[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37372-37382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13301]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 29, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 37372]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Office of Civil Rights; Request for Reinstatement of a Previously 
Approved Information Collection

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Civil Rights 
announces its intent to establish an information collection process for 
complaints of discrimination involving USDA programs. The Office of 
CivilRights will use the information collected to investigate, attempt 
resolution, and settle respondents' discrimination complaints.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be submitted on or before July 29, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Josie Woodley-Jones, 
Assistant to the Director, USDA Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, 
Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-
9410. (202) 720-8765.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josie Woodley-Jones, Assistant to the 
Director, USDA Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410. (202) 720-
8765.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection:
    Title: Program Discrimination Complaints.
    OMB Number: 0508-xxxx.
    Expiration Date: July 31, 1998.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: The estimate of burden on the respondent is 
likely to vary but not to exceed 60 minutes to gather the information 
and complete the mail-back form.
    Type of Respondents: Customers of USDA programs and activities 
which are conducted or assisted by USDA agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600 per year.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 600 hours.
    Copies of the information collection materials (form and brochure) 
can be obtained without charge from: Josie Woodley-Jones, Assistant to 
the Director, USDA Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten 
Building, 1400Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410. 
(202) 720-5212.
    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 information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques, or other forms of 
information technology.

Use of Comments

    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget three-year approval. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.
    Abstract: Under 7 CFR 15.6 ``Any person who believes himself/
herself or any specific class of individuals to be subjected to 
discrimination [in any United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
assisted program or activity] * * * may by himself/herself or by an 
authorized representative file * * * a written complaint'' based on the 
grounds of such discrimination. Under 7 CFR 15d.4(a) ``Any person who 
believes that he or she (or any specific class of individuals) has 
been, or is being, subjected to discrimination [in any USDA conducted 
program or activity]* * *may file on his or her own, or through an 
authorized representative, a written complaint alleging such 
discrimination.'' The collection of this information is one avenue by 
which the individual or his representative may file such a written 
complaint.
    The requested information, which can be submitted by filling out a 
form with the aid of an instructive brochure or by submitting a letter, 
is necessary in order for the USDA Office of Civil Rights to address 
the alleged discriminatory action. The respondent (individual filing 
the complaint) is asked to state his/her name, address, telephone 
number, and the basis of the discrimination complaint, i.e., which of 
the bases of possible discrimination prohibited under either Part 15d: 
race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, religion, sexual 
orientation, marital or familial status, reprisal, or because all or 
part of the individual's income is derived from any public assistance 
program; or under nondiscrimination regulations applying to recipients 
of Federal financial assistance from USDA: race, color, national 
origin, sex, age, disability, religion, political beliefs, or reprisal. 
(Not all bases apply to all programs.) A brief description of what 
occurred when, where, who was involved, and the names of any witnesses 
is also requested.
    This discrimination complaint filing information, which is 
voluntarily provided by the respondent, will be used by the staff of 
the USDA Office of Civil Rights to investigate, attempt resolution of, 
and settle the respondent's complaint. The brochures also include 
additional information on the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint 
Process. The information filing format in the submitted collection 
documents (forms and brochures) is being provided to the public to 
assist in gathering the necessary information to open a program 
discrimination complaint case in a manner most efficient and least 
intrusive for the public/customer.
    Two separate forms and brochures are necessary because of the 
distinct nature of USDA conducted and USDA assisted programs. Without 
two brochures and forms, public confusion will result. USDA places 
requirements upon its agencies that extend beyond the

[[Page 37373]]

prohibitions contained in Federal laws applicable to recipients of 
Federal financial assistance from USDA.

    Dated: May 21, 2002.
Ann M. Veneman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
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[FR Doc. 02-13301 Filed 5-28-02; 8:45 am]
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