Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 65825-65826 [E8-26315]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 5, 2008 / Notices Mail: Thomas F. Harris II, Claims Program Specialist, Financial Management Division, Office of Budget and Finance, Farm Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0581, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250–0581, or 3101 Park Center Drive, Suite 1210, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. E-mail: Send comment to: tom.harris@wdc.usda.gov. Fax: (703) 305–1148. Comments also should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may be obtained from Thomas F. Harris II at the above address. hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas F. Harris II, Claims Program Specialist, telephone (703) 305–1439. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures. OMB Control Number: 0560–0146. Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2009. Type of Request: Extension with no revision. Abstract: This information collection is needed to enable FSA and CCC to effectively administer the regulations at 7 CFR 792 (FSA) and 7 CFR 1403 (CCC) on debt settlement policies and procedures and on the identification of and settlement of outstanding claims. Collection of outstanding debts owed to FSA or to CCC can be effected by installment payments if a debtor furnishes satisfactory evidence of inability to pay a claim in full, and if the debtor specifically requests an installment agreement. Part of the requirement is that the debtor furnishes this request in writing and with a financial statement or other information that would disclose a debtor’s assets and liabilities. This information is required in order to evaluate any proposed plan. Such requests for documentation furnished by the debtor are also used in the other collection tools employed by both FSA and CCC in managing debt settlement policies and procedures. If an installment agreement is approved, then a Promissory Note (CCC–279), or an approved alternative promissory note format, must be executed between the debtor and the FSA/CCC representative(s). During the past two years, over $7,470,969 in debt collection was facilitated by the use of this requested information and 141 Promissory Notes were established between debtors and FSA and CCC. Total active Note amount for the past two years is presently 235 VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:24 Nov 04, 2008 Jkt 217001 total Promissory Notes (includes total notes established (141); notes defaulted (21), notes written off (20) and notes discharged in Bankruptcy (2)) with a total outstanding amount of $7,043,331.11. The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 requires the head of an agency to take all appropriate steps to collect delinquent debts before discharging such debts. The current information collection forms and formats have been successfully used for the past several years and have become familiar tools for both the agency employees and for the producer. Thus, adequate forms and formats already exist and are in use. Developing new forms and formats could be costly and is not required to meet the demands of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. Nonetheless, comment is requested on how the forms and process may be improved, as specified below. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to average 1 hour per response. The average travel time, which is included in the total burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per respondent. Respondents: Producers participating in FSA and CCC programs. Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 100. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200 hours. Comments Are Invited on: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhancing the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; or (4) Minimizing 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. All responses to this notice, including name and addresses when provided, will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 65825 Signed at Washington, DC, on October 29, 2008. Thomas B. Hofeller, Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. E8–26290 Filed 11–4–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), 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 January 5, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5818, 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 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 this 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 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 respondents, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1 hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES 65826 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 5, 2008 / Notices mechanical or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Michele L. Brooks, 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) 720–8435. Title: Advance of Loan Funds and Budgetary Control and Other Related Burdens. OMB Control Number: 0572–0015. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: This collection is necessary to comply with the applicable provisions of the RUS loan contract. Borrowers submit requisitions to RUS for funds for project costs incurred. Insured loan funds will be advanced only for projects which are included in the RUS approved borrower’s construction workplan or approved amendment and in an approved loan, as amended. The process of loan advances establishes the beginning of the audit trail of the use of loan funds which is required for subsequent RUS compliance audits. The RUS Form 595 is used as a requisition for advances of funds. The form helps to assure that loan funds are advanced only for the budget purposes and amount approved by RUS. According to the applicable provisions of the RUS loan contract, borrowers must certify with each request for funds to be approved for advance, which such funds are for projects previously approved. When a prospective borrower requests and is granted an RUS loan, a loan contract is established between the Federal government, acting through the RUS Administrator, and the borrower. At the time this contract is entered into, the borrower must provide RUS with a list of projects for which loan funds will be spent, along with an itemized list of the estimated costs of these projects. Thus, the borrower receives a loan based upon estimated cost figures. RUS Form 219, Inventory of Work Orders, is one of the documents the borrower submits to RUS to support actual expenditures and an advance of loan funds. The form also serves as a connecting link and provides an audit trail that originates with the advance of funds and terminates with evidence supporting the propriety of expenditures for construction or retirement projects. Estimate of Burden: The Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.57 hours per response. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:24 Nov 04, 2008 Jkt 217001 Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for profit. Estimated Number of Respondents: 670. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15.37. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16,215. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720–7853. Fax: (202) 720–8435. 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: October 29, 2008. Curtis M. Anderson, Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. E8–26315 Filed 11–4–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Announcement of Grant and Loan Application Deadlines and Funding Levels Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice of solicitation of applications. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development, announces its Revolving Fund Program (RFP) application window for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. In addition to announcing the application window, Rural Development announces the available funding and maximum amounts for RFP competitive grants for the fiscal year. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a final appropriations bill, which may or may not provide for funding this program, to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing and submit applications. Rural Development will publish a subsequent notice identifying the amount received in the appropriations, if any. The RFP is authorized under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Con Act), 7 U.S.C. 1926(a), as amended by section 6001 of the Food, Conservation & Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), Public Law 110–246. Qualified private non-profit organizations will receive RFP grant funds to establish a lending program for eligible entities. Eligible entities for the revolving loan fund will PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 be the same entities eligible to obtain a loan, loan guarantee, or grant from the Rural Development Utilities Programs Water and Waste Disposal loan and grant programs. DATES: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or electronically according to the following deadlines: • Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than May 31, 2009 to be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications will not be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. • Electronic copies must be received by May 31, 2009 to be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications will not be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. ADDRESSES: You may obtain application guides and materials for the RFP program at the Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) Web site: https://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ index.htm. You may also request application guides and materials by contacting Anita O’Brien at (202) 690– 3789. Submit completed paper applications for RFP grants to the Rural Development Utilities Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2233, STOP 1570, Washington, DC 20250–1570. Applications should be marked ‘‘Attention: Assistant Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs.’’ Submit electronic grant applications at https://www.grants.gov (Grants.gov) and follow the instructions you find on that Web site. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anita O’Brien, Loan Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Utilities Programs, Water and Environmental Programs; telephone: (202) 690–3789, fax: (202) 690–0649. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Overview Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Funding Opportunity Title: Grant Program to Establish a Fund for Financing Water and Wastewater Projects (Revolving Fund Program (RFP)). Announcement Type: Funding Level Announcement, and Solicitation of Applications. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.864. Due Date for Applications: May 31, 2009. Reminder of Competitive Grant Application Deadline: Applications E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65825-65826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26315]


