[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 19472-19473] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-10344] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Agency
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Action
Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Dates
Comments on this notice must be received by June 19, 1998.
For Further Information Contact
Sue Arnold, Financial Analyst, Office of the Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1560, Room 4024 South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250-1560. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. FAX: (202) 690-0717. E-mail: sarnold@rus.usda.gov.
Supplementary Information
Title: Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens. OMB Control Number: 0572-0032. Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information collection, with change. Abstract: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), as amended (RE Act) authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to make and guarantee loans to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas. These loans are amortized over a period of up to 35 years and secured by the borrower's electric assets. In the interest of protecting loan security, monitoring compliance with debt convenants, and ensuring that RUS loan funds are used for purposes authorized by law, RUS requires that borrowers prepare and submit for RUS evaluation, certain studies and reports. Some of these studies and reports are required only once for each loan application; others must be submitted periodically until the loan is completely repaid. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 6 hours per response. Respondents: Small business or organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 754. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16,834. Copies of this information collection, and related form and instructions, can be obtained from Dawn Wolfgang, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-0812. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this 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 burden of the proposed collection of information; (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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720- 4120. 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: April 14, 1998. Blaine D. Stockton, Jr., Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 98-10344 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P