Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 30912 [2021-12146]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Utilities Service

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 110 (Thursday, June 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 30912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12146]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[RUS-21-ELECTRIC-0006]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) intention to 
request a revision of a currently approved information collection 
package and invites comments.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 9, 2021 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Bennett, Rural Development 
Innovation Center, Regulations Management Division, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0793, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-0793. Telephone: (202) 720-9639. Email: 
[email protected].

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 approval. 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 by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 
https://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and 
Federal Actions'' box, select ``Rural Housing Service'' from the agency 
drop-down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, 
select RUS-21-ELECTRIC-0006 to submit or view public comments and to 
view supporting and related materials available electronically. 
Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after 
the close of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User 
Tips'' link.
    Title: Advance of Loan Funds and Budgetary Control and Other 
Related Burdens.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0015.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2022.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service, an Agency with the United 
States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, administers the 
electric loan and loan guarantee program authorized under the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq). In order to protect 
and ensure the Government's security interest in loans, and in exercise 
of due diligence, electric borrowers furnish information to RUS 
regarding the condition, financial or otherwise, related to expenditure 
of loan funds. This information collection is necessary to comply with 
applicable provisions of the RUS loan contract. RUS 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 borrowers 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. There are two official forms 
included in this information collection, RUS Forms 595 and 219.
    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 funds are for 
projects previously approved. When a prospective borrower requests and 
is granted a 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.
    The 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: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.56 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for 
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 598.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15.54.
    Estimated Number of Total Responses: 9,292.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 14,523 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela 
Bennett, Rural Development Innovation Center, Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 720-9639. 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.

Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-12146 Filed 6-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P