80 FR 54763 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utility Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 176 (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