[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 46891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6938]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs 
through the Rural Utilities Service (Agency). In accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the 
Agency invites comments on the following information collections for 
which Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 16, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard C. Annan, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development Utilities 
Programs, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5818, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-0784. Fax: 
(202) 720-8435.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 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 information collections that RUS is 
submitting to OMB for extension.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this 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 o9f the agency's estimate of the burden of the 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 respondents, 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 Richard C. Annan, Director, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-0784.
    Title: CFR Part 1794, Environmental policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0117.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The information collection contained in this rule are 
requirements prescribed by the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321-4346), the Council on 
environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Executive Orders. USDA 
Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the 
Rural Utilities Service (Agency). Agency applicants provide 
environmental documentation, as prescribed by the rule, to assure that 
policy contained in NEPA is followed. The burden varies depending on 
the type, size, and location of each project, which then prescribes the 
type of information collection involved. The collection of information 
is only that information that is essential for the Agency to provide 
environmental safeguards and to comply with NEPA as implemented by the 
CEQ regulations.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 240 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit and non-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 450,200 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural 
Development Utilities Programs, at (202) 720-7853. FAX: (202) 720-7853.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request from OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: August 9, 2006.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6938 Filed 8-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-M