Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intent of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request an extension of a currently approved information collection used in support of the FSA Farm Loan Programs (FLP). This renewal does not involve any revisions to the program rules.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 16, 2004, to be assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gary Wheeler, USDA, Farm Service Agency, Loan Servicing and Property Management Division, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., STOP 0523, Washington, DC 20024-0523; Telephone (202) 690-4021; Electronic mail: Gary.Wheeler@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 7 CFR 1951-L, servicing cases where unauthorized loan or other assistance was received.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0160.

Expiration Date: March 31, 2005.

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information collection.

Abstract: FSA encounters cases where unauthorized assistance was received by a borrower. This assistance may be a loan where the borrower did not meet the eligibility requirements contained in statute or program regulations or where the borrower was eligible for loan assistance but a lower subsidized interest rate was charged on the loan, resulting in the borrower's receipt of unauthorized interest subsidy benefits. The unauthorized assistance may also be in the form of loan servicing where a borrower received an excessive or unauthorized write-down or write-off of their debt. The information collected is provided on a voluntary basis by the borrower, although failure to cooperate to correct loan accounts may result in liquidation of the loan. The information to be collected will primarily be financial data such as amount of income, farm operating expenses, depreciation, crop yields, etc.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4 hours per response.

Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other for profit and farms.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 800 hours.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 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. These comments should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 and to Gary Wheeler, Senior Loan Officer, USDA, FSA, Farm Loan Programs, Loan Servicing Division, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., STOP 0523, Washington, DC 20024-0523.

Comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of the information collection. All comments will also become a matter of public record.