Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Notices 44157 

Section 94.6 of part 94 of the 

regulations contains requirements 

governing the importation into the 

United States of carcasses, meat, parts or 

products of carcasses, and eggs (other 

than hatching eggs) of poultry, game 

birds, or other birds from regions of the 

world where HPAI exists or is 

reasonably believed to exist. HPAI is an 

extremely infectious and potentially 

fatal form of avian influenza in birds 

and poultry that, once established, can 

spread rapidly from flock to flock. A list 

of regions that the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

considers affected with HPAI of any 

subtype is maintained on the APHIS 

Web site at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ 

aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animaland-animal-product-importinformation/ct_animal_disease_status. 

APHIS receives notice of HPAI 

outbreaks from veterinary officials of the 

exporting country, from the World 

Organization for Animal Health (OIE), 

or from other sources the Administrator 

determines to be reliable. On June 1, 

2017, the veterinary authorities of 

Zimbabwe reported to the OIE the 

confirmation of a highly pathogenic 

H5N8 strain of avian influenza in the 

Province of Mashonaland East that 

affected a commercial poultry breeding 

farm for broilers and layers with a total 

census of approximately 2 million birds. 

In response to that outbreak, APHIS 

placed restrictions on the importation of 

poultry, commercial birds, other types 

of birds (research, performing), ratites, 

any avian hatching eggs, unprocessed 

avian products and byproducts, and 

certain fresh poultry products from 

Zimbabwe to mitigate risk of HPAI 

introduction into the United States. 

Those restrictions went into effect on 

June 1, 2017. With the publication of 

this notice, we are adding Zimbabwe to 

the list of regions APHIS considers 

affected with HPAI of any subtype. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, 7781– 

7786, and 8301–8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 

136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 

371.4. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of 

September 2017. 

Jere L. Dick, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20120 Filed 9–20–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Information Collection Activity; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Rural Utilities Service (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 20, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Thomas Dickson, Acting Director, 

Program Development and Regulatory 

Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, USDA, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 

1522, Room 5164, South Building, 

Washington, DC 20250–1522. 

Telephone: (202) 690–4492. Fax: (202) 

720–8435 or email Thomas.Dickson@

wdc.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office 

of Management and Budget’s (OMB) 

regulation (5 CFR part 1320) 

implementing provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(Pub. L. 104–13) requires 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 an 

information collection that RUS is 

submitting to OMB for extension. 

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 collection 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: 

Thomas Dickson, Acting Director, 

Program Development and Regulatory 

Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Stop 1522, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–1522. 

Telephone: (202) 690–4493, Fax: (202) 

720–8435. Email: Thomas.Dickson@

wdc.usda.gov. 

Title: 7 CFR 1726, Electric System 

Construction Policies and Procedures. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0107. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: In order to facilitate the 

programmatic interest of the Rural 

Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 

et seq. (RE Act), and, in order to assure 

that loans made or guaranteed by RUS 

are adequately secured, RUS, as a 

secured lender, has established certain 

standards and specifications for 

materials, equipment, and construction 

of electric systems. The use of standard 

forms, construction contracts, and 

procurement procedures helps assure 

that appropriate standards and 

specification are maintained, that RUS’ 

loan security is not adversely affected, 

and the loan and loan guarantee funds 

are used effectively and for the intended 

purposes. The list of forms and 

corresponding purposes for this 

information collection are as follows: 

1. RUS Form 168b, Contractor’s Bond 

This form is used to provide a surety 

bond for contracts on RUS Forms 200, 

257, 786, 790, & 830. 

2. RUS Form 168c, Contractor’s Bond 

(less than $1 million) 

This form is used to provide a surety 

bond in lieu of RUS Form 168b, when 

contractor’s surety has accepted a small 

business administration guarantee. 

3. RUS Form 187, Certificate of 

Completion-Contract Construction 

This form is used for the closeout of 

RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, and 830. 

4. RUS Form 198, Equipment Contract 

This form is used for equipment 

purchases. 

5. RUS Form 200, Construction 

Contract-Generating 

This form is used for generating plant 

construction or for the furnishing and 

installation of major items of 

equipment. 

6. RUS Form 213, Certificate (‘‘Buy 

American’’) 

This form is used to document 

compliance with the ‘‘Buy American’’ 

requirement. 

7. RUS Form 224, Waiver and Release 

of Lien 

This form is used by subcontractors to 

provide a release of lien in connection 

with the closeout of RUS Forms 198, 

200, 257, 786, 790, and 830. 

