80 FR 54763 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utility Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 176 (September 11, 2015)

Page Range		54763-54764
FR Document		2015-22947
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54763-54764]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22947]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utility Service


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 8, 2015.
    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 regarding (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 
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; (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 should 
be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive 
Office Building, 725--17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters 
are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
(202) 720-8681.
    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: Advance of Loan Funds and Budgetary Control and Related 
Burdens.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0015.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is 
authorized by the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, as 
amended, ``to make loans in several States and territories of the 
United States for rural electrification and for the purpose of 
furnishing and improving electric and telephone service in rural areas 
and to assist electric borrowers to implement demand side management, 
energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy 
systems.'' Borrowers will provide the agency with information that 
supports the use of the funds as well as identify the type of projects 
for which they will use the funds.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS electric borrowers will submit 
RUS form 595 and 219. Form 595, Financial Requirement & Expenditure 
Statement, to request an advance of loan funds remaining for an 
existing approved loan and to report on the expenditure of previously 
advanced loan funds. Form 219, Inventory of Work Orders, serves as a 
connecting line and provides an audit trail that verifies the evidence 
supporting the propriety of expenditures for construction of retirement 
projects that supports the advance of funds. The information collected 
will ensure that loan funds are expended and advanced for RUS approved 
budget process and amounts. Failure to collect proper information could 
result in improper determinations of eligibility or improper use of 
funds.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 600.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 14,570.

Rural Utility Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0095.

[[Page 54764]]

    Summary of Collection: Under the authority of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (ACT), as amended 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., the 
Administrator is authorized and empowered to make loans under certain 
specified circumstances for rural electrification and the furnishing of 
electric energy to persons in rural areas and for the purpose of 
furnishing and improving telephone service in rural areas. RUS, in 
representing the Federal Government as Mortgagee, relies on the 
information provided by the borrowers in their financial statements to 
make lending decisions as to borrowers' credit worthiness and to assure 
that loan funds are approved, advanced and disbursed for proper Act 
purposes. Borrowers are required to furnish a full and complete report 
of their financial condition, operations and cash flows, in form and 
substance satisfactory to RUS.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
evaluate borrowers' financial performance, determine whether current 
loans are at financial risk, and determine the credit worthiness of 
future losses. If information is not collected, it would delay RUS' 
analysis of the borrowers' financial strength, thereby adversely 
impacting current lending decisions.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,340.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 14,914.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1751 Subpart B/State Telecommunications Modernization 
Plan.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0104.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Loan Restructuring 
Act (RELRA, Pub. L. 103-129), November 1, 1993, amended the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (the RE Act). RELRA 
required that a State Telecommunications Modernization Plan 
(Modernization Plan or Plan), meet all the statutory requirements of 
RELRA (Part 1751, Subpart B). The plan at a minimum must provide for: 
(1) The elimination of party line service; (2) the availability of 
telecommunications services for improved business, educational, and 
medical services; (3) must encourage computer networks and information 
highways for subscribers in rural areas; (4) must provide for 
subscribers in rural areas to be able to receive through telephone 
lines: (a) Conference calling; (b) video images; and (c) data at a rate 
of 1 million bits of information per second; and, the proper routing of 
information to subscribers.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
telecommunications program staff will review the Modernization Plan and 
approve the plans, if it complies with the requirements of the 
regulation. If the proposed Modernization Plan is approved, RUS will 
notify the developer of the approval. If not, RUS will make specific 
written comments and suggestions for modifying the proposed 
Modernization Plan so that it will comply with the requirements of the 
regulation. If the information is not collected, RUS' authority to make 
loans under the Rural Electrification Act will be restricted.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 350.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-22947 Filed 9-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 176 / Friday, September 11, 2015 / Notices 54763

