Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals,

[Federal Register: February 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 24)]

[Notices]

[Page 6699-6700]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr05fe08-40]

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 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or Agency, invites comments on this information collection for which Rural Development intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 7, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5168 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Fax: (202) 720- 8435.

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 the Agency is submitting to OMB as a revision to an existing collection. 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: Michele L. Brooks, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Development Utilities Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, Room 5168, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-8435.

Title: Accounting Requirements for Electric and Telecommunications Borrowers.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0003.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: The Agency believes that this is the minimum record retention requirements needed to carry out its due diligence responsibilities in loan underwriting and maintaining loan security. Agency borrowers should understand that they may be subject to additional record retention requirements imposed by other regulatory authorities such as FERC, FCC, state commissions and IRS.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2 hours per response.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 1,422.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Number of Hours per Recordkeeper: 50 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,844 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Recordkeepers: 35,550 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal,

[[Page 6700]]

Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853, 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: January 30, 2008. James M. Andrew, Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. E8-2000 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P