[Federal Register: August 13, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 155)]
[Notices]
[Page 40807-40808]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au09-28]
========================================================================
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 40807]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
August 10, 2009.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to 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 (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV 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: 7 CFR part 1786, Prepayment of RUS Guaranteed and Insured
Loans to Electric and Telephone Borrowers.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0088.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification (RE) Act of 1936,
as amended, authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to make
loans in the 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. 7 CFR part
1786, subparts E and F are authorized by this section.
Need and Use of the Information: The information will be collected
from borrowers requesting to prepay their notes and to determine that
the borrower is qualified to prepay under the authorizing statues. The
overall goal of subparts E and F is to allow RUS borrowers to prepay
their RUS loan and the overall goal of subpart G is to refinance.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 5.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 16.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR 1703, subparts D, E, F, and G, Distance Learning and
TelemedicineLoan and Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0096.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a
credit agency of the Department of Agriculture and is authorized by
Chapter 1 of subtitle D of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and
Trade Act of 1990. The purpose of the Distance Learning and
Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program is to improve telemedicine services
and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of
telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced
technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals and rural
residents.
Need and Use of the Information: The various forms and narrative
statements required are collected from eligible applicants that are
public and private, for-profit and not-for-profit rural community
facilities, schools, libraries, hospitals, and medical facilities. The
purpose of this information is to determine such factors as:
eligibility of the applicant; the specific nature of the proposed
project; the purposes for which loan and grant funds will be used;
project financial and technical feasibility; and compliance with
applicable laws and regulations.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 230.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 13,451.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR part 1703-H, Deferments of RUS Loan Payments for Rural
Development Projects.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0097.
Summary of Collection: Subsection (b) of section 12 of the Rural
Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 912), a
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric or telephone borrower may defer
the payment of principal and interest on any insured or direct loan
made under the RE Act invest the deferred amounts in rural development
projects. The Deferment program is used to encourage borrowers to
invest in and promote rural development and rural job creation projects
that are based on sound economic and financial analyses.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
determine eligibility; specific purposes for which the deferment amount
will be utilized; the term of the deferment the borrower will receive;
the cost of the total project and degree of participation in the
financing from other sources; verification that the purposes will not
violate limitations established in 7 CFR 1703-H. If the information
were not collected, RUS would be unable to determine eligibility for a
project.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit; Business or other for-
profit.
Number of Respondents: 1.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 11.
[[Page 40808]]
Rural Utilities Service
Title: Lien Accommodations and Subordinations 7 CFR part 1717,
subparts R and S.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0100.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of
1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, authorizes and empowers the
Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans in the
several States and Territories of the United States for rural
electrification and the furnishing electric energy to persons in rural
areas who are not receiving central station service. The RE Act also
authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to provide financial
assistance to borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act by
accommodating or subordinating loans made by the National Rural
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank,
and other lending agencies.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will used the information to
determine an applicant's eligibility for a lien accommodation or lien
subordination under the RE Act; facilitates an applicant's solicitation
and acquisition of non-RUS loans as to converse available Government
funds; monitor the compliance of borrowers with debt covenants and
regulatory requirements in order to protect loan security; and
subsequently to granting the lien accommodation of lien subordination,
administer each so as to minimize its cost to the Government. If the
information were not collected, RUS would not be able to accomplish its
statutory goals.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 15.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 290.
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.
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. 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. 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: 45.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 424.
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-19427 Filed 8-12-09; 8:45 am]