[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36909-36910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18006]


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FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

ACTION: Notice of Forms SF-424, SF-269a (LM-6), (LM-8), SF-270a (LM-7), 
(LM-9), and (LM-3) submitted for extension and review to the Office of 
Management and Budget.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that six information collection requests 
contained in the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) 
agency forms are coming up for renewal. FMCS submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of six FMCS forms: SF-
424--Application for Federal Assistance, SF-269a (LM-6)--Request for 
Advance or Reimbursement, (LM-8)--Project Performance, SF-270a (LM-7)--
Financial Status Report, (LM-9)--FMCS Grants Program Grantee Evaluation 
Questionnaire, and (LM-3)--Accounting System and Financial Capability 
Questionnaire. The request seeks OMB approval to extend the expiration 
date of Forms SF-424, SF-269a (LM-6), (LM-8), SF-270a (LM-7), (LM-9), 
and (LM-3) until October 31, 1998. FMCS is soliciting comments on 
specific aspects of the collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the appropriate agency 
form number by mail to Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, 
Labor-Management Grants Program, 2100 K Street, NW, Room 714, 
Washington, DC 20427, ATTN: Karen Pierce. Copies of the complete agency 
forms may be obtained from the Labor

[[Page 36910]]

Management Grants Program at the above address or by contacting the 
person whose name appears under the section headed, FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Comments and data may also be submitted by fax at (202) 606-4216 or 
electronically by sending electronic (e-mail) to [email protected]. All 
comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the 
appropriate agency form number. No confidential business information 
(CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.
    Information submitted as a comment concerning this document may be 
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of the information as 
``CBI''. Information so marked will not be disclosed but a copy of the 
comment that does contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the 
public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed 
publicly by FMCS without prior notice. All written comments will be 
available for inspection in Room 714 at the Washington, DC address 
above from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter L. Regner, Director, Program 
Services, FMCS 2100 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20427 (202) 606-8181; 
Fax: (202) 606-4216.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of each of the agency forms are 
available from the Labor-Management Grants Program, by calling, faxing, 
or writing, Ms. Karen Pierce at the above address. Please ask for the 
form by title and agency form number.

I. Formation Collection Requests

    FMCS is seeking comments on the following information collection 
requests contained in FMCS agency forms.
    Agency: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
    Form Number: OMB No. 3076-0006.
    Type of Request: Extension of Expiration date of a currently 
approved collection without any change in the substance or method of 
collection.
    Affected Entities: Potential applicants/grantees who received our 
grant application kit. Also, applicants/grantees who have received a 
grant from FMCS.
    Frequency: a. Three of the forms, the SF-424, LM-6, and LM-9 are 
submitted at the applicant/grantee's discretion.
    b. To conduct the quarterly submissions, LM-7/LM-8 forms are used. 
Less than quarterly reports would deprive FMCS of the opportunity to 
provide prompt technical assistance to deal with those problems 
identified in the report.
    c. Once per application. The LM-3 is the only form to which a 
``similar information'' requirement could apply. That form takes the 
requirement into consideration by accepting recent audit reports in 
lieu of applicant completion of items C2 through 9 and items D1 through 
3.
    Burden: SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-269a (LM-6) 
Request for Advance or Reimbursement--30 minutes, (LM-8) Project 
Performance--60 minutes, SF-270a (LM-7) Financial Status Report--30 
minutes, (LM-9) FMCS Grants Program Evaluation Questionnaire--60 
minutes, and (LM-3) Accounting System and Financial Capability 
Questionnaire--60 minutes.
    Abstract: Except for the FMCS Forms LM-3 and LM-9, the forms under 
consideration herein are either required or recommended in OMB 
Circulars. The two exceptions are non-recurring forms, the former a 
questionnaire sent only to non-governmental potential grantees and the 
latter a questionnaire sent only to former grantees for voluntary 
completion and submission.
    The collected information is used by FMCS to determine annual 
applicant suitability, to monitor quarterly grant project status, and 
for on-going program evaluation. If the information were not collected, 
there could be no accounting for the activities of the program. Actual 
use has been the same as intended use.

II. Requests for Comments

    FMCS solicits comments to:
    (i) Evaluate 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.
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information.
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected.
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated 
electronic collection technologies or other forms of information 
technology, e.g. permitting electronic and fax submission of responses.

III. The Public Docket

    The official record is the paper records maintained at the address 
in ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document. FMCS will transfer all 
electronically received comments into printed form as they are 
received. These records are available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

    Dated: July 1, 1998.
Vella Traynham,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 98-18006 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6372-01-M