[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 47790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24162]


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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: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) 
invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 10, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn W. Dotson, Program Support and 
Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., 
SW., STOP 1524, Room 0227 South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250-1524. 
Telephone: (202) 720-1928. FAX: (202) 690-2268.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Financial Requirements and Expenditure Statement, Electric.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0015.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: This collection is necessary to comply with the 
applicable provisions of the RUS loan contract. Borrowers submit 
requisitions to RUS for funds for projects costs incurred. Insured loan 
funds will be advanced only for projects which are included in the RUS 
approved borrower's construction workplan or approved amendment and in 
an approved loan, as amended. The process of loan advances establishes 
the beginning of the audit trail of the use of loan funds which is 
required for subsequent RUS compliance audits.
    The Form 595 is used as a requisition for advances of funds. The 
form helps to assure that loan funds are advanced only for the budget 
purposes and amounts approved by RUS. According to the applicable 
provisions of the RUS loan contract, borrowers must certify with each 
request for funds to be approved for advance, that such funds are for 
projects previously approved.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 11 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 880.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 29,040.
    Copies of this information collection, and related form and 
instructions, can be obtained from Carolyn W. Dotson, Program Support 
and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-1928.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this 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 burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (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 automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program 
Support and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. 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: August 28, 1997.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24162 Filed 9-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P