[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 67344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27565]
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Notices
Federal Register
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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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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 2, 2010 /
Notices
[[Page 67344]]
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) an
agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural
Development Utilities Programs 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 January 3, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Deputy Director,
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service,
1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5159 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-8435. Telephone: (202) 690-
4492. Fax: (202) 720-8435. E-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB)
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 RUS
is submitting to OMB for extension.
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 to: Michele
L. Brooks, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-8435.
Title: Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens.
OMB Number: 0572-0032.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et
seq.), as amended (RE Act) authorizes and empowers the Administrator of
RUS to make and guarantee loans to furnish and improve electric service
in rural areas. These loans are amortized over a period of up to 35
years and secured by the borrower's electric assets. The information
collection covered by OMB Control Number 0572-0032 consists of written
materials, reports, forms, and certifications to support an application
for a Distribution loan from RUS. In addition, the collection covers an
annual submission by Distribution borrowers and Generation and
Transmission Borrowers (G&Ts) of operation report data. Entities
applying for a loan follow the procedures outlined in 7 CFR 1710,
subpart I, to determine the required documentation for a loan
application.
At this time, RUS is revising the information collection to require
additional data to be submitted by Distribution and G&T borrowers
related to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
Data Pertaining to Renewable Energy Generation
The current standard form of loan contract has annual reporting
requirements and these reporting requirements capture all generation
investment as a generic matter today. The revised data collection
related to the RUS Form 12 will break out renewable investments as a
separate line item. Accordingly, the total burden hours total
associated with reporting these data elements is not materially
different from before but we will now see investment and project size
data itemized by type of renewable fuel.
Data Pertaining to Energy Efficiency
The Agency is implementing an effort to make loans to our utility
borrowers who will in turn make retail loans to their electric
consumers to finance energy efficiency improvements on the consumer
premises. The utilities will design their own energy efficiency
programs depending on the needs and profile of their service territory.
The revised data collection related to the RUS Form 7 will capture the
type of energy efficiency program, the number of customers involved,
the amount invested and estimated Million British Thermal Unit savings.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 15.51 hours per response.
Respondents: Businesses or other for profits; not-for-profit
institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 650.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.60.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 66,548.
Copies of this information collection, and related form and
instructions, can be obtained from Thomas P. Dickson, Program
Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 690-4492. FAX: (202) 720-
8435. E-mail: [email protected].
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 27, 2010.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-27565 Filed 11-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P