[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19868-19870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10448]


      

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Part III





Department of Agriculture





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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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Intent to Extend a Currently Approved Information Collection; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 78 / Wednesday, April 23, 1997 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Notice of Intent to Extend a Currently Approved 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, this 
notice announces the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service's (CSREES) intention to request an extension for 
three years for a currently approved information collection in support 
of the CSREES Buildings and Facilities Grants Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 27, 1997, 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) 401-1766. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: CSREES/Buildings and Facilities Grants Program, Program 
Guidelines and Forms Package.
    OMB Number: 0524-0029.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: August 31, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The enabling legislation for the Research Facilities 
Program is contained in Pub. L. No. 88-74 (7 U.S.C. 390 et seq.) and 
the annual Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides 
funding to the CSREES for the support of construction grant projects. 
Project recipients (and funding levels for each) are identified in the 
annual House and Senate Conference Reports. Due to the high cost of 
constructing facilities, funding for each project normally is provided 
by Congress on an incremental basis over a period of several years.
    Prior to the actual award of funds, targeted recipients are 
contacted and asked to submit information to CSREES relating to their 
projects. In the first year, the information collected from each 
prospective recipient is used by a team of subject-matter experts to 
conduct an on-site visit to determine the need for the proposed 
facility; results of the study are reported to Congress. Where funding 
is provided by Congress in subsequent years, applicants are not 
required to repeat information provided in a previous year--instead, 
CSREES requests updated information, focusing on any changes in 
construction plans, progress made in completing the facility, problems 
encountered, and current financial data. This information is used to 
determine grantee compliance with the purposes of the original grant 
award (or to approve minor changes necessitated by altered 
circumstances), determine whether the project is on schedule and within 
budget, and provide a means to justify further financial support. On a 
one-time basis, each grantee also is required to submit environmental 
information and a certificate of facility completion, both of which are 
included in the Program Guidelines or Forms Package.
    The fundamental purposes of the forms included in the Forms Package 
are to facilitate the submission of proposals by applicant 
institutions; to ensure that information is supplied in an informative 
manner to enhance understanding by CSREES officials so that proposals 
can be processed more quickly; and to see that parallel information is 
received for each project to ensure equitable treatment for all 
recipients. The information is used by CSREES officials and outside 
reviewers to evaluate the technical, financial, and administrative 
merit of proposals and to respond to inquiries from Congress, the 
Department, and the grantee community. However, the forms are not 
designed to be statistical surveys or data collection instruments. The 
completion of the forms by potential recipients is a normal part of 
applying to CSREES for financial support. Without this information, 
CSREES would not be able to award these grant projects. This 
information collection is due to expire on August 31, 1997. CSREES 
intends to request an extension of three years. Upon approval, the 
following information will continue to be collected:
    Table of Contents: A table of contents is optional; it is requested 
only for proposals of unusual length or complexity and provided at the 
discretion of the institution. It is used to facilitate the location of 
information by merit reviewers and CSREES officials.
    Project Summary: This is a short summary of the project that 
focuses on the broad goals associated with the construction effort. It 
is required to enable CSREES to provide project-related information to 
Congress, the Department, and the general public in a timely fashion.
    Project Description: Applicants are asked to provide brief 
information on the scope of the proposed project, factors that led to a 
need for the construction, ways in which financial assistance from 
CSREES will enhance programmatic activities to be carried out in the 
facility, benefits to be gained from commencing the project during the 
current fiscal year, a general description of the physical site upon 
which it is planned to erect the facility, a description of any 
preliminary work that has been performed to date, an outline of plans 
to obtain any required licenses or permits, a description of the 
facility as it is envisioned to be completed, capacity of existing 
utility systems to service the new space, an outline of any problems 
that could delay the start or completion of the project, procedures to 
be used in accomplishing project objectives, and a tentative schedule 
for completing major activities associated with the effort. This 
information provides merit reviewers and agency officials with an 
understanding of the applicant's need for undertaking the project and 
establishes a basis for possible Federal financial support. In 
addition, it is used to respond to Congressional requests for specific 
project information and to assist CSREES program officials in 
familiarizing themselves with the project prior to making pre-and post-
award site visits.
    Program Description: Information is requested on the programs that 
are proposed to be housed in the completed space, including new or 
enhanced programs, and the relevance of these programs to research and 
allied work in the food and agricultural sciences. This information is 
required to ensure compliance with Conference Report language, which 
requires that programs to be carried out in these facilities be 
complementary to overall Departmental programs. This information also 
is required to be sure that the proposed programs do not unnecessarily 
duplicate programs being conducted elsewhere within the institution's 
State or region.
    Management Structure: This calls for description of the 
organizational management structure that is planned for the completed 
facility. The purpose of requesting such information is to ensure that 
viable management, integrated with the rest of the institution, will be 
in place so that the facility and the programs it is intended to house 
will function properly after the facility becomes operational. It also 
demonstrates the level of institutional

