[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27046-27047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13463]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, 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's (RHS) intention to request
an extension for a currently approved information collection in support
of the Section 502 Direct and the Section 504 Rural Housing Loans and
Grants Programs.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 29, 1996, to be
assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria L. Denson, Loan Specialist,
Single Family Housing Processing Division, RHS, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Ag Box 0783, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone 720-1487.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Title: Applicant Reference Letter.
OMB Number: 0575-0091.
Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1996.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection:
Abstract: The rural housing loan program under Section 502 of title
V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, provides eligible persons who
will live in rural areas with an opportunity to own adequate but
modest, decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings and related facilities.
Also, the Section 504 loan/grant program is to assist eligible very
low-income, owner/occupants to repair single family homes in rural
areas. In both programs, the Form FmHA 410-8, ``Applicant Reference
Letter,'' provides credit information to County Offices serving the
area in which the applicant or borrower will live. Applicants are
required to furnish information concerning their credit history to RHS
when applying for assistance. Form FmHA 410-8, is used by the Agency to
supplement or verify other debts when a credit report is limited and
unavailable to determine the applicant's eligibility and
creditworthiness for RHS loans and grants. In some cases, credit
reports cannot be used because the applicant/borrower lives in a remote
area; therefore, the form is widely used by the Agency to obtain credit
information. Form FmHA 410-8 asks only for specific relevant
information to determine applicant's creditworthiness and to provide
clarification on the promptness of the applicant's payments on debts
which enables RHS to make better creditworthiness decisions.
RHS must, by law, make available to the applicant, upon request,
the source of information used to make an adverse decision. Individual
references may be solicited with the clear understanding that if the
information is used to deny credit, the information will be made
available to the applicant upon request.
[[Page 27047]]
If this information was not collected, RHS would be unable to evaluate
the applicant's credit history.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response.
Respondents: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 26,600.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 26,334 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from the
Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, at (202) 720-
9725.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions 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
Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Ag Box 0743, Washington,
DC 20250. 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: May 17, 1996.
Maureen Kennedy,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 96-13463 Filed 5-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-07-U
