# Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 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 regarding this information collection received by February 13, 2026 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website *www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.* Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
**Rural Utilities Service**
*Title:* Request for Approval to Sell Capital Assets.
*OMB Control Number:* 0572-0020.
*Summary of Collection:* The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural areas. In addition to providing loans and loan guarantees, one of the Agency's main objectives is to safeguard loan security until the loan is repaid. Accordingly, the Agency manages loan program in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 *et seq.,* as amended (RE Act) and as prescribed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-129, Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax Receivables, which states that agencies must, based on a review of a loan application, determine that an applicant complies with statutory, regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for loan assistance. In addition, Section (d) of § 904 of the RE Act states that “Loans under this section shall not be made unless the Secretary finds and certifies that in his judgment the security therefore is reasonably adequate and such loan will be repaid within the time agreed.”
*Need and Use of the Information:* RUS is committed to meeting the requirements of the E-Government Act, which requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the option of submitting information or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. RUS Form 369 requires a signature by authorized representatives of a business entity. USDA eAuthentication is the system used by USDA agencies to enable customer to obtain accounts that will allow them to access USDA Web Application and services via the internet. This includes things such as submitting forms electronically, completing surveys online, and checking the status of USDA accounts. USDA will only accept eAuthentication Accounts from individuals. Currently, USDA eAuthentication does not have the mechanism to issue accounts to business, corporations or other entities. Therefore, RUS cannot accept electronic signature or submission of these documents. However, the agency does make these forms available in a .pdf format for customers and the agency requests approval to continue posting of the form on the agency website.
*Description of Respondents:* Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit.
*Number of Respondents:* 35.
*Frequency of Responses:* Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly.
*Total Burden Hours:* 168.
**Rural Utilities Service**
*Title:* 7 CFR part 1786, Prepayment of RUS Guaranteed and Insured Loans to Electric and Telephone Borrowers.
*OMB Control Number:* 0572-0088.
*Summary of Collection:* The Rural Electrification (RE) Act of 1936, as amended, authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to make loans in the States and Territories of the United States for rural electrification and furnishing and improving electric and telephone service in rural areas and to assist electric borrowers to implement demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. The RE Act also authorizes and empowers the Administrator of RUS to provide financial assistance to borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act by guaranteeing loans made by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank (FFB), and other lending agencies.
This information collection package contains the paperwork and reporting burden for 7 CFR part 1786, subpart E, “Discounted Prepayments on RUS Notes in the Event of a Merger of Certain RUS Electric Borrowers,” subpart F, “Discounted Prepayments on RUS Electric Loans,” and subpart G, “Refinancing and Prepayment of RUS Guaranteed FFB Loans Pursuant to Section 306(C) of the RE Act.” 7 CFR 1786, subparts E and F are authorized by Section 306(B) of the RE Act of 1936, as amended, and subpart G is authorized by Section 306(C) of the RE Act of 1936, as amended.
The overall goal of Subparts E and F is to allow Agency borrowers to prepay their RUS loan and the overall goal of Subpart G is to refinance. Subpart E allows certain electric borrowers to prepay outstanding RUS Notes at the Discounted Present Value of the RUS Notes with private financing. Subpart F allows borrowers to prepay, with private financing or internally generated funds, outstanding RUS Notes evidencing electric loans at the Discounted Present Value of the RUS Note. Subpart G allows the borrower of an electric or telephone loan made by the FFB and guaranteed by RUS to prepay and refinance a loan or an advance on the loan, or any portion of the loan or advance, after meeting certain conditions using the procedures prescribed in the borrower's note.
*Need and Use of the Information:* Rural Development is committed to meeting the requirements of the E-Government Act, which requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the option of submitting information or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. There are no preset forms in this collection and borrowers are not precluded from submitting the necessary information in electronic format. Borrowers can also submit the necessary information in a letter and any attachments are in formats the borrowers use in their everyday business.
*Description of Respondents:* Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
*Number of Respondents:* 38.
*Frequency of Responses:* Reporting: On occasion.
*Total Burden Hours:* 76.
**Rural Utility Service**
*Title:* Seismic Safety of New Building Construction, 7 CFR 1792, Subpart C.
*OMB Control Number:* 0572-0099.
*Summary of Collection:* Seismic hazards present a serious threat to people and their surroundings and exist in most of the United States, not just the West Coast. Unlike hurricanes, times and location of earthquakes cannot be predicted. Most earthquakes strike without warning and, if of substantial strength, strike with great destructive forces. Most earthquake related fatalities result from structure collapse and falling objects. Therefore, it is important in the United States and its territories to design structures according to seismic standards in order to mitigate losses from earthquakes.
To reduce risks to life and property from earthquakes, Congress enacted the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 95-124, 42 U.S.C. 7701 *et seq.* ) (amended) directing establishment and maintenance of an effective earthquake reduction program. As a result, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) was established. The objectives of the NEHRP include the development of model building codes to establish technologically and economically feasible design and construction methods to make new and existing structures earthquake resistant. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was designated as the agency with the primary responsibility to plan and coordinate the NEHRP. The Interagency Committee on Seismic Safety in Construction (ICSSC) was established to assist the Federal departments and agencies develop and incorporate earthquake hazards reduction measures in their ongoing programs.
*Need and Use of the Information:* RUS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act to promote the use of the internet and other information technologies to provide increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information and services, and for other purposes. There are no forms associated with this collection, and Borrowers and Grant Recipients may include the acknowledgement in the form of a statement on the title page of the drawings included with the final plans and specifications or they may submit a letter to the Agency with the required information. Acknowledgment letters can be submitted electronically as an attachment to an email or can be submitted in hard copy. The Agency continues to research alternatives to develop a system for collecting the information electronically.
*Description of Respondents:* Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit.
*Number of Respondents:* 10.
*Frequency of Responses:* Reporting: On occasion.
*Total Burden Hours:* 8.
**Rural Utilities Service**
*Title:* 7 CFR 1717 Subpart D, Mergers and Consolidations of Electric Borrowers.
*OMB Control Number:* 0572-0114.
*Summary of Collection:* The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency) is a credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, telecommunications, and water and wastewater facilities in rural areas. Loan programs are managed in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 *et seq.,* as amended, and as prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-129, Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax Receivable, which states that agencies must, based on a review of a loan application, determine that an applicant complies with statutory, regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for loan assistance.
*Need and Use of the Information:* Rural Development is committed to meeting the requirements of the E-Government Act, which requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the option of submitting information or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. There is no feasible alternative to requiring that the information be submitted to the Agency via hard copy, at this time, with computer generated charts and graphs as supporting data where appropriate. Borrowers use their own software to prepare letters, board resolutions, and supporting analysis. The relatively small number of respondents does not make it financially feasible to automate this collection of information.
*Description of Respondents:* Business or other for-profit.
*Number of Respondents:* 2.
*Frequency of Responses:* Reporting: On occasion.
*Total Burden Hours:* 31.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.