[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39052-39053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16507]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 126 / Tuesday, July 1, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 39052]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Notice of Intent To Establish an Information Collection

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations (5 CFR part 1320) 
which implement the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35), this notice announces the Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service's (CSREES) intention to request approval to 
establish an information collection for the CSREES Current Research 
Information System (CRIS).

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 4, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments to Jason Hitchcock, E-Government 
Program Leader, Information Systems and Technology Management; CSREES/
USDA; Mail Stop 2216; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 
20250-2216. Comments may be sent electronically to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Hitchcock at (202) 720-4343 or 
via the above e-mail address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: CSREES Current Research Information System (CRIS).
    OMB Number: 0524-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) 
administers several competitive, peer-reviewed research, education, and 
extension programs, under which awards of a high-priority are made. 
These programs are authorized pursuant to the authorities contained in 
the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grants Act of August 
4, 1965, as amended (7 U.S.C. 450i); the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended 
(NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.); the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.); 
and other legislative authorities.
    CSREES also administers several formula-funded research programs. 
The programs are authorized pursuant to the authorities contained in 
the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a-i); McIntire-Stennis Cooperative 
Forestry Research Act of October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.); 
section 1445 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3222); and section 1433 of NARETPA (7 
U.S.C. 3195).
    The Current Research Information System (CRIS) is the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture's documentation and reporting system for 
ongoing agricultural, food science, human nutrition, and forestry 
research. CRIS Form AD-416, Research Resume; CRIS Form AD-417, 
Classification of Research; CRIS Form AD-419, Research Funds and Staff 
Support; and CRIS Form AD-421, Progress Report constitute an 
information collection for publicly-supported research projects as set 
forth in 7 CFR Parts 3400-3419. This information collection is 
necessary in order to provide descriptive information regarding 
individual research activities and integrated activities, to document 
expenditures and staff support for the activities, and to monitor the 
progress and impact of such activities.
    The historical mission of CRIS, broadly stated, is to document the 
research activities of the USDA and the State agricultural research 
system partners, to satisfy a variety of reporting requirements; and to 
provide access to research information. This mission supports one of 
the CSREES' primary functions, stated in the agency strategic plan, of 
providing program leadership to identify, develop, and manage programs 
to support university-based and other institutional research.
    The boundaries and scope of the CRIS mission are being expanded 
each year toward a more comprehensive purpose. As such, the information 
collected for CRIS is utilized in an essentially unlimited number of 
ways for a wide array of purposes. Generally, CRIS provides ready 
access to information through public web accessible data as well as 
individually requested, customized reports and services for agency 
officials, program leaders, administrators and managers. The 
information provided helps users to keep abreast of the latest 
developments in agricultural, food science, human nutrition and 
forestry research; track resource utilization in specific target areas 
of research; plan for future research activities; plan for resource 
allocation to research programs; avoid costly duplication of research 
effort; aid in coordination of research efforts addressing similar 
problems in different locations; and aid researchers in establishing 
valuable contacts within the research community.
    Descriptive information pertaining to documented projects is 
available to the general public as well as the agricultural research 
community contributing to CRIS. Limited financial information is 
available on individual grant projects and cooperative agreements as 
well as summary financial information through the CRIS web site.
    Cooperating institutions, including the state agricultural 
experiment stations, state forestry schools, 1862 land-grant 
institutions and 1890 land-grant institutions have access to all the 
data pertaining to their institutions. Many institutions take advantage 
of this access utilizing CRIS system facilities to manage the research 
programs at their institutions.
    In addition, CSREES staff members can request specialized reports 
directly from the CRIS staff. These requests can include financial 
disclosure pertaining to a particular subject area or targeted program. 
The nature of this type of request characterizes one of the strengths 
of the CRIS information collection. The system collects obligations and 
expenditures on individual projects; however, information can be 
retrieved and aggregated based on subject areas or targeted programs, 
and corresponding financial information can be tabulated accordingly. 
The inclusion of subject-

[[Page 39053]]

based classifications and subject specific descriptive fields supports 
a unique retrieval capability in this system. The information can be 
utilized nationally, regionally, or at more detailed levels, by program 
leaders, budget officials, and administrators to identify resource 
utilization, monitor research activity in specific target areas, 
support decision making and resource allocation, not just on individual 
projects, but also for specific program areas. Combining system 
capabilities facilitates the program evaluation, accountability, and 
decision-making processes.
    Estimate of Burden: The preferred method for submitting this 
information collection is electronic via a web interface. CSREES will 
accept electronic submissions by other means and on rare occasions, by 
a fax transmission. A submission is made once. There may be instances 
that a second submission is required, however, this would involve 
corrections or revisions to the initial submission. There are no 
special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be 
conducted in a manner that would require respondents to submit more 
than an original and two copies of any document. In fact, paper-based 
submissions are discouraged.
    Determination of hour burden estimates for the CRIS data collection 
was accomplished by requesting estimates from nine individuals who have 
significant experience in the generation of information to satisfy the 
collection requirements of the AD-416, AD-417, AD-419 and AD-421 forms. 
The basic unit of measure in CRIS is a project. As such for purposes of 
this estimate, a respondent was treated as all responses related to a 
single project. Typically the information to provide data on the four 
forms is the result of work processes performed by a number of 
individuals, both professional and administrative. Accordingly the 
estimate was developed by tabulating burden hours in two categories, 
the first, scientific/professional, and the second, administrative. The 
estimates provided varied in magnitude. The variation is due to 
significant differences in the internal procedures and processes 
utilized at the individual locations as well as differences between 
individual interpretation of the inclusion of efforts contributed to 
the development of the information. Responses were received from eight 
of the nine individuals. The data was summarized to develop common 
burden hour estimates related to each individual form. These estimates 
were then projected onto the total volume of the forms processed by 
CRIS in an annual cycle.
    CSREES estimates the number of responses for the CRIS Form AD-416 
will be 3,258 with an estimated response time of 3.9 hours per form, 
representing a total annual burden of 12,706 hours for this form. 
CSREES estimates the number of responses for the CRIS Form AD-417 will 
be 3,258 with an estimated response time of .7 hours per form, 
representing a total annual burden of 2,281 hours for this form. CSREES 
estimates that the number of responses for the CRIS Form AD-419 will be 
11,767 with an estimated response time of 1.4 hours per form, 
representing a total annual burden of 16,474 hours for this form. 
CSREES estimates the number of responses for the CRIS Form AD-421 will 
be 12,158 with an estimated response time of 2.7 hours per form, 
representing a total annual burden of 32,827 hours for this form. Thus, 
for this CRIS information collection, CSREES estimates a total of 
30,441 annual responses, representing an estimated 64,288 annual burden 
hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jason 
Hitchcock, E-Government Program Leader, Information Systems and 
Technology Management; CSREES/USDA; Mail Stop 2216; 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-2216; or sent electronically to: 
[email protected].
    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 the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 24th day of June, 2003.
Gary Cunningham,
Associate Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 03-16507 Filed 6-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-M