2024-16038. Information Collection Request; Direct Loan Servicing-Special

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Department of Agriculture

Farm Service Agency

1. [Docket ID: FSA-2024-0008]

AGENCY:

Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved information collection that supports Direct Loan Servicing—Special. The information is used in eligibility and feasibility determinations on borrower requests for disaster set-aside, primary loan servicing, buyout at market value, and homestead protection, as well as liquidation of security.

DATES:

We will consider comments that we receive by September 20, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice. FSA prefers that the comments are submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, identified by Docket ID No. FSA-2024-0008. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID FSA-2024-0008. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

All comments received will be posted without change and made publicly available on www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lee Nault; by telephone: [phone]; or by email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Farm Loan Programs; Direct Loan Servicing—Special.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0233.

OMB Expiration Date: 10/31/2024.

Type of Request: Extension.

Abstract: FSA's Farm Loan Programs provide loans to family farmers to purchase real estate and equipment and finance agricultural production. 7 CFR 766, Direct Loan Servicing-Special, provides the requirements for servicing financially distressed and delinquent direct loan borrowers. FSA's loan servicing options include disaster set-aside, primary loan servicing (including reamortization, rescheduling, deferral, write down and conservation contracts), buyout at market value, and homestead protection. FSA also services borrowers who file bankruptcy or liquidate security when available servicing options are not sufficient to produce a feasible plan. The information collections contained in the regulation are necessary to evaluate a borrower's request for consideration of the special servicing actions.

The annual burden hours and the number of respondents and responses is estimated to remain the same in this renewal request.

When FSA is ready to implement a new servicing option for the distressed borrowers, FSA will expect to utilize the same collection already established under the Disaster Set-Aside process.

Since the last OMB approval, most special servicing activities have been stayed due to FSA's response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Emergency, unless a borrower requested servicing assistance. Therefore, estimates prior to the stay are considered the most accurate and no additional revisions to the estimated annual burden hours and number of respondents have been made.

For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the formula used to calculate the total burden hour is the estimated average time per response multiplied by the estimated total annual responses.

Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to average 0.376 hours per response to include the time for reviewing instructions, searching information, gathering and maintaining the information, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other for-profit farms.

Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 32,496.

Estimated Number of Reponses per Respondent: 1.00.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 32,496.

Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.376 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,221 hours.

We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information collection to help us to:

(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the FSA's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

All comments received in response to this notice will be a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office of Management and Budget approval.

USDA Non-Discrimination Policy

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family or parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Individuals who require alternative means of communication for program information (for example, braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA TARGET Center at [phone] (voice and text telephone (TTY)) dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and text telephone users can initiate this call from any telephone). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/​oascr/​how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call [phone]. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: [phone]; or (3) email: [e-mail].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Zach Ducheneaux,

Administrator, Farm Service Agency.