01-5430. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed information collection requests.

SUMMARY:

The Acting 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 March 5, 2001. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 7, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Lauren Wittenberg, 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 Acting 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: March 1, 2001.

Joe Schubart,

Acting Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs

Type of Review: Revision.

Title: Joint Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP) and Leveraging Educational Assistance and Partnership (LEAP) Formulas Grant Application Collection.

Abstract: The LEAP and SLEAP programs use matching Federal and State funds to provide a nationwide system of grants to assist postsecondary educational students with substantial financial need. On this application the states provide information the Department requires to obligate funds and for program management. The signed assurances legally bind the states to administer the programs according to regulatory and statutory requirements. With the clearance of this collection, the Department is seeking to automate the application for web-based applying for both the LEAP Program and the subprogram, SLEAP. There are no significant changes to the current LEAP form data elements. There are, however, some additional items pertaining to the SLEAP Program which combines the application into one form for both programs.

Additional Information: Because of the recent changes (December, 2000) to the law, the time schedule of having to go live with the information collection early enough for states to apply for funding and the awarding of funds to states by July 1, 2001, the Department is requesting emergency approval.

Frequency: Annually

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden

Responses: 56.

Burden Hours: 112.

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 Joseph Schubart at [phone] or his 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.