[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18180-18181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9746]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Notice of Intent To Establish an 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 (Pub.
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5
CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44977, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service's (CSREES)
intention to request approval to establish an information collection
from applicants for Federal financial assistance.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 18, 1998 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, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20250-2240, (202) 401-1761. E-mail: [email protected]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Application Kit for Research and Extension Projects.
OMB Number: 0524-NEW.
Expiration Date of Current Approval: Not applicable.
Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an
information collection for three years.
Abstract: USDA/CSREES sponsors ongoing agricultural research,
extension, and education programs under which competitive, special, and
other awards of a high-priority nature are made.
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, extension, or
education efforts, literature reviews, curricula vitae of principal
investigators/project directors, 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, solicitations are issued requesting proposals for
various research, education, and extension areas targeted for support.
Applicants submit proposals for these targeted areas following formats
outlined in the proposal application guidelines accompanying each
program's solicitation. These proposals are evaluated by peer review
panels and awarded on a competitive basis.
Forms CSREES-2002, ``Proposal Cover Page;'' CSREES-2003, ``Project
Summary;'' CSREES-2004, ``Proposal Budget;'' CSREES-2005, ``Current and
Pending Support;'' CSREES-2006 ``National Environmental Policy Act
Exclusions;'' CSREES-2007, ``Identification of Conflicts of Interest;''
and CSREES-2008, ``Assurance Statement(s);'' are mainly used for
proposal evaluation and administration purposes. 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 or data collection instruments. Their completion by potential
recipients is a normal part of the application to Federal
[[Page 18181]]
agencies which support basic and applied science.
The following information will be collected:
Form CSREES-2002--Proposal Cover Page: Provides names, mailing and
electronic addresses, and telephone numbers of principal investigators/
project directors and authorized agents of applicant institutions and
general information regarding the proposals.
Form CSREES-2003--Project Summary: Lists the Principal
Investigator(s) and their institution(s), project title and key words,
and a project summary which allows for quick screening and assignment
of proposals to peer reviewers.
Form CSREES-2004--Proposal Budget: Provides a breakdown of the
purposes for which funds will be spent in the event of an award.
Form CSREES-2005--Current and Pending Support: Provides information
for active and pending projects.
Form CSREES-2006--National Environmental Policy Act Exclusions:
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 will be used in determinations
as to whether or not further action is needed to meet the requirements
of this Act.
Form CSREES-2007--Identification of Conflicts of Interest: Lists
the person(s) who are in conflict of interest with the applicant(s).
This will be used when selecting peer review panels to assure objective
reviews.
Form CSREES-2008--Assurance Statement(s): Provides required
assurances of compliance with regulations involving the protection of
human subjects, animal welfare, and recombinant DNA research. This form
will be used for competitive, special, and formula-funded projects.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average six and three-quarter (6\3/4\)
hours per response.
Respondents: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit
organizations, non-profit institutions, Federal government, and State,
local, or Tribal governments.
Estimated Number of Responses per Form: 8,900. 6,600 complete the
entire collection; 2,300 complete only the CSREES-662.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41,950 hours, broken
down by: 18,000 hours for Form CSREES-2002, ``Proposal Cover Page''
(three hours per 6,000 respondents); 3,000 hours for Form CSREES-2003,
``Project Summary'' (one-half hour per 6,000 respondents); 6,000 hours
for Form CSREES-2004, ``Proposal Budget'' (one hour per 6,000
respondents); 6,000 hours for Form CSREES-2005, ``Current and Pending
Support'' (one hour per 6,000 respondents); 1,500 hours for Form
CSREES-2006, ``National Environmental Policy Act Exclusions'' (one-
quarter hour per 6,000 respondents); 3,000 hours for Form CSREES-2007,
``Identification of Conflicts of Interest'' (one-half hour per 6,000
respondents); and 4,450 hours for Form CSREES-2008, ``Assurance
Statement(s)'' (one-half hour per 8,900 respondents).
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Suzanne
Plimpton, Policy and Program Liaison Staff, Office of Extramural
Programs, 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, 1400
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-2240, (202) 401-1761.
E-mail: [email protected] Comments also may be submitted directly to OMB
and should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, D.C. 20502.
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, D.C., this 7th day of April, 1998.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 98-9746 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
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