2019-08142. Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of collection and comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the above-named Agencies to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of debt settlement of Community Facilities and Direct Business Program Loans and Grants.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by June 24, 2019 to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas Dickson, Rural Development Innovation Center—Regulatory Team, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: [phone], email: [e-mail].

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 Rural Development is submitting to OMB for extension.

Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 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 respondents, 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: Thomas P. Dickson, Rural Development Innovation Center—Regulatory, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: [phone]. Email [e-mail].

Title: Debt Settlement-Community and Business Programs.

OMB Number: 0575-0124.

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

Abstract: The following Community and Direct Business Programs loans and grants are debt settled by this currently approved docket (0575-0124). The Community Facilities loan and grant program is authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to make loans to public entities, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes through the Community Facilities program for the development of essential community facilities primarily serving rural residents.

The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, Title 3, authorizes Economic Opportunity Cooperative loans to assist incorporated and unincorporated associations to provide low-income rural families essential processing, purchasing, or marketing services, supplies, or facilities.

The Food Security Act of 1985, Section 1323, authorizes loan guarantees and grants to Nonprofit National Corporations to provide technical and financial assistance to for-profit or nonprofit local businesses in rural areas.

The Business and Industry program is authorized by Section 310 B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities, including pollution abatement control.

The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Section 310 B(c), authorizes Rural Business Enterprise Grants to public bodies and nonprofit corporations to facilitate the development of private businesses in rural areas.

The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Section 310 B(f)(i), authorized Rural Cooperative Development Grants to nonprofit institutions for the purpose of enabling such institutions to establish and operate centers for rural cooperative development.

The purpose of the debt settlement function for the above programs is to provide the delinquent client with an equitable tool for the compromise, adjustment, cancellation, or charge-off of a debt owed to the Agency.

The information collected is similar to that required by a commercial lender in similar circumstances.

Information will be collected by the field offices from applicants, borrowers, consultants, lenders, and attorneys.

Failure to collect information could result in improper servicing of these loans.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 6.2 hours per response.

Respondents: Public bodies and nonprofit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 23.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.1.

Estimated Number of Responses: 163.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,005 hours.

Copies of this information collections can be obtained from Diane M. Berger, Rural Development Innovation Center—Regulatory Team; phone—[phone]; or email [e-mail].

Richard A. Davis,

Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.