[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54763-54764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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