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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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), 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 January 5, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5818, 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 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 this 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 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 respondents, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic,

[[Page 65826]]

mechanical or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Michele L. Brooks, 
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) 720-8435.
    Title: Advance of Loan Funds and Budgetary Control and Other 
Related Burdens.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0015.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: This collection is necessary to comply with the 
applicable provisions of the RUS loan contract. Borrowers submit 
requisitions to RUS for funds for project costs incurred. Insured loan 
funds will be advanced only for projects which are included in the RUS 
approved borrower's construction workplan or approved amendment and in 
an approved loan, as amended. The process of loan advances establishes 
the beginning of the audit trail of the use of loan funds which is 
required for subsequent RUS compliance audits.
    The RUS Form 595 is used as a requisition for advances of funds. 
The form helps to assure that loan funds are advanced only for the 
budget purposes and amount approved by RUS. According to the applicable 
provisions of the RUS loan contract, borrowers must certify with each 
request for funds to be approved for advance, which such funds are for 
projects previously approved.
    When a prospective borrower requests and is granted an RUS loan, a 
loan contract is established between the Federal government, acting 
through the RUS Administrator, and the borrower. At the time this 
contract is entered into, the borrower must provide RUS with a list of 
projects for which loan funds will be spent, along with an itemized 
list of the estimated costs of these projects. Thus, the borrower 
receives a loan based upon estimated cost figures.
    RUS Form 219, Inventory of Work Orders, is one of the documents the 
borrower submits to RUS to support actual expenditures and an advance 
of loan funds. The form also serves as a connecting link and provides 
an audit trail that originates with the advance of funds and terminates 
with evidence supporting the propriety of expenditures for construction 
or retirement projects.
    Estimate of Burden: The Public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 1.57 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for 
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 670.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15.37.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16,215.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853. 
Fax: (202) 720-8435.
    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: October 29, 2008.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26315 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P

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