82 FR 41395 - Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 168 (August 31, 2017)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 168 (Thursday, August 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41395-41396]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18454]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service 
(RUS), invites comments on this information collection for which the 
Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 30, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities 
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, Facsimile: (202) 
720-8435. 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 existing information collection 
that the Agency is submitting to OMB for extension. 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 to: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting 
Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural 
Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 5164-S, STOP 
1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492, Facsimile: 
(202) 720-8435, email: [email protected].
    Title: Accounting Requirements for Electric and Telecommunications 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service is a credit agency of the 
USDA which makes direct and guaranteed loans to finance electric and 
telecommunications facilities in rural areas. Accounting requirements 
that are unique to RUS borrowers are contained in 7 CFR parts 1767 and 
1770, and establish basic accounting requirements for the recording of 
financial information that must be available to the management, 
investors, and lenders of any business enterprise. This collection is 
primarily a recordkeeping requirement, although the Agency is requiring 
borrowers to establish an index of records. The hours of burden to 
maintain this index are directly related to the portions of the 
accounting system that are unique to the Agency. There are many 
important financial considerations for retention and preservation of 
accounting records. One of the most important considerations to RUS is 
that documentation be available so that the borrower's records may be 
audited for proper disbursements of funds.

[[Page 41396]]

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 650.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Hours per Recordkeeper: 24 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,100 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Recordkeepers: 26,250 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, Management Analyst, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, 
at (202) 205-3660; FAX: (202) 720-8435.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: August 11, 2017.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-18454 Filed 8-30-17; 8:45 am]
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