[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18180-18181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9746]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Notice of Intent To Establish an 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 establish an information collection 
from applicants for Federal financial assistance.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 18, 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 and Extension Projects.
    OMB Number: 0524-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: USDA/CSREES sponsors ongoing agricultural research, 
extension, and education programs under which competitive, special, and 
other awards of a high-priority nature are made.
    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.
    Forms CSREES-2002, ``Proposal Cover Page;'' CSREES-2003, ``Project 
Summary;'' CSREES-2004, ``Proposal Budget;'' CSREES-2005, ``Current and 
Pending Support;'' CSREES-2006 ``National Environmental Policy Act 
Exclusions;'' CSREES-2007, ``Identification of Conflicts of Interest;'' 
and CSREES-2008, ``Assurance Statement(s);'' are mainly used for 
proposal evaluation and administration purposes. 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

[[Page 18181]]

agencies which support basic and applied science.
    The following information will be collected:
    Form CSREES-2002--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-2003--Project Summary: Lists the Principal 
Investigator(s) and their institution(s), project title and key words, 
and a project summary which allows for quick screening and assignment 
of proposals to peer reviewers.
    Form CSREES-2004--Proposal Budget: Provides a breakdown of the 
purposes for which funds will be spent in the event of an award.
    Form CSREES-2005--Current and Pending Support: Provides information 
for active and pending projects.
    Form CSREES-2006--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 will be used in determinations 
as to whether or not further action is needed to meet the requirements 
of this Act.
    Form CSREES-2007--Identification of Conflicts of Interest: Lists 
the person(s) who are in conflict of interest with the applicant(s). 
This will be used when selecting peer review panels to assure objective 
reviews.
    Form CSREES-2008--Assurance Statement(s): Provides required 
assurances of compliance with regulations involving the protection of 
human subjects, animal welfare, and recombinant DNA research. This form 
will be used for competitive, special, and formula-funded projects.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average six and three-quarter (6\3/4\) 
hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit 
organizations, non-profit institutions, 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: 41,950 hours, broken 
down by: 18,000 hours for Form CSREES-2002, ``Proposal Cover Page'' 
(three hours per 6,000 respondents); 3,000 hours for Form CSREES-2003, 
``Project Summary'' (one-half hour per 6,000 respondents); 6,000 hours 
for Form CSREES-2004, ``Proposal Budget'' (one hour per 6,000 
respondents); 6,000 hours for Form CSREES-2005, ``Current and Pending 
Support'' (one hour per 6,000 respondents); 1,500 hours for Form 
CSREES-2006, ``National Environmental Policy Act Exclusions'' (one-
quarter hour per 6,000 respondents); 3,000 hours for Form CSREES-2007, 
``Identification of Conflicts of Interest'' (one-half hour per 6,000 
respondents); and 4,450 hours for Form CSREES-2008, ``Assurance 
Statement(s)'' (one-half hour per 8,900 respondents).
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Suzanne 
Plimpton, Policy and Program Liaison Staff, Office of Extramural 
Programs, 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 7th day of April, 1998.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 98-9746 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
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