[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43495-43496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15581]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-22-AGENCY-0037]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Request for 
Release of Lien and/or Approval of Sale, RUS Form 793; OMB Control No.: 
0572-0041

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), 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 September 19, 2022 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically by the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the 
``Search Field'' box, labeled ``Search for Rules, Proposed Rules, 
Notices or Supporting Documents,'' enter the following docket number: 
(RUS-22-AGENCY-0037). To submit or view public comments, click the 
``Search'' button, select the ``Documents'' tab, then select the 
following document title: (60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 
Collection: Request for Release of Lien and/or Approval of Sale, RUS 
Form 793; OMB Control No.: 0572-0041) from the ``Search Results'' and 
select the ``Comment'' button. Before inputting your comments, you may 
also review the ``Commenter's Checklist'' (optional). Insert your 
comments under the ``Comment'' title, click ``Browse'' to attach files 
(if available). Input your email address and select ``Submit Comment.''
    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 
``FAQ'' link.

[[Page 43496]]

    Other Information: Additional information about Rural Development 
and its programs is available on the internet at https://www.rd.usda.gov.
    All comments will be available for public inspection online at the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Pemberton, Management Analyst, 
Branch 1, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Phone: 202-260-8621 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 the following information collection 
that RUS is submitting to OMB for extension.
    Title: Request for Release of Lien and/or Approval of Sale, RUS 
Form 793.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0041.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2022.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 8 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for- profit; not-for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 227.
    Abstract: The 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. The reporting burden 
covered by this collection of information consists of forms, documents 
and written burden to support a request for funding for request for 
release of lien and/or approval of sale.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the 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 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 
respondents, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. All responses to this notice 
will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will become a matter of public record.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Crystal 
Pemberton, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 260-8621. 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.

Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15581 Filed 7-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P