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###### Department of Agriculture

###### Rural Utilities Service

# 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 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service. USDA Rural Development invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

# DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by March 30, 2009.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michele Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Fax: (202) 720-8435.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS is submitting to OMB as a revision to an existing collection. 

*Comments are invited on:*                     (a) Whether the 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 the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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 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 may be sent to:*                     Michele Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, Room 5162, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-8435.                

*Title:*7 CFR Part 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     0572-0095.                

*Type of Request:*                     Extension of a currently approved collection.                

*Abstract:*                     The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service. The USDA Rural Development relies on the information provided by the borrowers in their financial statements to make lending decision as to borrowers' credit worthiness and to assure that loan funds are approved, advanced and disbursed for proper RE Act purposes. These financial statements are audited by a certified public accountant to provide independent assurance that the data being reported are properly measured and fairly presented.                

*Estimate of Burden:*                     Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 7.80 hours per response.                

*Respondents:*                     Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions.                

*Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers:*                     1,500.                

*Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:*                     1.42.                

*Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:*                     16,677 hours.                

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853, 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: January 23, 2009.

James R. Newby,

Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.

[FR Doc. E9-1949 Filed 1-28-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P