2017-01071. Information Collection Request; Direct Loan Servicing-Regular

AGENCY:

Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension with a revision of a currently approved information collection that supports Direct Loan Servicing-Regular programs. The information is used to determine borrower compliance with loan agreements, assist the borrower in achieving business goals, and regular servicing of the loan account such as graduation, subordination, partial release, and use of proceeds.

DATES:

We will consider comments that we receive by March 20, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your comments, include date, volume, and page number, and the OMB control number and the title of the information collection of this issue of the Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to: www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: J. Lee Nault, Loan Specialist, USDA/FSA/FLP, STOP 0523, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0503.

You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may be requested by contacting J. Lee Nault at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

J. Lee Nault, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: (7 CFR part 765) Farm Loan Programs—Direct Loan Servicing—Regular.

OMB Number: 0560-0236.

Expiration Date: 05/31/2017.

Type of Request: Extension with a revision.

Abstract: FSA's Farm Loan Programs provide loans to family farmers to purchase real estate and equipment, and finance agricultural production. Direct Loan Servicing—Regular, as specified in 7 CFR part 765, provides the requirements related to routine servicing actions associated with direct loans. FSA is required to actively supervise its borrowers and provide credit counseling, management advice and financial guidance. Additionally, FSA must document that credit is not available to the borrower from commercial credit sources in order to maintain eligibility for assistance. Information collections established in the regulation are necessary for FSA to monitor and account for loan security, including proceeds derived from the sale of security, and to process a borrower's request for subordination or partial release of security. Borrowers are required to provide financial information to determine graduation eligibility based on commercial lender standards provided to FSA.

FSA is requesting OMB approval on the estimated numbers, which are being provided currently in this request. The burden hours have been increased by 5,968 hours while the annual responses have reduced by 6,531.

For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the formula used to calculate the total burden hours is the estimated average time per responses multiplied by the estimated total annual of responses.

Estimate of Average Time to Respond: Public reporting burden for collecting information under this notice is estimated to average 0.84752 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The average travel time, which is included in the total annual burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per respondent.

Type of Respondents: Business or other for profits and farms.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 54,524.

Estimated Average Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.78621.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 97,391.

Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.84752.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 82,541 hours.

We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information collection to help us to:

(1) Evaluate 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;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Evaluate the quality, utility and clarity of the information technology; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who respond through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

All comments received in response to this notice, including names and addresses where provided, will be made a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval.

Val Dolcini,

Administrator, Farm Service Agency.