01-13702. 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 July 3, 2001. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before July 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Lauren Wittenberg, Acting Desk Officer: Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

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, Regulatory Information Management, 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: May 25, 2001.

John Tressler,

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

Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs

Type of Review: New.

Title: Child Care Provider Loan Forgiveness Application and Forgiveness Forbearance Forms.

Abstract: The Child Care Provider Loan Forgiveness Application is used to determine whether borrowers meet the eligibility requirements for the Child Care Provider Loan Forgiveness Program. This is a demonstration program administered on a first-come, first-serve basis (subject to the availability of funds). It is intended to bring more highly trained individuals into the early child care field for longer periods. Under the program, individuals who work full-time in certain child care facilities that serve low-income families and meet other qualifications may be eligible to have up to 100% of their Direct Loan and/or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program loan forgiven. The Child Care Provider Loan Forgiveness Forbearance Form is required to comply with program guidance that provides forbearance for child care providers and to determine the child care providers eligibility for forbearance.

Additional Information: Appropriations were only funded this January for these benefits which are meant to enhance the child care field. Funds must be obligated by the end of September, hence the need for this emergency clearance time schedule.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Individuals or household; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

 Responses: 1,790.

 Burden Hours: 385.

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, D.C. 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 via 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.