Notice2021-12146
Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 10, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Utilities Service
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 110 (Thursday, June 10, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 110 (Thursday, June 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 30912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4333222e262f226d21262d2d26373703363027226d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d0d1c1018111c531f1813131809093d080e191c531a120b">[email protected]</span></a>.
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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> 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 <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, 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
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