E8-11350. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

ACTION:

Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests.

SUMMARY:

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, 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 June 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Bridget Dooling, Desk Officer, Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10222, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or faxed to [phone].

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 IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, 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: May 15, 2008.

Angela C. Arrington,

IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management.

Federal Student Aid

Type of Review: Revision.

Title: Student Assistance General Provisions—Subpart K—Cash Management.

Abstract: These regulations comprise the existing provisions of the Student Assistance General Provisions guidance regarding cash management. Information collection under these regulations relates to cash management requirements and practices for institutions participating in the Title IV, Higher Education Act (HEA), programs. This request is for approval of reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained in the attached final regulations related to the administrative requirements of the Regulations Governing the Student Assistance General Provisions as revised by the TEACH Grant final regulations. The information collection requirements in these regulations are necessary to determine eligibility to receive program benefits and to prevent fraud and abuse of program funds.

Additional Information: The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) requests that OMB grant an emergency clearance of 1845-0038. This emergency clearance is necessary due to new burden created from regulatory changes resulting from 34 CFR 668.165, the new regulations for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program. 34 CFR 668.165 requires institutions to notify recipients of when and the amount of their Teach Grant disbursements, in addition to their right to cancel or reduce their grant amount, as well as procedures the institution has adopted for the recipient to contact their school about cancellation or grant reduction. The associated information collection provisions relating to these requirements are accounted for in 1845-0038. These regulatory changes resulted from public comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 21, 2008 (73 FR 15336). The Department requests emergency clearance by June 12, 2008 so it can implement procedures to make Teach Grants available by the statutory effective date of July 1, 2008.

Frequency: On Occasion.

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

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: 108,834.

Burden Hours: 978,333.

Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov,, by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 3691. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address [e-mail] or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request.

Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to [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.