800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 game wildlife and apply the Copies of the submission(s) may be
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through minimization criteria to areas on the obtained by calling (202) 720–8681.
Friday. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest An agency may not conduct or
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 2009 open to over-snow vehicle use during sponsor a collection of information
Forest Plan provides management the winter recreation season (December unless the collection of information
direction for activities on the 2 through May 15). displays a currently valid OMB control
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest A Draft SEIS is expected to be number and the agency informs
for the next 10 to 15 years, including available for public review and potential persons who are to respond to
direction on eight topics (vegetation, comment in November 2015. The the collection of information that such
wildlife, aquatic resources, recreation comment period for the Draft SEIS will persons are not required to respond to
and travel management, fire be 90 days from the date the Notice of the collection of information unless it
management, livestock grazing, timber Availability is published in the Federal displays a currently valid OMB control
and recommended wilderness). Register 36 CFR 219.16(a)(2). number.
In 2010, WildEarth Guardians, Dated: September 4, 2015. Rural Utilities Service
Friends of the Bitterroot, Inc., and Melany Glossa, Title: Advance of Loan Funds and
Montanans for Quiet Recreation, Inc., Forest Supervisor. Budgetary Control and Related Burdens.
filed a complaint in U.S. District Court OMB Control Number: 0572–0015.
[FR Doc. 2015–22890 Filed 9–10–15; 8:45 am]
for the District of Montana (Case 9:10– Summary of Collection: The Rural
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
cv–00104–DWM) alleging inadequate Utilities Service (RUS) is authorized by
analysis of the ‘‘site-specific impacts of the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of
snowmobile use on big game winter DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1936, as amended, ‘‘to make loans in
habitat and conflicting recreational several States and territories of the
uses’’ when developing the Forest Plan, Rural Utility Service United States for rural electrification
failure ‘‘to apply certain criteria and for the purpose of furnishing and
[referred to as the minimization criteria] Submission for OMB Review; improving electric and telephone
when designating areas open to Comment Request service in rural areas and to assist
snowmobile use’’ and that Subpart C of electric borrowers to implement
the 2005 Travel Management Rule September 8, 2015.
demand side management, energy
concerning over-snow vehicles was The Department of Agriculture has
conservation programs, and on-grid and
invalid. In its June 22, 2015 Opinion submitted the following information
off-grid renewable energy systems.’’
(WildEarth Guardians et al. v. Montana collection requirement(s) to Office of
Borrowers will provide the agency with
Snowmobile Ass’n, 790 F.3d 920 (9th Management and Budget (OMB) for
information that supports the use of the
Cir. 2015)), the U.S. Court of Appeals for review and clearance under the
funds as well as identify the type of
the Ninth Circuit found the Forest Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
projects for which they will use the
Service provided sufficient information Public Law 104–13. Comments
funds.
to establish that it took a ‘‘hard look’’ at regarding (a) whether the collection of Need and Use of the Information:
the impacts of snowmobile use on non- information is necessary for the proper RUS electric borrowers will submit RUS
motorized recreational uses and performance of the functions of the form 595 and 219. Form 595, Financial
sufficiently analyzed these conflicts. agency, including whether the Requirement & Expenditure Statement,
Further, the U.S. Court of Appeals information will have practical utility; to request an advance of loan funds
found that plaintiffs’ challenge to the (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate remaining for an existing approved loan
Subpart C exemption in the Travel of burden including the validity of the and to report on the expenditure of
Management Rule was not ripe for methodology and assumptions used; (c) previously advanced loan funds. Form
review. ways to enhance the quality, utility and 219, Inventory of Work Orders, serves as
However, in the same opinion, the clarity of the information to be a connecting line and provides an audit
U.S. Court of Appeals held that the collected; (d) ways to minimize the trail that verifies the evidence
Forest Service did not provide the burden of the collection of information supporting the propriety of
public adequate access to information on those who are to respond, including expenditures for construction of
about the impact of snowmobiles on big through the use of appropriate retirement projects that supports the
game wildlife and habitat and did not automated, electronic, mechanical, or advance of funds. The information
allow the public to play an appropriate other technological collection collected will ensure that loan funds are
role in the decision-making process. The techniques or other forms of information expended and advanced for RUS
U.S. Court of Appeals also found the technology should be addressed to: Desk approved budget process and amounts.
Forest Service did not adequately apply Officer for Agriculture, Office of Failure to collect proper information
the minimization criteria found in the Information and Regulatory Affairs, could result in improper determinations
Travel Management Rule. The matter Office of Management and Budget, New of eligibility or improper use of funds.
was remanded to the U.S. District Court Executive Office Building, 725—17th Description of Respondents: Not-for-
for the District of Montana. Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. profit institutions; Business or other for-
In an August 27, 2015 Order, the U.S. Commenters are encouraged to submit profit.
District Court for the District of Montana their comments to OMB via email to: Number of Respondents: 600.
ordered the Forest Service to ‘‘properly OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

disclose the information underlying its (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental On occasion.
analysis of snowmobile impacts on big Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Total Burden Hours: 14,570.
game wildlife’’ and ‘‘adequately appl[y] Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–
the minimization criteria in the [2005 7602. Comments regarding these Rural Utility Service
Travel Managment Rule].’’ The SEIS information collections are best assured Title: 7 CFR 1773, Policy on Audits of
will disclose information underlying its of having their full effect if received RUS Borrowers.
analysis of snowmobile impacts on big within 30 days of this notification. OMB Control Number: 0572–0095.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:14 Sep 10, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11SEN1.SGM 11SEN1
Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:59:24
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:59:24
Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
FR Citation		80 FR 54763
80 FR 54763 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURERural Utility Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 176 (September 11, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utility Service
