02-13239. Revolving Loan Fund Reporting Requirements

ACTION:

Proposed collection; comment request.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before July 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6608, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instruments and instructions should be directed to Patricia Flynn, Director, Operations Review and Analysis Division, Economic Development Administration, Room 7015, Washington, DC 20230, telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) provides investments that will help our partners across the nation (states, regions and communities) create wealth and minimize poverty by promoting a favorable business environment to attract private capital investment and high skill, high wage jobs through world-class capacity building, infrastructure, business assistance, research grants and strategic initiatives.

EDA's Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Reporting Requirements are needed to ensure proper monitoring and compliance with program and administrative requirements as set forth in EDA's authorizing legislation (Public Law 105-393) and EDA's implementing regulations at 13 CFR Chapter III.

II. Method of Collection

The RLF Reporting Requirements are used by EDA to monitor grantee progress in establishing the loan funds, making initial loans, collecting and relending the proceeds from loans, and compliance with time schedules and federal requirements for administering grants, civil rights, environmental and other requirements prior to grant disbursement. The RLF Reporting Requirements are based on OMB administrative requirements for federal grants as implemented by DOC rules at 15 CFR Parts 14, 24, 29, and CFR 13 CFR Part III and are intended to supplement and explain such requirements and are not intended to replace or negate such requirements.

III. Data

OMB Number(s): 0610-0095.

Agency Form Number: ED-209A, ED-209S and ED-209I.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Governments and not-for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 627.

Estimated Time per Response: 12 hours for RLF Reporting Requirements (includes RLF Annual Report, RLF Semiannual Report and RLF Income and Expense Statement).

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15,048 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $833,910.

IV. Request for Comments

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 shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the equality, 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 automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; and they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: May 21, 2002.

Madeleine Clayton,

Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.