[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4611-4612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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