Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Proposed collection; comments requested.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for Rural Housing Site Loans Policies, Procedures and Authorizations.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by May 11, 2009 to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nica Mathes, Senior Loan Specialist, Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division, RHS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0783, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone (202) 205-3656.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 7 CFR Part 1822-G, Rural Housing Site Loans, Policies, Procedures and Authorizations.

OMB Number: 0575-0071.

Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2009.

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information collection.

Abstract: Section 523 of the Housing Act of 1949 as amended (Pub. L. 90-448) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Self-Help Land Development Fund to be used by the Secretary as a revolving fund for making loans on such terms and conditions and in such amounts as deemed necessary to public or private nonprofit organizations for the acquisition and development of the land as building sites to be subdivided and sold to families, nonprofit organizations and cooperatives eligible for assistance.

Section 524 authorizes the Secretary to make loans on such terms and conditions and in such amounts as deemed necessary to public or private nonprofit organizations for the acquisition and development of land as building sites to be subdivided and sold to families, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and cooperatives eligible for assistance under any section of this title, or under any other law which provides financial assistance for housing low and moderate income families.

RHS will be collecting information from participating organizations to ensure they are program eligible entities. This information will be collected at the RHS field office. If not collected, RHS would be unable to determine if the organization would qualify for loan assistance.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 6 hours per response.

Respondents: Public or private nonprofit organizations, State, Local or Tribal Governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 4.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Number of Responses: 4.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 24.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Linda Watts Thomas, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services Division at (202) 692-0226.

Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of RHS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of RHS'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 Linda Watts Thomas, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250. 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.