[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14040-14041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03839]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 38 / Monday, February 26, 2024 / 
Notices  

[[Page 14040]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; 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 regarding this information collection received by March 
27, 2024 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: RUS Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of 
Timber Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0076.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is 
authorized to manage loan programs in accordance with the Rural 
Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended. 
It makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance 
telecommunications, electric, and water and waste facilities in rural 
areas. To ensure the security of loan funds, adequate quality control 
of timber products is vital to loan security on electric power systems 
where hundreds of thousands of wood-poles and cross-arms are used. 
Prior to receiving loan funds, a RUS borrower must enter into a loan 
contract with RUS. In accordance with article V, section 5.14 of the 
loan contract, ``the borrower shall use design standards, construction 
standards and lists of acceptable materials in conformance with RUS 
regulations.
    Need and Use of the Information: The purchaser or treating company 
may obtain the services of an inspection agency or third-party 
oversight organization to perform certain inspection services to insure 
that the specifications for wood poles and cross-arms are being met. As 
required by 7 CFR 1728.202(i) copies of test reports on various 
preservatives must accompany each charge (a charge being a load of 
poles treated at the same time in a pressure cylinder). Test reports 
are needed so that the purchaser, the inspectors, and RUS will be able 
to spot-check the general accuracy of the tests. RUS will use the 
information in verifying acceptability of poles and cross-arms 
purchased by RUS borrowers.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 25.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 20,333.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1744, subpart B, Lien Accommodations and 
Subordination Policy.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0126.
    Summary of Collection: The information collected in this 
information collection package is received from RUS telecommunications 
borrowers. The policy of considering Lien Accommodations will continue 
to facilitate funding from non-agency sources in order to meet the 
growing capital needs of rural Local Exchange Carriers (LECs). 
Depending on the purposes for which a lien accommodation is sought, RUS 
will utilize the information to provide an expedited approval for 
borrowers that meet the financial tests described in this rule. RUS 
believes that borrowers that are financially sound should be afforded 
more flexibility with regard to financial arrangements with outside 
lenders for the purpose of promoting rural telecommunications. The 
tests are designed to ensure that the financial strength of the 
borrower is more than sufficient to protect the government's loan 
security interests; hence, the lien accommodations will not adversely 
affect the government's financial interests.
    Need and Use of the Information: In order to facilitate 
supplemental financing for telecommunications services projects, RUS 
provides fast track lien accommodations to private lenders who propose 
to lend to RUS borrowers who meet certain financial strength 
evaluations. Depending on the purposes for which a lien accommodation 
is sought, RUS will use the information to provide expedited approval 
for borrowers that meet the financial tests. The tests are designed to 
ensure that the financial strength of the borrower is more than 
sufficient to protect the government's loan security interests; hence, 
the lien accommodations will not adversely affect the government's 
financial interests.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 12.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

[[Page 14041]]

    Total Burden Hours: 18.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-03839 Filed 2-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P