[Federal Register: July 24, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 142)] [Notices] [Page 39806] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr24jy98-51] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== [[Page 39806]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Secretary Notice and Request for Comments SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Chapter 35, Title 44 United States Code, this notice announces the Department of Agriculture's intention to request an extension on the currently approved information collection in support of debt collection. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 22, 1998, to be assured of consideration. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS CONTACT: Richard M. Guyer, Director, Fiscal Policy Division, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, USDA, Room 3022 South, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250 or FAX (202) 690-1529, telephone: (202) 690-0291, E-mail: DGuyer@cfo.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Debt Collection Act of 1982, Public Law 97-365, 96 Stat. 1749, as amended by Public Law 98-167, 97 Stat. 1104 and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Public Law 104-134 requires that any monies that are payable or may become payable from the United States under contracts and other written agreements to any persons or a legal entity not any agency or subdivision of a State or local government may be subject to administrative offset for the collection of a delinquent debt the person or a legal entity owes to the United States. Title: Debt Collection. OMB Number: 0505-0007. Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1998. Type of Request: Extension on currently approved information collection. Abstract: 31 U.S.C. 3716 of the Debt Collection Act authorizes the collection of debts by administrative offset and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, expanded the application of administratrive offset to every instance except where a statute explicitly prohibits the use of adminsitrarive offset for collection purposes. Protection is provided to debtors by requiring that an individual debtor be given notice of a debt. The notice provides information to delinquent debtors targeted for administrative offset who want additional information; desire to enter into repayment agreements; or desire to request a review of agencies' determination to offset. Creditor agencies use the collected information to respond to and/or take appropriate action. If the relevant information is not collected, the creditor agencies cannot comply with the due process provision of the Debt Collection Act and the Debt Collection Improvement Act. Collection of information only affects delinquent debtors. Estimate of Burden: A public reporting and record keeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response. Respondents: Delinquent Debtors. Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,725. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41,450 hours. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Dated: July 20, 1998. Allan S. Johnson, Acting Chief Financial Officer. [FR Doc. 98-19858 Filed 7-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-KS-P