[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3944-3945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1707]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of proposed information collection requests

AGENCY:  Department of Education.

ACTION:  Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests.

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SUMMARY:  The Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information 
collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:  An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507(j)), since public harm is reasonably likely 
to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the 
Office of

[[Page 3945]]

Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by January 31, 2000. A 
regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are 
invited to submit comments on or before March 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments regarding the emergency review should be 
addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention: Danny Werfel, Desk Officer: Department of Education, Office 
of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or should be 
electronically mailed to the internet address [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB 
provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity 
to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) may amend or waive the requirement for public 
consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval 
process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate 
State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's 
ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Leader, Information 
Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes 
this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the 
beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. 
Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the 
following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g., new, revision, 
extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the 
collection; (4) Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the 
information; (5) Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) 
Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. ED invites public comment. The 
Department of Education is especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to 
the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be 
processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden 
accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the 
Department minimize the burden of this collection on respondents, 
including through the use of information technology.

    Dated: January 19, 2000.
William E. Burrow,
Leader, Information Management Group,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer

    Type of Review: Reinstatement.
    Title: Grant Performance Report.
    Abstract: ED uses the information collection specific to ED FORM 
524-B for the award and administration of multi-year discretionary 
grants. The Department has substantially increased the flexibility of 
the grant process by enabling all years of multi-budgets to be 
negotiated at the time of the initial award. (ED GAPS001) and to submit 
only performance report (ED FORM 524-B) to receive continuation 
funding. This clearance also includes government-wide common rules for 
institutions of HIgher Education, Non-Profit agencies, and State and 
local governments.
    Additional Information: There is an urgent need for the six 
principal offices to disseminate the approved Grant Performance Report 
(524-B) at scheduled technical assistance meetings in February and 
March in order for recipients to prepare the reports accurately and to 
submit them in a timely manner. Failure to receive the information and 
technical assistance would result in additional hardship to an 
estimated 6,000 recipients.
    Failure to receive the reports in a timely manner would delay ED 
from issuing the continuation awards in accordance with Departmental 
directives. Also, the reported information is needed for ED to document 
program and administrative performance on essential indicators 
described in ED's strategic plan as required by the Government 
Performance and Results Act.
    We are requesting an Emergency Clearance by OMB for the Grant 
Performance Report (524-B). When the emergency clearance has been 
granted the Department will submit the same document to OMB for a three 
year clearance.
    Frequency: One time. High-risk grant organizations may be required 
to report more frequently.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs; Not-
for-profit institutions; Individuals or household.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:   Responses: 6,000. Burden 
Hours: 120,000.
    Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Vivian Reese, Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue, S.W., Room 5624, Regional Office Building 3, 
Washington, D.C. 20202-4651, or should be electronically mailed to the 
internet address [email protected], or should be faxed to 202-
708-9346.
    Written comments or questions regarding burden and/or the 
collection activity requirements, contact Terry O'Malley at (202) 395-
6466. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339.

[FR Doc. 00-1707 Filed 1-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U