RUS Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens

OMB Control No: 0572-0032	ICR Reference No: 201811-0572-002
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201711-0572-003
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: RUS Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 12/12/2019
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 02/12/2019
Terms of Clearance: Because the agency sought comments only on the changes associated with the regulation, the existing expiration date remains the same for this collection. In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	04/30/2021	04/30/2021	04/30/2021
Responses	2,803	0	2,950
Time Burden (Hours)	41,634	0	52,130
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: This is a submission for approval of a non-material change request based on the upcoming publication of regulations streamlining procedures for Electric Program borrowers, including loan application requirements, approval of work plans and load forecasts, which will result in a reduction of response time from respondents. Regulation revisions also allow RUS to rely on the borrowers' year end filed Financial and Operating Reports unless the borrower has failed to meet applicable financial ratios, as required by its security instrument and loan contract. The agency estimates that the numbers of respondents will be reduced by this change, reducing the annualized burden. The regulation revisions remove requirements for borrowers and/or applicants to submit Board of Directors' resolutions resulting in a reduction of response time.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 6941 Name of Law: Fed Crop Ins. Reform/Dept of Ag Reorg. Act of 1994    US Code: 7 USC 901 Name of Law: Rural Electrification Act of 1936

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 110 - 246 6001 Name of Law: Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 44157	09/21/2017
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 2958	01/22/2018
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 RUS Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens (Former Form 7), RUS Form 726, RUS 266, RUS 740g, RUS 740c, RUS 325, (Former Form 12) Long Range Financial Forecast ,   Cost Estimates and Loan Budget for Electric Borrowers ,   Application for Headquarters Facilities ,   Financial & Operating Report-Distribution Borrowers ,   Financial &Operating Reprot -Power Supply ,   Compliance Assurance ,   Distribution Loan Application Checklist and Index

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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	2,803	2,950	0	-147	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	41,634	52,130	0	-10,496	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: Reduction in burden hour estimates is based on upcoming publication of regulations streamlining procedures for Electric Program Borrowers and applicants. Regulation revisions remove requirements for borrowers and/or applicants to submit Board of Directors' resolutions approving Long Range Financial Forecasts, Load Forecasts, Construction Workplans, and/or Energy Efficiency Workplans, resulting in a reduction. Additional revisions allow RUS to rely on borrowers' year end filed Financial and Operating Reports unless it fails to meet applicable financial ratios and the agency estimates that numbers of respondents are reduced by this change, further reducing the annualized burden estimate.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,900,794

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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: MaryPat Daskal 202-720-7853 [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: 02/12/2019

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