81 FR 4611 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utility Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 17 (January 27, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4611-4612]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01611]



[[Page 4611]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utility Service


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 21, 2016.
    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 (1) 
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; (2) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; (4) 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 February 
26, 2016 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: 
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 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. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
    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: 7 CFR 1717 Subpart Y, Settlement of Debt Owed by Electric 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0116.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) makes 
mortgage loans and loan guarantees to electric systems to provide and 
improve electric service in rural areas pursuant to the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et. seq.) (RE 
Act). This information collection requirement stems from passage of 
Public Law 104-127, which amended section 331(b) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.,) to extend to 
the RUS' loans and loan guarantees the Secretary authority to 
compromise, adjust, reduce, or charge-off debts or claims owed to the 
government (collectively, debt settlement) with respect to loans made 
or guaranteed by RUS. Only those electric borrowers that are unable to 
fully repay their debts to the government and who apply to RUS for 
relief will be affected by this collection of information. The 
information collected will be similar to that which any prudent lender 
would need to determine whether debt settlement is required and the 
amount of relief that is needed.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine the need for debt settlement; the amount of debt the borrower 
can repay; the future scheduling of debt repayment; and, the range of 
opportunities for enhancing the amount of debt that can be recovered.
    Description of Respondents: Non-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,000.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1721, Extensions of Payments of Principal and 
Interest.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0123.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric 
program provides loans and loan guarantees to borrowers at interest 
rates and on terms that are more favorable than those generally 
available from the private sector. Procedures and conditions which 
borrowers may request extensions of the payment of principal and 
interest are authorized, as amended, in section 12 of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, and section 236 of the ``Disaster Relief 
Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-606), as amended by the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354). As a 
result of obtaining federal financing, RUS borrowers receive economic 
benefits that exceed any direct economic costs associated with 
complying with (RUS) regulations and requirements.
    Need and Use of the Information: The collection of information 
occurs only when the borrower requests an extension of principal and 
interest. Eligible purposes include financial hardship, energy resource 
conservation loans, renewable energy project, and contributions-in-aid 
of construction. These procedures are codified at 7 CFR part 1721, 
subpart B. The collections are made to provide needed benefits to 
borrowers while also maintaining the integrity of RUS loans and their 
repayment of taxpayer's monies.
    Description of Respondents: Not for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 29.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 296.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1738, Rural Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0130.
    Summary of Collection: Title VI, Rural Broadband Access, of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (RE Act), provides loans 
and loan guarantees to fund the cost of construction, improvement, or 
acquisition of facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband 
service in eligible rural communities in State and territories of the 
United States. The regulation prescribes the types of loans available, 
facilities financed and eligible applicants, as well as minimum credit 
support requirements considered for a loan. In addition, Title VI of 
the RE Act requires that Rural Utilities Service (RUS) make or 
guarantee a loan only if there is reasonable assurance that the loan, 
together with all outstanding loans and obligations of the borrower, 
will be repaid in full within the time agreed.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information in the program 
application guide--RUS Bulletin 1738-1 provides applicants with needed 
information, definitions and details for completing and submitting an 
application. Information will be used to determine an applicant's 
eligibility, availability of broadband service for priority 
consideration, technical and economic feasibility of the proposed 
project (that the funds requested are adequate to complete the project 
taking into consideration any additional funding provided by the 
applicant and that the loan can be repaid within the allowable time 
frame), and the applicant complies with statutory, regulatory and 
administrative eligibility requirements for loan assistance.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.

[[Page 4612]]

    Number of Respondents: 5.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,095.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-01611 Filed 1-26-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P