[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67883-67884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32663]


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FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

ACTION: Notice of Forms SF-424, SF-270 (LM-6), (LM-8), SF-269a (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-270 (LM-6)--Request for 
Advance or Reimbursement, (LM-8)--Project Performance, SF-269a (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 for a three-year 
expiration date of Forms SF-424, SF-270 (LM-6), (LM-8), SF-269a (LM-7), 
(LM-9) and (LM-3) until November 30, 2001. FMCS is soliciting comments 
on specific aspects of the collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the appropriate agency 
form number by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Office for 
the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Room 10235, Washington, 
DC 20503. Copies of the complete agency forms may be obtained from the 
Labor Management Grants Program at Federal Mediation and Conciliation 
Service, the Labor Management Grants Program, 2100 K Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20427 or by contacting the person whose name appears 
under the section headed, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter L. Regner, Director of Program Services, Federal Mediation and 
Conciliation Service, 2100 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20427. 
Telephone (202) 606-8181; Fax: (202) 606-4216.

I. Information Collection Requests

    FMCS is seeking comments on the following information collection

[[Page 67884]]

requests contained in FMCS agency forms.
    Agency: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
    Form Number: OMB No. 3076-0006.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement without change 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-270 (LM-6) 
Request for Advance or Reimbursement--30 minutes, (LM-8) Project 
Performance--60 minutes, SF-269a (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 on 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. Request for Comments

    The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:
    1. 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;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    4. 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.

    Dated: November 27, 1998.
Richard Barnes,
Acting Director, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32663 Filed 12-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6372-01-M