7 CFR 1956-C, Debt Settlement -- Community and Business Programs

OMB Control No: 0575-0124	ICR Reference No: 202108-0575-002
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201905-0575-002
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RHS	Agency Tracking No: 0575-0124
Title: 7 CFR 1956-C, Debt Settlement -- Community and Business Programs
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 12/03/2024
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 09/28/2022
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2027	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2024
Responses	205	0	163
Time Burden (Hours)	1,265	0	1,005
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The purpose of the debt settlement function is to provide the delinquent client with an equitable tool for the compromise, adjustment, cancellation or charge-off of a debt owed to the Agency. Failure to collect information could result in improper servicing of these loans.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 1932, Section 310b Name of Law: Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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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:
	87 FR 43780	07/22/2022
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 58473	09/27/2022
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 7 CFR 1956-C, Debt settlement -- Community and Business Programs - State 1956-1 Application for Settlement of Indebtedness 7 CFR 1956-C, Det Settlement - Community and Business Programs - Private Sector RD 1956-1 Application for Settlement of Indebtedness

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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	205	163	0	-3	45	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,265	1,005	0	-20	280	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: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: This submission includes an adjustment in the number of responses and burden hours for Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS). During the time used to estimate the burden hours, RBCS had less applicants in 1951-C than in previous years, due to the lack of B&I direct loan funding and servicing need for other intermediary loan programs. As a result, the number of burden hours for RBCS was decreased from 928 to 415, and the number of responses was decreased from 97 to 89. The Community Facilities (CF) program is reporting an increase in the number of responses and burden hour. This increase is due to the program’s efforts to undertaking the resolution of longtime delinquencies from its portfolio. To accomplish this task, 4 Asset Risk Managers were dispensed to work with State Office staff to review and resolve accounts that had been delinquent for several years. This effort resulted in the increased number of CF responses from 46 to 116, and the number of burden hours from 62 to 850. The overall combined number of responses reported for RBCS, and CF include the estimated 2 hours it takes an applicant to gather the information and input it in SAMs which resulted in a combined total of 205 responses, and 1,265 burden hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $76,460

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? No

Agency Contact: Arlette Mussington 202 402-4109 [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: 09/28/2022

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