[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 200 (Monday, October 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61140-61141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26414]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Utilities Service

Farm Service Agency


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Business-Cooperative Service 
(RBS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and Farm Service Agency (FSA), 
USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; Comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 
the Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing regulation.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 15, 2000 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn L. Bell, Senior Loan 
Specialist, Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division, RHS, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 0783, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0783. Telephone (202) 720-1532.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 7 CFR 1927-B, Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing.
    OMB Number: 0575-0147.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2000.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Section 501 of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as 
amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to extend financial 
assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace or 
rehabilitate dwellings, farm buildings and/or related facilities to 
provide decent, safe, and sanitary living conditions and adequate farm 
buildings and other structures in rural areas. Title Clearance is 
required to assure the Agency(s) that the loan is legally secured and 
has the required lien priority.
    The Agency will be collecting information to assure that those 
participating in this program remain eligible to proceed with loan 
closing and to ensure that loans made with Federal funds are legally 
secured. The respondents are individuals or households, farms, 
businesses, and nonprofit institutions. The information required is 
used by Agency personnel to verify that the required lien position has 
been obtained. The information is collected at the field office 
responsible for processing a loan application through loan closing. The 
information is also used to insure the program is administered in a 
manner consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. If 
not collected, the Agency would be unable to determine if the loan is 
adequately and legally secured.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .23 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, farms, business, non-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 32,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.38.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 172,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 39,466 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tracy 
Gillin, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0039.

[[Page 61141]]

Comments

    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 Tracy Gillin, Regulations and Paperwork 
Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, 
STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250. 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: October 4, 2000.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.

    Dated: October 5, 2000.
Thomas I. Grau,
Acting Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
[FR Doc. 00-26414 Filed 10-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P