Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)

invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends

to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 27, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Program

Development & Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, USDA, 1400

Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 4034 South Building,

Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-0736. FAX: (202) 720-

4120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Review Rating Summary.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0025.

Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection

with change.

Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages loan programs

in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901

et seq., as amended. An important part of safeguarding loan security is

to see that RUS financed facilities are being responsibly used,

adequately operated and adequately maintained. Future needs have to be

anticipated to ensure that facilities will continue to produce revenue

and that loans will be repaid as required by the RUS mortgage. A

periodic operations and maintenance (O&M) review, using the RUS Form

300, in accordance with RUS Bulletin 161-5, is an effective means for

RUS to determine whether the borrowers' systems are being properly

operated and maintained, thereby protecting the loan collateral. An O&M

review is also used to rate facilities and can be used for appraisals

of collateral as prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) Circular A-129, Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax

Receivables.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average 4 hours per response.

Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 233.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 932 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Dawn

Wolfgang, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-

0812.

Comments are invited on (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 assumption 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 on

other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to F.

Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Development and Regulatory

Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400

Independence Ave., SW., Stop 1522, Room 4034 South Building,

Washington, DC 20250-1522.

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: October 21, 1999.

Wally Beyer,

Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.

[FR Doc. 99-28034 Filed 10-26-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P