Notice of Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION:

Notice, request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development mission area, invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by July 15, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Pamela Bennett, Regulations Management Division, Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Email: pamela.bennett@usda.gov. Telephone: (202) 720-9639.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Office of Management and Budget's regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that will be submitted to OMB for approval. 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 by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and, in the “Search” box, type in the Docket No. RUS-22-ELECTRIC-0018. A link to the Notice will appear. You may submit a comment here by selecting the “Comment” button or you can access the “Docket” tab, select the “Notice,” and go to the “Browse & Comment on Documents” Tab. Here you may view comments that have been submitted as well as submit a comment. To submit a comment, select the “Comment” button, complete the required information, and select the “Submit Comment” button at the bottom. Information on using Regulations.gov , including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's “FAQ” link at the bottom.

Title: RUS Form 675, Certification of Authority.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0074.

Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2022.

Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service manages loan programs in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. ) (RE Act). A major factor in managing loan programs is controlling the advance of funds, including assuring that actual borrowers receive their funds. The OMB Circular A-123, Management Accountability and Control, provides that information should be maintained on a current basis and that funds should be protected from unauthorized use. The use of RUS Form 675 allows effective control against unauthorized release of funds by providing a list of authorized borrower signatures against which signatures requesting funds are compared. The Form 675 allows borrowers to keep RUS up to-date of changes in signature authority and controls release of funds only to authorized borrower representatives.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average .10 hours per response.

Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 176.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 18 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela Bennett, Rural Development Innovation Center, Regulations Management Division, at (202) 720-9639. 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.