[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 47 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 10714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5322]



[[Page 10714]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request 
an extension for a currently approved information collection in support 
of Housing Application Packaging Grants.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 11, 2009 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myron L. Wooden, Loan Specialist, 
Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division, RHS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 0783, South Building, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone 
202-720-4780. (This is not a toll free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Housing Application Packaging Grants.
    OMB Number: 0575-0157.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2009.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) under section 509 of the 
Housing Act of 1949, 42 U.S.C. 1479, provides grants to public and 
private nonprofit organizations and state and local governments to 
package housing applications for loans under section 502, 504, 514, 
515, and 524 grants under section 533 of the Housing Act of 1949 in 
colonias and designated underserved counties. RHS reimburses eligible 
organizations for part or all of the costs of conducting, administering 
and coordinating an effective housing application packaging program in 
colonias and designated underserved counties. Eligible organizations 
assist very low and low-income families that are without adequate 
housing to buy, build, or repair housing for their own use. Also, the 
organizations package applications for loans to buy, build or repair 
rental units for lower income families.
    RHS will be collecting information from grantees to assure the 
organizations participating in this program are eligible entities and 
have participated in RHS training in application packaging. The 
respondents are nonprofit organizations, States, State agencies, and 
units of general local government. The information required for 
approval of housing application packaging grants is used by RHS 
personnel to verify program eligibility requirements. The information 
is collected at the RHS field office responsible for the processing of 
the application being submitted. The information is also used to ensure 
the program is administered in a manner consistent with legislative and 
administrative requirements. If not collected, RHS would be unable to 
determine if a grantee would qualify for grant assistance.
    The grantees facilitate the application process by helping 
applicants submit complete applications to RHS. This saves RHS time by 
prescreening applicants, making preliminary determinations of 
eligibility, ensuring that the application is complete, and helping the 
applicant understand the program.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.
    Respondents: Private and public nonprofit organizations and State 
and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 400 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Linda 
Watts-Thomas, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 
692-0226.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
[Agency], including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of [Agency's] estimates 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 the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Linda Watts-Thomas, 
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: February 2, 2009.
James C. Alsop,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-5322 Filed 3-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P