[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13320-13321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6916]


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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, Regulatory Information Management, 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 Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by 
April 8, 2002. A regular clearance process is also beginning. 
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 21, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be 
addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention: Karen Lee, 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 Karen_F._ [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: March 18, 2002.
John D. Tressler,
Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

    Type of Review: New collection.
    Title: Application Package for LEAs under the REAP Rural and Low-
Income School Program (KA)
    Abstract: This information collection package collection will serve 
as the application package for LEAs under the REAP Rural and Low-Income 
School Program. This application package will be used by LEAs applying 
for benefits under this program in States where the SEA chooses not to 
participate in the program.
    Additional Information: The Department is requesting an emergency 
clearance for the LEA Application for the Rural and Low-Income School 
Program by March 22, 2002 due to the unanticipated event and 
potentially causing public harm if awards were not made in time. This 
is a state-administered formula grant program under the statute. The 
Secretary is to award formula grants to SEAs, which in turn must award 
subgrants to eligible LEAs either competitively or on a formula basis. 
However, the statute makes provisions in the event an SEA chooses not 
to participate in the program. In such cases, the Secretary may use the 
SEA's allotment to award grants directly to eligible LEAs in that State 
either competitively or by formula.

[[Page 13321]]

Eligible LEAs in non-participating States are referred to as 
``specially qualified agencies'' in the legislation. Some SEAs have 
recently indicated that they may choose not to participate in this 
program. The application package that is the subject of this emergency 
clearance will be used to make direct grants to LEAs in those states, 
should it be necessary. If normal procedures were to be followed, the 
Department would not be able to make grant awards under this program by 
July 1st. The Rural and Low-Income program is one of the programs 
covered under the Consolidated Application provisions in the No Child 
Left Behind Act. The Department cannot make allocations for any 
applicant (either State or LEA) until all eligible applicants have 
submitted their allocation and eligibility data to the Department, and 
therefore the need for emergency processing.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs 
(primary).
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:
      Responses: 200.
      Burden Hours: 2400.
    Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting ``Browse 
Pending Collections'' and clicking on link number 1984. When you access 
the information collection, click on ``Download Attachments'' to view. 
Written requests for information should be addressed to Vivian Reese, 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4050, Regional 
Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651 or to the e-mail address 
[email protected]. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the 
internet address [email protected] or faxed to 202-708-9346. Please 
specify the complete title of the information collection when making 
your request.
    Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements should be directed to Kathy Axt at 540-776-7742. 
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. 02-6916 Filed 3-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U