
the accounting system that are unique to the Agency. There are many 
important financial considerations for retention and preservation of 
accounting records. One of the most important considerations to RUS is 
that documentation be available so that the borrower's records may be 
audited for proper disbursements of funds.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 1,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Hours per Recordkeeper: 24 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,000 Hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Recordkeepers: 25,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble 
Brown, Management Analyst, Innovation Center, Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 720-6780; 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. 2020-23691 Filed 10-26-20; 8:45 am]
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