EZ Guarantee Program; Micro Lender Program (MLP)

OMB Control No: 0560-0288	ICR Reference No: 201601-0560-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: USDA/FSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: EZ Guarantee Program; Micro Lender Program (MLP)
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 04/29/2016
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 10/21/2016
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 02/12/2016
Terms of Clearance: When this ICR is merged with 0560-0155, the agency should ensure that the most current version of the FSA forms are in ROCIS.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	04/30/2017	6 Months From Approved
Responses	8,170	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	3,832	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: FSA is implementing a new EZ Guarantee Program and MLP. The EZ Guarantee Program will help remove a competitive disadvantage for small farming operations compared to more established or larger farming operations with adequate financing. In many areas of the United States, farmers arrange their financing needs for the upcoming growing season during the fall and winter time periods. This will also result in many of these farmers using other sources of financing for production year 2016, often at a higher interest rate, or not being able to adequately finance their farming operation. FSA will merge the information collection with the ICR 0560-0155 upon OMB approval. FSA is establishing the EZ Guarantee Program to provide a guarantee for OLs and FOs up to $50,000. The reporting and record keeping requirements imposed on the public by regulations set out in 7 CFR part 761and 7 CFR part 762 are necessary to administer the EZ Guarantee Program and MLP in accordance with the statutory requirements and are consistent with commonly performed lending practices. Periodic collection of information after loans are made is necessary to protect the Government's financial interest.

Emergency Justfication: This request is for OMB review and emergency approval of a new collection of information for the EZ Guarantee Program and MLP Status. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is implementing a EZ Guarantee Program to provide guarantees for the Farm Loan Programs Operating Loans (OLs) and Farm Ownership Loans (FOs) and implementing a new micro lender status. FSA is establishing the EZ Guarantee Program to provide a guarantee for OLs and FOs up to $50,000. The reporting and record keeping requirements imposed on the public by regulations set out in 7 CFR part 761and 7 CFR part 762 are necessary to administer the EZ Guarantee Program and MLP in accordance with the statutory requirements and are consistent with commonly performed lending practices. Periodic collection of information after loans are made is necessary to protect the Government's financial interest. FSA is implementing the MLP Status to allow nontraditional lenders to participate in the Guaranteed ML Program. FSA will merge the information collection with the ICR 0560-0155 upon OMB approval. FSA is doing an emergency request processing instead of the regular processing because OMB’s ROCIS system requires this request be submitted as an emergency request because. FSA was not required to do a proposed rule for the programs.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 109 - 171 116 Name of Law: CONTACT

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0560-AI34	Final or interim final rulemaking	81 FR 72686	10/21/2016

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name EZ Guarantee Program anmd Micro Lender Program (MLP) FSA-2205 NEW, FSA-2210 NEW , FSA-2236 (OMB 0560-0155), FSA-2201 (OMB 0560-0155) , FSA-2332 (OMB 0560-0155), FSA-2233, FSA-2241 (OMB 0560-0155), FSA-2242 (OMB 0560-0155) Conditional Commitment Lender ,   Lender Certification (0560-0155) ,   Guaranteed Loan Closing Report ,   Guaranteed Loan Status Report ,   Assignment of Guarantee Lender ,   Lenders Agreement ,   Guaranteed Microlender Application ,   APPLICATION FOR EZ GUARANTEE

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	8,170	0	0	8,170	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,832	0	0	3,832	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new information collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $135,067

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Mary Ann Ball 202-720-4283 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 02/12/2016

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