00-18850. Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.

ACTION:

Proposed collection; Comments requested.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the above-named Agency to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the Community Facilities Grant Program.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by September 25, 2000, to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph Ben-Israel, Senior Loan Specialist, Community Programs, RHS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mail Stop 0787, Washington, DC 20250-0787. Telephone [phone], E-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 7 CFR part 3570, subpart B, Community Facilities Grant Program.

OMB Number: 0575-0173.

Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2000.

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

Abstract: The following Community Facilities grants (CFG) are processed in accordance with this currently approved docket (0575-0173).

Community Programs, a division of the Rural Housing Service (RHS), is part of the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development mission area. The Agency is authorized by Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926), as amended, to make grants to public agencies, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes to develop essential community facilities and services for public use in rural areas. These facilities include schools, libraries, child care, hospitals, clinics, assisted-living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings, and transportation. Through its Community Programs, the Department of Agriculture is striving to ensure that such facilities are readily available to all rural communities.

Information will be collected by the field offices from applicants, consultants, lenders, and public entities. The collection of information is considered the minimum necessary to effectively evaluate the overall scope of the project.

Failure to collect information could have an adverse impact on effectively carrying out the mission, administration, processing, and program requirements.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .8 hours per response.

Respondents: Public bodies, nonprofit corporations, and associations, and federally recognized Indian tribes.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 294.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.67.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 859 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Brenda Frost, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at [phone].

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 will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 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 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 Brenda Frost, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-0742. 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: July 18, 2000.

James C. Kearney,

Administrator, Rural Housing Service.