2019-01066. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 31, 2019.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (4) 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 regarding this information collection received by March 7, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Utilities Service

Title: 7 CFR 1717 Subpart Y, Settlement of Debt Owed by Electric Borrowers

OMB Control Number: 0572-0116.

Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to electric systems to provide and improve electric service in rural areas pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et. seq.) (RE Act). This information collection requirement stems from passage of Public Law 104-127, which amended section 331(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.,) to extend to the RUS' loans and loan guarantees the Secretary authority to compromise, adjust, reduce, or charge-off debts or claims owed to the government (collectively, debt settlement) with respect to loans made or guaranteed by RUS. Only those electric borrowers that are unable to fully repay their debts to the government and who apply to RUS for relief will be affected by this collection of information. The information collected will be similar to that which any prudent lender would need to determine whether debt settlement is required and the amount of relief that is needed.

Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to determine the need for debt settlement; the amount of debt the borrower can repay; the future scheduling of debt repayment; and, the range of opportunities for enhancing the amount of debt that can be recovered.

Description of Respondents: Non-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 1.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 1,000.

Kimble Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.