[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8755-8756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02600]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket #: RUS-21-AGENCY-0001]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection; Comments Requested

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 this information collection 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 April 12, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Cusick, Management Analyst, 
Regulations Management Division, Innovation Center, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, STOP 1571, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-1414. 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 (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 as extension to an existing collection with Agency 
adjustment. 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 by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal 
Actions'' box, select ``RUS'' from the agency drop-down menu, then 
click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 0572-0095 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 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0095.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2022.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service relies on the information 
provided by the borrowers in their financial

[[Page 8756]]

statements to make lending decisions as to borrowers' credit worthiness 
and to assure that loan funds are approved, advanced and disbursed for 
proper RE Act purposes. These financial statements are audited by a 
certified public accountant to provide independent assurance that the 
data being reported are properly measured and fairly presented.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 8.17 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 1,300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.35.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,764.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 14,420 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Lauren 
Cusick, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 720-1414. 
Email: [email protected].) 205-3660, Fax: (202) 720-8435.
    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.

Christopher McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-02600 Filed 2-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P