Notice2022-03594
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
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
February 18, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 34 (Friday, February 18, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9307-9308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03594]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 34 / Friday, February 18, 2022 /
Notices
[[Page 9307]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
February 15, 2022.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be
collected; 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 regarding this information collection received by March
21, 2022 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days
of the publication of this notice on the following website
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular information
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: Advance of Loan Funds and Budgetary Control and Related
Burdens.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0015.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is
authorized by the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, as
amended, ``to make loans in several States and territories of the
United States for rural electrification and for the purpose of
furnishing and improving electric and telephone service in rural areas
and to assist electric borrowers to implement demand side management,
energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy
systems.'' Borrowers will provide the agency with information that
supports the use of the funds as well as identify the type of projects
for which they will use the funds.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS electric borrowers will submit
RUS form 595 and 219. Form 595, Financial Requirement & Expenditure
Statement, to request an advance of loan funds remaining for an
existing approved loan and to report on the expenditure of previously
advanced loan funds. Form 219, Inventory of Work Orders, serves as a
connecting line and provides an audit trail that verifies the evidence
supporting the propriety of expenditures for construction of retirement
projects that supports the advance of funds. The information collected
will ensure that loan funds are expended and advanced for RUS approved
budget process and amounts. Failure to collect proper information could
result in improper determinations of eligibility or improper use of
funds.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 598.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 14,523.
Rural Utility Service
Title: 7 CFR 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0095.
Summary of Collection: Under the authority of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (ACT), as amended 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., the
Administrator is authorized and empowered to make loans under certain
specified circumstances for rural electrification and the furnishing of
electric energy to persons in rural areas and for the purpose of
furnishing and improving telephone service in rural areas. RUS, in
representing the Federal Government as Mortgagee, relies on the
information provided by the borrowers in their financial statements to
make lending decisions as to borrowers' credit worthiness and to assure
that loan funds are approved, advanced and disbursed for proper Act
purposes. Borrowers are required to furnish a full and complete report
of their financial condition, operations and cash flows, in form and
substance satisfactory to RUS.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
evaluate borrowers' financial performance, determine whether current
loans are at financial risk, and determine the credit worthiness of
future losses. If information is not collected, it would delay RUS'
analysis of the borrowers' financial strength, thereby adversely
impacting current lending decisions.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 1,300.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 14,439.
Rural Utility Service
Title: Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA), 7 CFR 1700,
Subpart D.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0147.
Summary of Collection: The 2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-246)
authorized the Substantially Underserved Trust Area (SUTA) initiative.
The SUTA initiative identifies the need and improves the availability
of Rural Utility Service (RUS) programs to reach trust areas. The
initiative gives the Secretary of Agriculture certain discretionary
authorities relating to financial assistance terms and conditions that
can enhance the financing possibilities in areas that are underserved
by certain RUS electric, water and waste, and telecom and broadband
programs.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS provides loan, loan guarantee
and grant programs for rural electric, water and waste, and
telecommunications and broadband infrastructure. Eligible applicants
notify RUS in writing, at the time of application, that it seeks
consideration under the requirements of
[[Page 9308]]
7 CFR 1700, subpart D. The data covered by this collection are those
materials necessary to allow the agency to determine applicant and
community eligibility, and an explanation and documentation of the high
need for the benefits of the SUTA provisions. Without this information
RUS would not be able to make a prudent loan decision.
Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 2.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 60
Rural Utility Service
Title: The Rural Alaska Village Grant (RAVG) Program; 7 CFR part
1784.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0150.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Alaska Village Grant (RAVG)
Program is authorized under (Section 3061 of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (CONACT), (7 U.S.C. 1926(d)), as amended.
Governing regulations are codified in 7 CFR part 1784. Under the RAVG
program, the Secretary may make grants to the State of Alaska for the
benefit of rural or Native Villages in Alaska to provide for the
development and construction of water and wastewater systems to improve
the health and sanitation conditions in those villages. To be eligible
to receive a grant under the RAVG program, the project must provide 25
percent in matching funds from the State of Alaska. The matching funds
must come from non-Federal sources.
Need and Use of the Information: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
will collect information using several forms. RUS state and field
offices collect the information from applicants, grantees, and
consultants. The collected information is used to determine applicant
eligibility and project feasibility. RUS also uses the information to
ensure that grantees operate on a sound basis and use the grants funds
for authorized purposes.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 36.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 523.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-03594 Filed 2-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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