98-19858. Notice and Request for Comments

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 142 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 39806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19858]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 1998 / 
Notices

[[Page 39806]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Notice and Request for Comments

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Chapter 35, Title 44 United States Code, this notice announces the 
Department of Agriculture's intention to request an extension on the 
currently approved information collection in support of debt 
collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 22, 1998, 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS CONTACT: Richard M. Guyer, Director, 
Fiscal Policy Division, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, USDA, 
Room 3022 South, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250 
or FAX [phone], telephone: [phone], E-mail: 
[e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Debt Collection Act of 1982, Public Law 
97-365, 96 Stat. 1749, as amended by Public Law 98-167, 97 Stat. 1104 
and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Public Law 104-134 
requires that any monies that are payable or may become payable from 
the United States under contracts and other written agreements to any 
persons or a legal entity not any agency or subdivision of a State or 
local government may be subject to administrative offset for the 
collection of a delinquent debt the person or a legal entity owes to 
the United States.
    Title: Debt Collection.
    OMB Number: 0505-0007.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1998.
    Type of Request: Extension on currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: 31 U.S.C. 3716 of the Debt Collection Act authorizes the 
collection of debts by administrative offset and the Debt Collection 
Improvement Act of 1996, expanded the application of administratrive 
offset to every instance except where a statute explicitly prohibits 
the use of adminsitrarive offset for collection purposes. Protection is 
provided to debtors by requiring that an individual debtor be given 
notice of a debt. The notice provides information to delinquent debtors 
targeted for administrative offset who want additional information; 
desire to enter into repayment agreements; or desire to request a 
review of agencies' determination to offset. Creditor agencies use the 
collected information to respond to and/or take appropriate action. If 
the relevant information is not collected, the creditor agencies cannot 
comply with the due process provision of the Debt Collection Act and 
the Debt Collection Improvement Act. Collection of information only 
affects delinquent debtors.
    Estimate of Burden: A public reporting and record keeping burden 
for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per 
response.
    Respondents: Delinquent Debtors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,725.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41,450 hours.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 20, 1998.
Allan S. Johnson,
Acting Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-19858 Filed 7-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-KS-P