RUS Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens

OMB Control No: 0572-0032	ICR Reference No: 202410-0572-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202001-0572-004
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: RUS Electric Loan Application and Related Reporting Burdens
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 01/21/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2025
Responses	1,968	2,803
Time Burden (Hours)	37,515	41,634
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) was established in 1994 by the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-354, 108 Stat. 3178, 7 U.S.C. 6941 et. seq.) as successor to the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) with respect to certain programs, including the electric loan and loan guarantee program authorized under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended) (RE Act). The 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 and/or revenue. In the interest of protecting loan security, monitoring compliance with debt covenants, and ensuring that RUS loan funds are used for purposes authorized by law, RUS requires that borrowers prepare and submit for RUS evaluation certain studies and reports. Some of these studies and reports are required only once for each loan application; others must be submitted periodically until the loan is completely repaid. The RE Act also authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to make or cause to be made, studies, investigations, and reports concerning the condition and progress of the electrification of several States and Territories; and to publish and disseminate information with respect thereto. Information supplied by borrowers forms the basis of many of these reports.

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

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:
	89 FR 64404	08/07/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 7071	01/21/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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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 740c, RUS Form 325, (Former Form 12) Financial & Operating Report-Distribution Borrowers ,   Financial &Operating Reprot -Power Supply ,   Long Range Financial Forecast ,   Cost Estimates and Loan Budget for Electric Borrowers

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	1,968	2,803	0	0	-835	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	37,515	41,634	0	0	-4,119	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a revision to a currently approved collection. Since the last submission, there was a reduction in borrowers from 625 to 608 submitting their annual reports. This change is due to borrowers paying off their debt, etc. The burden hours changed from the last package due to some forms now being part of the SAM registration process so they do not need to be accounted for separately. In addition, some forms are no longer required so those were removed from the collection and items inadvertently not captured have now been added.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,657,971

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: Pamela Bennett 202 720-9639 [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: 01/21/2025

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