E9-8443. Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

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), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received June 15, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162—South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: [phone]. FAX: [phone].

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 RUS is submitting to OMB for extension.

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 to: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: [phone].

Title: 7 CFR Part 1786—Prepayment of RUS Guaranteed and Insured Loans to Electric and Telephone Borrowers.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0088.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: 7 CFR Part 1786 establishes policies and procedures to implement Sections 306(B) and 306(c) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. Part 1786 outlines the procedures for the prepayment of certain Electric and Telephone loans. The information required to be collected consists of materials that will allow the agency to determine which loans qualify for prepayment and provide authorization from the borrower's management.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 3.20 hours per response.

Respondents: Not-for-profit organizations; business or, other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16.00 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Gale Richardson, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at [phone]. FAX: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail].

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.

Dated: April 8, 2009.

James R. Newby,

Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.