60 Day Notice

Billing Code: 3410-15P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection; Comments Requested

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), this Notice announces the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intention to request a revision for a currently approved information collection in support of the program servicing Water Program loans and grants.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by [insert date 60 days after date of publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER] to be assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Cusick, Management Analyst, Regulations Management Division, Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1571, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-1414. Email: [email protected].

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 will be submitted to OMB for extension and revision.

Title: Servicing of Water Programs Loans and Grants

OMB Control Number: 0572-0137

Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) provide financing and technical assistance for development and operation of safe and affordable water supply systems and sewage and other waste disposal facilities. WEP provides loans, guaranteed loans and grants for water, sewer, storm water, and solid waste disposal facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 10,000 people. The recipients of the assistance covered by 7 CFR part 1782 must be public entities. These public entities can include municipalities, counties, special purpose districts, federally designated Indian tribes, and corporations not operated for profit, including cooperatives. The information, for the most part financial in nature, is needed by the Agency to determine if borrowers, based on their individual situations, qualify for the various servicing options.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 2.15 hours per response.

Respondents: Business or other for profit and non-profit institutions, and state and local governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 304

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 654 hours

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Lauren Cusick, Regulations Management Division, at (202) 720-1414. Email: [email protected]

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.

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 http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower “Search Regulations and Federal Actions” box, select “RUS” from the agency drop-down menu, then click on “Submit.”  In the Docket ID column, select 0572-0137 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.

__________________________________ _______________________

Chad Rupe Date

Administrator

Rural Utilities Service