[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7434-7435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3993]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
agency: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
action: Notice and request for comments.
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summary: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service's (CSREES) intention to request an extension for and
revision to a currently approved information collection in support of
the CSREES National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program
(NRICGP).
dates: Comments on this notice must be received by April 21, 1997 to be
assured of consideration.
additional information or comments: Contact Sally J. Rockey, Deputy
Administrator, Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management,
CSREES, USDA, STOP 2240, Washington, DC 20250-2240, (202) 401-1766. E-
mail: [email protected]
supplementary information:
Title: CSREES/National Research Initiative Competitive Grants
Program.
OMB Number: 0524-0033.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1997.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: USDA/CSREES administers the NRICGP, under which
competitive, peer-reviewed research grants of a high-priority nature
are awarded. This program is authorized pursuant to the authorities
contain in section 2(b) of the Act of August 4, 1965, as amended by
section 1615 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 (FACT Act) (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) (1965 Act, as amended).
Before awards can be made, certain information is required from
applicants as part of an overall proposal package. In addition to
project summaries, descriptions of the research, literature reviews,
curricula vitae of principal investigators, and other, relevant
technical aspects of the proposed project, supporting documentation of
an administrative and budgetary nature also must be provided. Because
of the nature of the competitive, peer-reviewed process, it is
important that information from applicants be available in a
standardized format to ensure equitable treatment.
Each year, an NRICGP solicitation is issued requesting proposals
for various research areas. Applicant submit proposals for these
various research areas following the format outlined in the yearly
Program Description. These proposals are evaluated by peer review
panels and awarded on a competitive basis.
The NRICGP has been using the ``Application Kit'' (OMB Approval
0525-0022) developed for general CSREES use since the inception of the
NRICGP in Fiscal Year 1991. This kit includes the necessary forms and
instructions to applicants requesting support under various competitive
and noncompetitive funding programs sponsored by CSREES. In 1994, the
NRICGP sought and received approval of three forms specific to the
needs of the NRICGP, including one form used by CSREES for meeting the
compliance requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969.
Forms CSREES-1232, ``Project Summary,'' CSREES-1233, ``Conflict of
Interest,'' and CSREES-1234, ``National Environmental Policy Act
Exclusions Form'' are mainly used for proposal evaluation and
administration. While some of the information will be used to respond
to inquiries from Congress and other government agencies, the forms are
not designed to be statistical surveys
[[Page 7435]]
or data collection instruments. Their completion by potential
recipients is a normal part of the application to Federal agencies
which support basic and applied scientific research.
The following information has been collected and will continue to
be collected:
CSREES-1232--Proposal Identification: Lists the Principal
Investigator(s) and their institution(s), the proposal type
(distinguishes among funding mechanisms), project title, and key words,
along with a project summary which allows for quick screening and
assignment of proposals to peer reviewers.
CSREES-1233--Identification of Conflicts of Interest: Lists the
person(s) who are in conflict of interest with the applicant(s). This
has been used when selecting peer review panels to assure objective
reviews, and has been revised to specifically cite potential conflicts
of interest by category to better meet the requirements set out in 7
CFR 3411.12.
CSREES-1234--Collection of Environmental Impact Information: Allows
identification of whether or not the proposal fits one of the
exclusions listed for compliance with the National Environmental Policy
Act (7 CFR part 3407). This information has been and will continue to
be used in determinations as to whether or not further action is needed
to meet the requirements of this Act.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average one and one-quarter hour per
response.
Respondents: Non-profit institutions, individuals, businesses,
Federal Government, and State, Local, or Tribal Governments.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3,200 for the CSREES-
1232 and CSREES-1233; 4,800 for the CSREES-1234.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,400 hours, broken
down by: 1,600 hours for the CSREES-1232 (one-half hour per 3,200
respondents); 1,600 hours for the CSREES-1233 (one-half hour per 3,200
respondents); and 1,200 hours for the CSREES-1234 (one-quarter hour per
4,800 respondents).
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Suzanne
Plimpton, Policy and Program Liaison Staff, CSREES, (202) 401-1302. E-
mail: [email protected]
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
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
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: Sally J. Rockey, Deputy Administrator, Competitive Research
Grants and Awards Management, CSREES, USDA, STOP 2240, Washington, DC.
20250-2240, (202) 401-1766. E-mail: [email protected]
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of
public record.
Done at Washington, DC, on this 7th day of February, 1997.
B.H. Robinson,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3993 Filed 2-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-M