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thought that has gone into planning the facility, thereby helping to 
justify Federal financial support to assist in constructing the 
facility.
    Alternative: Applicants are asked to outline alternatives to the 
proposed facility that were considered by the institution prior to 
settling upon the one at hand. This information is used by merit 
reviewers and CSREES officials to determine whether or not the project 
being considered for funding is the best alternative vis-a-vis other 
options.
    Contingency Plan: This is an outline of the institution's fallback 
plan to fund the facility from other sources in the event Federal 
funding is delayed, is reduced significantly, or is not forthcoming. It 
provides merit reviewers and CSREES officials with important 
information relating to the priority of the facility on the 
institution's master plan. (Is the facility of such high priority that 
the institution is committed to constructing it regardless of funding 
source, or will it abandon the project unless Federal funds are 
provided?)
    Operating Costs: Applicants are asked to describe their plans for 
operating and maintaining the facility after construction has been 
completed, including the source(s) of operating funds. This is required 
in response to Congressional language requiring that recipients be 
willing and able to operate and maintain the facility with non-Federal 
funds after occupancy.
    Biographical Information: A brief biographical sketch (or 
curriculum vitae) is required for key institutional personnel who are 
expected to be involved in the project. This information is needed to 
persuade merit reviewers and CSREES officials that institutional 
personnel assigned to planning and overseeing completion of the 
facility are qualified to do so. This sketch normally does not have to 
be written for the proposal being submitted--all project leaders 
develop and keep curricula vitae on file to be used as the need arises.
    Administrative Certifications: Applicants are required by law or 
regulation to complete administrative certifications to assist in 
determining their eligibility for Federal funds.
    Environmental Assessment: This information is requested, on a one-
time basis, of all grantees prior to their being authorized to take 
irreversible action on a project (e.g., site clearing or 
groundbreaking). The information is necessary to assist CSREES in 
complying with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and implementing regulations 
promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality at 40 CFR Parts 
1500-1508, as adopted and supplemented by USDA at 7 CFR 1b and by 
CSREES at 7 CFR Part 3407. While there is no prescribed format that 
must be used in submitting this information, CSREES developed a 
suggested format to assist in focusing grantees' attention on salient 
issues that need to be addressed.
    CSREES-850--Grant Application--Facilities Project: This form is the 
cover sheet of each application and provides base-line information 
relating to the applicant institution and the construction project for 
which funding is targeted. This information serves as part of CSREES' 
statistical data base for the dissemination of information to Congress, 
the Department, and other interested parties. In addition, the 
signatures at the bottom of the page provide legal assurance that the 
proposed project is sanctioned by top-level officials of the 
institution.
    CSREES-851--Budget--Facilities Project: This form provides a 
breakdown of planning and construction funds requested from CSREES, as 
well as those that are intended to be provided from non-Federal funds. 
This information permits CSREES officials to review the applicant's 
proposed financial expenditure plan to evaluate the reasonableness and 
allowability of costs being proposed.
    CSREES-852--Current and Pending Support--Facilities Project: This 
form requests a listing of all recent, current, and/or pending support 
for the construction or renovation of program facilities from a source 
external to the applicant institution. This information allows CSREES 
officials to determine whether or not the construction funding being 
requested duplicates (or overlaps with) similar construction projects 
funded by one or more other sponsors.
    CSREES-853--Program Certification--Facilities Project: This form 
collects minimal information to ensure applicant compliance with the 
Food Disaster Protection Act of 1973, Pub. L. No. 93-234 (42 U.S.C. 
4001-4128) and implementing regulations established by the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (44 CFR Part 75); and the Coastal Barrier 
Resources Act, Pub. L. No. 97-348 (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), as amended. 
This information is required by Federal Law. However, this form is not 
required for follow-on applications unless the construction site has 
changed.
    CSREES-854--Data Sheet--Facilities Project: This form requests 
statistical information about the project (its purpose, size, cost, 
level of matching funds, schedule, and future funding needs). It is 
used to provide information to Congress and the Department, to 
facilitate monitoring efforts, and to determine project growth.
    CSREES-860--Certificate of Facility Completion: This is a two-sided 
form that is required on a one-time basis but it is not submitted as 
part of the actual grant application. The first side is a certificate, 
prepared and signed by the design team, attesting to physical 
attributes of the facility; and the reverse of the form, completed by 
the grantee, is a certification of occupancy and list of programs to be 
housed in the new space. This information is required to provide a 
record of final inspection and acceptance of the facility by the owner 
and also to ensure that the programs for which the facility was 
constructed will actually occupy the facility during the period of 
Federal financial interest.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for: an initial grant 
proposal is estimated to average 22 hours per response; a follow-on 
application is estimated to average 10 hours per response; an 
environmental assessment is estimated to average 10 hours per response; 
and Form CSREES-860, Certification of Facility Completion, is estimated 
to average 2 hours per response.
    Respondents: Organizations identified in the annual House and 
Senate Conference Reports.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The FY 1998 estimate 
on the number of responses per respondent is based on numbers 
associated with FY 1997 funding. As such, the estimated number of 
respondents are one initial proposal, 19 follow-on applications, 42 
environmental assessments, and 14 for Form CSREES-860.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 300 hours, broken 
down by: 22 hours for the initial proposal (22 hours per one 
respondent); 190 hours for follow-on applications (10 hours per 19 
respondents); 420 hours for the environmental assessment (10 hours per 
42 respondents); and 28 hours for the Form CSREES-860 (two hours per 14 
respondents).
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Melanie 
Krizmanich, Policy and Program Liaison Staff, CSREES, (202) 401-1762. 
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;

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(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) 401-1766. E-mail: [email protected].
    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, DC, on this 15th day of April 1997.
B.H. Robinson,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-10448 Filed 4-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P