[Federal Register: September 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 170)]
[Notices]               
[Page 51264]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02se08-23]                         


	
	
	
	

Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 27, 2008.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    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: Accounting Requirements for RUS Electric and 
Telecommunications Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0003.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a credit 
agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that makes loans (direct 
and guaranteed) to finance electric and telecommunications facilities 
in rural areas. Currently, there are approximately 685 active electric 
borrowers and 737 RUS telecommunications borrowers. RUS does not own or 
operate rural electric facilities. Its function is to provide, through 
self-liquidating loans and technical assistance, adequate and 
dependable electric and telecommunications service to rural people 
under rates and conditions that permit productive use of these utility 
services. RUS borrowers, as all businesses, need accounting systems for 
their own internal use as well as external use. Such records are 
maintained as part of normal business practices. Without systems, no 
records would exist, for example, or what they own or what they owe. 
Such records systems provide borrowers with information that is 
required by the manager and board of directors to operate on a daily 
basis, to complete their tax returns, and to support requests to state 
regulatory commissions for rate approvals.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS collects information to 
evaluate a borrower's financial performance, to determine whether 
current loans are at risk, and to determine the credit worthiness of 
future loans. If basic financial records were not maintained, the 
borrower, its investors, and RUS would be unable to evaluate a 
borrower's financial performance.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,176.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On Occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 31,752.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-20244 Filed 8-29-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P