[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88-89]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33327]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 1 / Thursday, January 2, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 88]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Utilities Service
Farm Service Agency
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCIES: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service,
Rural Utilities Service, and Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed collection: comments request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Housing Service (RHS), the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and the Farm
Service Agency's (FSA) intention to request an extension for a
currently approved information collection in support of compliance with
applicable acts for planning and performing construction and other
development work.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 3, 1997 to be
assured consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel J. Hodges III, Architect,
Program Support Staff, RHS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0761,
1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250, Telephone (202)
720-9653.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: RD 1924-A, ``Planning and Performing Construction and Other
Development.''
OMB Number: 0575-0042.
Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 1997.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The information collection under OMB Number 0575-0042
enables the Rural Housing Service to effectively administer the
policies, methods and responsibilities in the planning and performing
of construction and other development work for the related construction
programs.
Section 501 of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended,
authorizes the Secretary Of Agriculture to extend financial assistance
to construct, improve, repair, replace or rehabilitate dwellings, farm
buildings and/or related facilities to provide decent, safe and
sanitary living conditions and adequate farm buildings and other
structures in rural areas.
Section 506 of the Act requires that all new buildings and repairs
shall be constructed in accordance with plans and specifications as
required by the Secretary and that such construction be supervised and
inspected.
Section 509 grants the Secretary the power to determine and
prescribe the standards of adequate farm housing and other buildings.
The Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 amended Section 509
(a) and Section 515 to require residential buildings and related
facilities comply with the standards prescribed by the Secretary of
Agriculture, the standards prescribed by the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development, or the standards prescribed in any of the nationally
recognized model building codes.
Similar authorizations are contained in Section 303, 304, 306, and
339 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended.
In several sections of both acts, loan limitations are established
as percentages of development cost, requiring careful monitoring of
those costs. Also, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe regulations
to ensure that Federal funds are not wasted or dissipated and that
construction will be undertaken economically and will not be of
elaborate or extravagant design or materials.
Other information collection is required to conform to numerous
Public Laws applying to all federal agencies, such as: Civil Rights
Acts of 1964 and 1968, Davis-Bacon Act, Historic Preservation Act,
Environmental Policy Act; and to conform to Executive Orders governing
use of federal funds. This information is cleared through the
appropriate enforcing Agency or other executive Department.
The Agencies provide forms and/or guidelines to assist in the
collection and submission of information; however, most of the
information may be collected and submitted in the form and content
which is accepted and typically used in normal conduct of planning and
performing development work in private industry when a private lender
is financing the activity. The information is usually submitted via
hand delivery or U.S. Postal Service to the appropriate Agency office.
The information is used by the Agencies to determine whether a
loan/grant can be approved, to ensure that the Agency has adequate
security for the loans financed, to provide for sound construction and
development work and to determine that the requirements of the
applicable acts have been met. The information is also used to monitor
compliance with the terms and conditions of the Agencies loan/grant and
to monitor the prudent use of federal funds.
If the information were not collected and submitted, the Agencies
would not have control over the type and quality of construction and
development work planned and performed with federal funds. The Agencies
would not be assured that the security provided for loans is adequate,
nor would the Agencies be certain that decent, safe and sanitary
dwelling or other adequate structures were being provided to rural
residents as required by the different acts.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .33 hours per response.
Respondents: Individuals or households, farms, business or other
for-profit, non-profit institutions, and small businesses or
organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 29,369.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 14.03.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 139,632 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Barbara
Williams, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, at (202) 720-
9734.
[[Page 89]]
Comments
Comments and invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of
RHS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b)
the accuracy of RHS's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection
of information, including the validity of 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 to Barbara Williams, Regulations and
Paperwork Management Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural
Development, Stop 0743, Washington, DC 20250-0753. All responses to
this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB
approval. All comment will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: December 20, 1996.
Jan E. Shadburn,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
Dated: December 20, 1996.
Dayton J. Watkins,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Dated: December 20, 1996.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
Dated: December 23, 1996.
Bruce R. Weber,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 96-33327 Filed 12-31-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U
