[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23419-23420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11289]


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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 these information collections for which RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 29, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, 
Program Development Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 4036 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-9550. FAX: (202) 720-
4120.

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) require 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 collection that RUS is 
submitting to OMB for an extension.
    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

[[Page 23420]]

technology. Comments may be sent to: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, 
Program Development 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.
    <bullet> Title: Financial and Statistical Report for Telephone 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0031.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection, without change.
    Abstract: Each telephone borrower signs a mortgage agreement that 
specifically requires the submission of annual, audited financial 
statements. The completed Form 479 is due back from the borrowers to 
RUS in order to comply with the Rural Electrification Act.
    Respondents: Business or other for non-profit.
    Annual Reporting Burden:
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 900.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 14 hours.
    Combined Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,740 hours.
    <bullet> Title: RUS Policy on Audits for Electric and Telephone 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0095.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection, without change.
    Abstract: The requested financial statements are needed to evaluate 
borrowers' financial, performance, determine whether current loans are 
at financial risk, and determine the credit worthiness of future loans.
    Under the authority of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (Act), 
as amended 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., the Administrator is authorized and 
empowered to make loans under certain specified circumstances. As a 
requirement for these loans, the RUS mortgage in Article 2, Section 12, 
requires the Mortgagor to prepare and furnish financial statements to 
RUS at least annually.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Annual Reporting Burden:
    Estimated Number of Responses: 3,872.
    Combined Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,330 
hours.
    <bullet> Title: Borrower Investments, Telecommunications Loan 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0098.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection, without change.
    Abstract: The information collected will be used by RUS in 
considering whether or not to approve a borrower's request to make an 
investment in a rural development project when such an investment would 
cause the borrower to exceed its allowable investment level.
    Respondents: Not for profit institutions.
    Estimate of Burden:
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 380 hours.
    Requests for copies of an information collection can be obtained 
from Gail Salgado-Duff, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at 
(202) 205-3660. 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: April 23, 1998.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 98-11289 Filed 4-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P