[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40814-40815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19293]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Request for Comments on Information Collection Package
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.
ACTION: Proposed collection; Comments requested.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intent to request approval
of an Information Collection Package in support of the program for
servicing the Agency's Community Programs loans and grants.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 27, 1999 to
be assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For inquiries on the Information
Collection Package, contact Tracy Gillin, Regulations and Paperwork
Management Branch, at (202) 692-0039. For program content, contact Beth
Jones, Senior Loan Specialist, Community Programs Servicing and Special
Authorities Branch, RHS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., Mail Stop 0787,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-0787, Telephone (202) 720-1498, E-mail
epjones@rdmail.rural.usda.gov. Comments should be submitted to Ms.
Gillin at USDA--Rural Development, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Mail
Stop 0742, Washington, DC 20250-0742.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 7 CFR 3570-E, Servicing of Community Programs Loans and
Grants.
Type of Request: New information collection.
Abstract: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is a credit agency within
the Rural Development mission area of the United States Department of
Agriculture. Rural Development is authorized by Section 306 of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to make
loans to public agencies, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes
through the Community Facilities program for the development of
essential community facilities primarily serving
[[Page 40815]]
rural residents. The information will be collected by Rural Development
field offices from applicants, borrowers, consultants, lenders, and
attorneys. This information is used to determine applicant/borrower
eligibility and project feasibility for various servicing actions. This
information enables field staff to ensure that borrowers operate on a
sound basis and use loan and grant funds for authorized purposes. RHS
is combining the applicable portions of seven regulations affecting the
servicing of Community Programs (CP) loans and grants into one
regulation. The administrative portion has been removed from the
published regulation. Agency field personnel will receive an
instruction which will include the administrative portion and the
published regulation. This action is being taken as part of the
National Partnership for Reinventing Government program to eliminate
unnecessary regulations and improve those that remain in force. This
effort will streamline the published regulations, improve efficiency
and effectiveness, and increase the level and quality of customer
service. The regulation is being published as a final rule because
there are no policy or procedural changes.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 46 minutes per response.
Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions, State, Local, or Tribal
Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 266.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,783.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tracy
Gillin, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0039.
Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) 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 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 Tracy Gillin, Regulations and
Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural
Development, STOP 0743, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, 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: July 21, 1999.
Eileen M. Fitzgerald,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 99-19293 Filed 7-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P