[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27046-27047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13463]



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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; comments 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 the Section 502 Direct and the Section 504 Rural Housing Loans and 
Grants Programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 29, 1996, to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria L. Denson, Loan Specialist, 
Single Family Housing Processing Division, RHS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Ag Box 0783, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone 720-1487.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

    Title: Applicant Reference Letter.
    OMB Number: 0575-0091.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection:
    Abstract: The rural housing loan program under Section 502 of title 
V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, provides eligible persons who 
will live in rural areas with an opportunity to own adequate but 
modest, decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings and related facilities. 
Also, the Section 504 loan/grant program is to assist eligible very 
low-income, owner/occupants to repair single family homes in rural 
areas. In both programs, the Form FmHA 410-8, ``Applicant Reference 
Letter,'' provides credit information to County Offices serving the 
area in which the applicant or borrower will live. Applicants are 
required to furnish information concerning their credit history to RHS 
when applying for assistance. Form FmHA 410-8, is used by the Agency to 
supplement or verify other debts when a credit report is limited and 
unavailable to determine the applicant's eligibility and 
creditworthiness for RHS loans and grants. In some cases, credit 
reports cannot be used because the applicant/borrower lives in a remote 
area; therefore, the form is widely used by the Agency to obtain credit 
information. Form FmHA 410-8 asks only for specific relevant 
information to determine applicant's creditworthiness and to provide 
clarification on the promptness of the applicant's payments on debts 
which enables RHS to make better creditworthiness decisions.
    RHS must, by law, make available to the applicant, upon request, 
the source of information used to make an adverse decision. Individual 
references may be solicited with the clear understanding that if the 
information is used to deny credit, the information will be made 
available to the applicant upon request.

[[Page 27047]]

If this information was not collected, RHS would be unable to evaluate 
the applicant's credit history.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 26,600.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 26,334 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from the 
Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, at (202) 720-
9725.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of RHS, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of RHS's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information including the validity of 
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 
Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Ag Box 0743, 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: May 17, 1996.
Maureen Kennedy,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 96-13463 Filed 5-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-07-U