[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4214-4215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1979]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Extend and Revise a Current 
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 revise and extend a current 
information collection from applicants for Federal financial 
assistance.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 3, 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, Education, and Extension 
Projects.
    OMB Number: 0524-0022.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: May 31, 1998.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to revise and extend an 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: USDA/CSREES sponsors ongoing agricultural research, 
education, and extension programs under which competitive, special, and 
other awards of a high-priority nature are made. These programs are 
authorized pursuant to the authorities contained in the Act of August 
4, 1965, Pub. L. 89-106, as amended (7 U.S.C. 450i); Section 1414 of 
Pub. L. 95-113, ``National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977'' (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)); Sections 1417(b)(1), 
1417(b)(4), 1419, 1458A, 1472, 1473D, 1475, and 1480 of Pub. L. 95-113, 
as amended (7 U.S.C. 3154); Section 9 of Pub. L. 95-592, as amended, 7 
U.S.C. 5821, ``Native Latex Commercialization and Economic Development 
Act of 1978,'' (7 U.S.C. 178); Research and Marketing Act of 1946, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 427i, 1624); section 1433 of Pub. L. 97-98, 
``National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
Amendments of 1981''; Section 632 of the Foreign Assistance Act (22 
U.S.C. 2392(a)); Pub. L. 100-460; Section 1668 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5921); 
Section 1455 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended by Section 815 of the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act (FAIR Act) of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
3241); the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 301 et seq.) for the Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants 
Program; the Small Business Development Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97-219, as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 638); Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as 
amended by Section 401(h) of the FAIR Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-127) (7 
U.S.C. 2034); Section 793 of the FAIR Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204(f)).
    In addition, formula-funded programs administered by CSREES use one 
form to provide assurances about their programs. These programs are 
authorized by the Hatch Act of 1887, as amended (7 U.S.C. 361a-i); the 
Evans-Allen Cooperative Agricultural Program, Section 1445 of Pub. L. 
95-113, the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
3222); Section 1433 of Subtitle E (Section 1429-1439), Title XIV of 
Pub. L. 95-113 (7 U.S.C. 3191-3201, as amended; and the McIntire-
Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act of October 10, 1962 (16 
U.S.C. 582a-582a-7).
    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.
    These programs use forms approved in prior OMB-approved collection 
of information packages (OMB Nos. 0524-0022 and 0524-0024).
    Forms CSREES-661, ``Proposal Cover Page;'' CSREES-55, ``Proposal 
Budget;'' CSREES-662, ``Assurance Statement(s),'' CSREES-663, ``Current 
and Pending Support;'' and CSREES-1234, ``National Environmental Policy 
Act Exclusions'' are mainly used for proposal evaluation and 
administration purposes. The CSREES-1234 has been approved under a 
separate CSREES collection (OMB Number 0524-0033 contains the burden 
hours for all CSREES programs) and is included in the Application Kit 
so an applicant can provide pertinent information regarding the 
possible environmental impacts of a proposed project. 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 agencies 
which support basic and applied science.
    The following information will continue to be collected:
    Form CSREES-661--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-55--Proposal Budget: Provides a breakdown of the 
purposes for which funds will be spent in the event of an award.
    Form CSREES-662--Assurance Statement(s): Provides required 
assurances of compliance with regulations involving the protection of 
human subjects, animal welfare, and recombinant DNA research. This form 
is used for competitive, special, and formula-funded projects.
    Form CSREES-663--Current and Pending Support: Provides information 
for active and pending projects.
    Form CSREES-1234--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 has been and will continue to 
be used in determinations as to whether or not further action is needed 
to meet the requirements of this Act.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information

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is estimated to average five and three-quarter (5\3/4\) hours per 
response (including one-quarter hour for the CSREES-1234).
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions, individuals, business, 
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: 37,450 hours, broken 
down by: 19,800 hours for Form CSREES-661 (three hours per 6,600 
respondents); 6,600 hours for Form CSREES-55 (one hour per 6,600 
respondents); 4,450 hours for Form CSREES-662 (one-half hour per 8,900 
respondents); and 6,600 hours for Form CSREES-663 (one hour per 6,600 
respondents).
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Suzanne 
Plimpton, Policy and Program Liaison Staff, 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 day of 21st day of January 1998.
B.H. Robinson,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-1979 Filed 1-27-98; 8:45 am]
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