01-31441. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed information collection requests.

SUMMARY:

The Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507 (j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by January 2, 2002. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 19, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Karen Lee, Desk Officer: Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or should be electronically mailed to the internet address [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g., new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. ED invites public comment. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Dated: December 17, 2001.

John Tressler, Leader,

Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer

Type of Review: New.

Title: Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants.

Abstract: To ensure equal opportunity for all applicants including small community-based, faith-based and religious groups, it is essential to collect information that allows Federal agencies to determine the level of participation of such organizations in Federal grant programs while ensuring that such information is not used in grant-making decisions.

Additional Information: The Department requests emergency processing for the “Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants” which tracks the participation level of faith-based and community organizations in grant programs. The ability to utilize this form immediately is critical to the implementation of President's Bush's Faith-based and Community Initiative established by an Executive Order dated January 29, 2001 and to carry out the mandate of Section 3(b) of that order. As Congress may enact authorizing and appropriating legislation for the U.S. Department of Education in mid December 2001, it will be necessary to roll out grant application materials as soon as possible to expeditiously fund much needed social programs in Fiscal Year 2002. Since this form must be included in grant application packages, delay in the approval of this form could delay the funding of grant programs. Since this unanticipated event, the Department has consulted with the Office of Management and Budget, the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives as well as the four Centers for Faith-based and Community Initiatives at the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Justice. The Department requests approval by January 2, 2002.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

 Responses: 17,000,

 Burden Hours: 1,360.

Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request should be addressed to Vivian Reese, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4050, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651, or should be electronically mailed to the internet address [e-mail], or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.

Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements, contact Kathy Axt at [phone] or via her internet address [e-mail]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.