[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 62531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19675]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-21-Admin-0021]


Notice of Request for Approval of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and 
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, Rural Housing Service, and the Rural Utilities Service, 
agencies of the Rural Development mission area within the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter collectively referred to 
as the Agency to request approval for a new information collection in 
support of compliance with applicable acts for planning and performing 
construction and other development work.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 13, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the following method:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Gilbert, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. 
Telephone: (202) 690-2682. Email [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 Rural 
Development is submitting to OMB for a new collection.
    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 ``RHS'' from the agency drop-down menu, 
then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select RHS-21-Admin-
0021 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 1927--Common Forms Package for Real Estate Title 
Clearance and Loan Closing.
    OMB Number: 0575-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval date.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The information collection under OMB Number 0575-New will 
enable the Agencies to effectively extend financial assistance to 
construct, improve, alter, repair, replace or rehabilitate dwellings, 
farm buildings, and/or related facilities to provide decent, safe, and 
sanitary living conditions and adequate farm buildings and other 
structures in rural areas. Title clearance is required to assure the 
Agency(s) that the loan is legally secured and has the required lien 
priority.
    RD will be collecting information to assure that those 
participating in this program remain eligible to proceed with loan 
closing and to ensure that loans are made with Federal funds are 
legally secured. The respondents are individuals or households, 
businesses and non-profit institutions. The information required is 
used by the USDA personnel to verify that the required lien position 
has been obtained. The information is collected at the field office 
responsible for processing a loan application through loan closing. The 
information is also used to ensure the program is administered in 
manner consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. If 
not collected, the Agency would be unable to determine if the loan is 
adequately and legally secure. RD continually strives to ensure that 
information collection burden is kept to a minimum.
    Information for the RD forms and their usage in this collection 
package are included in this supporting statement.
    Estimate of Burden: RD is requesting approval for one respondent 
and a one-hour place holder in order for OMB to issue a control number 
for these forms. The burden for each of the forms will be accounted for 
within the individual Rural Development program collection packages 
using the form(s).
    Respondents: Individuals or Households, Businesses, Closing agents/
Attorneys and the field office staff.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent per Form in package:

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                                                           Responses per
                        Form Nos.                           respondent
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1927-5, 8, 9, 10, 15, 19 and 20.........................               1
3550-25.................................................               1
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    Comments from interested parties are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) 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.
    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.

Joaquin Altoro,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-19675 Filed 9-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P