Notice2024-18007
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
August 13, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65841-65842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18007]
[[Page 65841]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
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
September 12, 2024 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: Accounting Requirements for RUS Electric and
Telecommunications Borrowers.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0003.
Summary of Collection: The RUS Administrator, acting on behalf of
the United States and the Secretary of Agriculture, is authorized and
empowered by section 2a of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE
Act), as amended to ``make loans in the 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,
as provided in this chapter, and for the purpose of assisting electric
borrowers to implement demand side management, energy conservation
programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems.'' In
accordance with section 2b of the RE Act, the Administrator may ``make,
or cause to be made, studies, investigations, and reports regarding
matters, including financial, technological, and regulatory matters,
affecting the condition and programs of electric, telecommunications,
and economic development in rural areas, and publish and disseminate
information with respect to the matters.''
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency) is a credit agency
of the United States Department of Agriculture which makes loans
(direct and guaranteed) to finance electric and telecommunications
facilities in rural areas. The RUS Electric Program is a leader in
lending to upgrade, expand, maintain, and replace the vast rural
American electric infrastructure. Electric loans are fully amortized
over a period approximately equal to the useful life of the facilities
financed by the loan, not to exceed 35 years. Borrowers typically draw
down on approved loan funds over a 3-to-4-year period. There are
approximately 614 active electric borrowers. The RUS Telecommunications
Program makes loans to furnish and improve telecommunications services
and other telecommunications purposes in rural areas. The Agency lends
directly to rural telecommunications companies and guarantees loans
made by other lenders, such as the Federal Finance Bank (FFB). Loans
are amortized over the useful life of the facilities financed by the
loan, not to exceed 35 years. Borrowers typically draw down on approved
loan funds over a 3-to-4-year period. There are approximately 638
active telecommunications borrowers.
RUS provides financing through long-term loans to rural electric
and telecommunications utilities. These loans are secured by a mortgage
agreement pledging as collateral for all the borrowers' assets,
including its real and personal property as well as its income and
revenues. The Agency also guarantees loans to facilitate the obtaining
of financing for electric and telecommunications facilities from non-
RUS sources. Guaranteed loans may be obtained from any legally
organized lending agency qualified to make, hold, and service the loan.
All policies and procedures of the Agency are applicable to a
guaranteed loan.
Need and Use of the Information: This collection is primarily a
recordkeeping requirement. 7 CFR parts 1767 and 1770 do not impose
information collection requirements for reporting to a Federal agency.
Rather, they establish basic accounting requirements for the recording
of financial information that must be available to the management,
investors, and lenders of any business enterprise. There are many
important financial considerations for the retention and preservation
of accounting records. One of the most important considerations to RUS
is that documentation be available so that the borrower's records may
be audited for proper disbursements of funds. 7 CFR parts 1767 and 1770
prescribe accounting requirements that are unique to RUS borrowers. The
Agency is requiring borrowers to establish an index of records, which
any prudent business should be maintaining. The hours of burden to
maintain this index are directly related to those portions of the
accounting system that are unique to the Agency.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 1,252.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On Occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 33,804.
Rural Utility Service
Title: High Energy Cost Grants Rural Communities.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0136.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency
delivering the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural
Development (RD) utilities programs, is authorized by the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (RE Act) (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) as amended
in November 2000, to create new grant and loan authority to assist
rural communities with extremely high energy costs (Pub. L. 106-472).
The amendment authorized the Secretary of USDA through RD to provide
competitive grants for energy generation, transmission, or distribution
facilities serving communities in which the average residential
expenditure for home energy is at least 275 percent of the national
average residential expenditure for home energy. The program is
implemented under 7 CFR part 1709 and USDA grant regulations.
Competitive grant applications are solicited through publication of a
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
Need and Use of the Information: Information is collected by RUS
from
[[Page 65842]]
applicants and grantees who may be one of the following: persons,
States, political subdivisions of States and other entities organized
under the laws of States, including for profit and non-profit
corporations, associations, partnerships, limited liability
partnerships (LLPs) cooperatives, trusts, sole proprietorships, State
and local governments (including independent state agencies or units of
State or local governments), Indian tribes, other Tribal entities and
Alaska Native Corporations.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Businesses
or other for-profits.
Number of Respondents: 40.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 826.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR part 1738 Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant
Combinations, and Loan Guarantees.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0154.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is
authorized by Title VI, Rural Broadband Access, of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (RE Act), to provide loans,
loan/grant combinations, and loan guarantees to fund the cost of
construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment
for the provision of broadband service in eligible rural areas in the
States and Territories of the United States. The regulation for this
program, 7 CFR part 1738, prescribes the types of loans available,
facilities financed, and eligible applicants, as well as minimum equity
requirements to be considered for a loan. In addition, 7 CFR part 1738
outlines the process through which RUS will consider applicants under
the priority consideration required in Title VI.
The term of the loan or loan/grant combination is based on the
expected composite economic life based on the depreciation rates of the
facilities financed. The term of the loan or loan/grant combination can
be as high as 35 years. These loans are secured by a first lien on the
borrower's broadband system. In the interest of protecting loan
security and accomplishing the statutory objective of a sound program
of rural broadband service access, Title VI of the RE Act further
requires that RUS make or guarantee a loan only if there is reasonable
assurance that the loan, together with all outstanding loans and
obligations of the borrower, will be repaid in full within the time
agreed; the information gathered in this collection will help RUS
determine that reasonable assurance.
Need and Use of the Information: Lending entities who wish to
participate in this program must submit an application and/or certain
information to Rural Development (RD). This information will be used to
determine an applicant's eligibility to borrow under the terms of the
RE Act and that the applicant complies with statutory, regulatory, and
administrative eligibility requirements for loan assistance. This
information is also used by RUS to determine that the Government's
security for loans is reasonably adequate and that the loans will be
repaid within the time agreed.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or Households.
Number of Respondents: 90.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 829.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: Technical Assistance and Training and Training for
Innovative Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions (TAT/RWTS) Pilot
Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0157.
Summary of Collection: Technical Assistance and Construction for
Innovative Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions (TAC-RWTS) grant
program is a competitive grant program which the Rural Utilities
Service (RUS) administers. The program is authorized pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 301; 7 U.S.C. 1989; 16 U.S.C. 1005; Division B, Title VII
General Provisions, Section 783 of the Further Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94); and Division BA, Title VII
General Provisions, Section 771 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2021 (Pub. L. 116-260). The program is implemented through 7 CFR part
1775, Technical Assistance Grants, and the provisions of this NOFO.
Other Federal statutes and regulations are listed at 7 CFR 1775.8,
Other Federal statutes.
Need and Use of the Information: The RUS National Office staff will
use the information collected to determine applicant eligibility,
project feasibility, and the applicant's ability to meet the grant and
regulatory requirements. Based on funding availability for each Fiscal
Year and the dollar amount requested by applicants, it may not be
possible to fund all applications for the amount requested. If a
particular application/project cannot be funded for the full amount,
the applicant will be requested to submit revised documents to reflect
the revision in the scope of the project based on the amount that can
be awarded. Failure to collect proper information could result in
improper determinations of eligibility, improper use of funds, or
hindrances in making grants authorized by the TAC-RWTS program.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 9.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 423.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-18007 Filed 8-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 13, 2024.
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