83 FR 59354 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 226 (November 23, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59354-59356]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25499]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 19, 2018.
    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

[[Page 59355]]

collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by December 
24, 2018 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: 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: 574.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 13,959.

Rural Utility Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0095.
    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: 1,300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 14,439.

Rural Utility Service.

    Title: Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA), 7 CFR 1700, 
Subpart D.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0147.
    Summary of Collection: The 2008 Farm Bill (P.L. 110-246) authorized 
the Substantially Underserved Trust Area (SUTA) initiative. The SUTA 
initiative identifies the need and improves the availability of Rural 
Utility Service (RUS) programs to reach trust areas. The initiative 
gives the Secretary of Agriculture certain discretionary authorities 
relating to financial assistance terms and conditions that can enhance 
the financing possibilities in areas that are underserved by certain 
RUS electric, water and waste, and telecom and broadband programs.
    Need and use of the Information: RUS provides loan, loan guarantee 
and grant programs for rural electric, water and waste, and 
telecommunications and broadband infrastructure. Eligible applicants 
notify RUS in writing, at the time of application, that it seeks 
consideration under the requirements of 7 CFR 1700, subpart D. The data 
covered by this collection are those materials necessary to allow the 
agency to determine applicant and community eligibility, and an 
explanation and documentation of the high need for the benefits of the 
SUTA provisions. Without this information RUS would not be able to make 
a prudent loan decision.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 30.

Rural Utility Service.

    Title: The Rural Alaska Village Grant (RAVG) Program; 7 CFR part 
1784.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0150.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Alaska Village Grant (RAVG) 
Program is authorized under (Section 3061 of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (CONACT), (7 U.S.C. 1926(d)), as amended. 
Governing regulations are codified in 7 CFR part 1784. Under the RAVG 
program, the Secretary may make grants to the State of Alaska for the 
benefit of rural or Native Villages in Alaska to provide for the 
development and construction of water and wastewater systems to improve 
the health and sanitation conditions in those villages. To be eligible 
to receive a grant under the RAVG program, the project must provide 25 
percent in matching funds from the State of Alaska. The matching funds 
must come from non-Federal sources.
    Need and use of the Information: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
will collect information using several forms. RUS state and field 
offices collect the information from applicants, grantees, and 
consultants. The collected information is used to determine applicant 
eligibility and project feasibility. RUS also uses the information to 
ensure that grantees

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operate on a sound basis and use the grants funds for authorized 
purposes.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 25.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 469.

Kimble Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-25499 Filed 11-21-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P