01-16907. 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 10, 2001. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 4, 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 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: June 28, 2001.

John Tressler,

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

Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs

Type of Review: New Collection.

Title: The Leveraging Educational Assistance Program (LEAP) and Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Program (SLEAP) Programs.

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 performance report the states provide information the Department requires about the state's use of program funds in order to demonstrate compliance with the program's statutory and regulatory requirements. Federal program officials use the performance report data for monitoring program funds distribution. With the clearance of this collection, the Department is seeking to automate the performance reporting process for both the LEAP Program and the subprogram, SLEAP. There are no significant changes to the current LEAP form data elements, there are however, additional items pertaining to the SLEAP program.

Additional Information: Because of the changes to the law and new program requirements, the short time schedule for development of forms, and obtaining state involvement in the process, we are requesting emergency approval of this new performance report form by July 10, 2001. This would allow for the needed time by states to plan and begin reporting under the programs as soon as possible.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs (primary).

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

   Responses: 56.

   Burden Hours: 560.

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 Joe Schubart at 202-708-9266. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.