8. RUS Form 231, Certificate of 

Contractor 

This form is used for the closeout of 

RUS Forms 198, 200, 257, 786, and 830. 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
44158 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Notices 

9. RUS Form 238, Construction or 

Equipment Contract Amendment 

This form is used to amend contracts 

except for distribution line construction 

contracts. 

10. RUS Form 254, Construction 

Inventory 

This form is used to document the 

final construction in connection with 

the closeout of RUS Form 830. 

11. RUS Form 257, Contract to 

Construct Buildings 

This form is used to construct 

headquarter buildings, generating plant 

buildings and other structure 

construction. 

12. RUS Form 307, Bid Bond 

This form is used to provide a bid 

bond in RUS Forms 200, 257, 786, 790 

and 830. 

13. RUS Form 786, Electric System 

Communications and Control 

Equipment Contract 

This form is used for delivery and 

installation of equipment for system 

communications. 

14. RUS Form 790, Electric System 

Construction Contract Non-Site 

Specific Construction (Notice and 

Instructions to Bidders) 

This form is used for limited 

distribution construction accounted for 

under work order procedure. 

15. RUS Form 792b, Certificate of 

Contractor and Indemnity 

Agreement (Line Extensions) 

This form is used in the closeout of 

RUS Form 790. 

16. RUS Form 830, Electric System 

Construction Contract (labor & 

material) 

This form is used for distribution and/ 

or transmission project construction. 

Respondents: Businesses or other for 

profits; Not-for-profit institutions. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

1,161. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 4. 

Estimate of Burden: Average of 1.5 

minutes per response. 

Estimated number of Total Responses: 

4.063 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 98 hours. 

Copies of this information collection, 

and related forms and instructions, can 

be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, 

Program Development and Regulatory 

Analysis, at (202) 720–7853. 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: September 13, 2017. 

Christopher A. McLean, 

Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20076 Filed 9–20–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Information Collection Activity; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Rural Utilities Service (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 20, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Thomas Dickson, Acting Director, 

Program Development and Regulatory 

Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, USDA, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 

1522, Room 5164–South Building, 

Washington, DC 20250–1522. 

Telephone: (202) 690–4492. Fax: (202) 

720–8435 or email Thomas.Dickson@

wdc.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office 

of Management and Budget’s (OMB) 

regulation (5 CFR part 1320) 

implementing provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(Pub. L. 104–13) requires 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 an 

information collection that RUS is 

submitting to OMB for extension. 

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 collection 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: 

Thomas Dickson, Acting Director, 

Program Development and Regulatory 

Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Stop 1522, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–1522. 

Telephone: (202) 690–4493, Fax: (202) 

720–8435. Email: Thomas.Dickson@

wdc.usda.gov. 

Title: RUS Electric Loan Application 

and Related Reporting. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0032. 

Type of Request: Extension of an 

existing information collection. 

Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS) was established in 1994 by the 

Federal Crop Insurance Reform and 

Department of Agriculture 

Reorganization Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 

103–354, 108 Stat. 3178, 7 U.S.C. 6941 

et. seq.) as successor to the Rural 

Electrification Administration (REA) 

with respect to certain programs, 

including the electric loan and loan 

guarantee program authorized under the 

Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 

U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended) (RE 

Act). 

The RE Act authorizes and empowers 

the Administrator of RUS to make and 

guarantee loans to furnish and improve 

electric service in rural areas. These 

loans are amortized over a period of up 

to 35 years and secured by the 

borrower’s electric assets and/or 

revenue. In the interest of protecting 

loan security, monitoring compliance 

with debt covenants, and ensuring that 

RUS loan funds are used for purposes 

authorized by law, RUS requires that 

borrowers prepare and submit for RUS 

evaluation certain studies and reports. 

Some of these studies and reports are 

required only once for each loan 

application; others must be submitted 

periodically until the loan is completely 

repaid. These forms and documents 

serve as support for electric loan 

applications and summarizes the types 

and estimated costs of facilities and 

equipment for which RUS financing is 

being requested. 

The RE Act also authorizes and 

empowers the Administrator of RUS to 

make or cause to be made, studies, 

investigations, and reports concerning 

the condition and progress of the 

electrification of the several States and 

Territories; and to publish and 

disseminate information with respect 

thereto. Information supplied by 

borrowers forms the basis of many of 

these reports. 

In the past two years, RUS has 

implemented an application intake 

system called RDApply that allows 

applicants to create an online 

application for RUS loans and grants as 

well upload attachments, sign 


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