[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39053-39054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16508]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Notice of Intent To Revise and Request an Extension of a 
Currently Approved information Collection

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 revise and request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection (OMB No. 
0524-0026) for Form CSREES-665, ``Assurance of Compliance with the 
Department of Agriculture Regulations Assuring Civil Rights 
Compliance,'' and Form CSREES-666, ``Organizational Information.''

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

ADDRESSES: Address all comments to Erin Daly, Policy Specialist, Office 
of Extramural Programs; CSREES/USDA; Mail Stop 2299; 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-2299. Comments may be sent 
electronically to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Daly at (202) 401-3319 or via the 
above e-mail address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Assurance of Compliance with the Department of Agriculture 
Regulations Assuring Civil Rights Compliance and Organizational 
Information.
    OMB Number: 0524-0026.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: August 31, 2003.
    Type of Request: Intent to revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: CSREES has primary responsibility for providing linkages 
between the Federal and State components of a broad-based, national 
agricultural research, extension, and education system. Focused on 
national issues, its purpose is to represent the Secretary of 
Agriculture and carry out the intent of Congress by administering 
formula and grant funds appropriated for agricultural research, 
extension, and

[[Page 39054]]

education. Before awards can be made, certain information is required 
from applicants to assure compliance with the applicable civil rights 
laws and to effectively assess the potential recipient's capacity to 
manage Federal funds.
    The following information will continue to be collected:
    Form CSREES-665--Assurance of Compliance with the Department of 
Agriculture Regulations Assuring Civil rights Compliance: By signing 
this form, the organization certifies that it complies with the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, as amended. The applicant agrees that it will offer 
its programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color , 
national origin, gender, disability, age, political beliefs, religion, 
marital status, or familial status and that people will not be excluded 
from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise 
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the 
Applicant receives the Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Agriculture. This information is submitted to CSREES on a one-time 
basis.
    Form CSREES-666--Organizational Information: Enables CSREES to 
determine that applicants recommended for awards will be responsible 
recipients of Federal funds. The information pertains to organizational 
management and financial matters of the potential grantee. This form 
and the documents which the applicant attaches to it provide CSREES 
with information such as the legal name of grantee, certification that 
the organization has the legal authority to accept Federal funding, 
identification and signatures of the key officials of the organization, 
the organization's practices in regard to compensation rates and 
benefits of employees, insurance for equipment, subcontracting with 
other organizations, etc., as well as the financial condition of the 
organization. All of this information is considered by CSREES prior to 
award to determine that grantees are both managerially and fiscally 
responsible. This information is submitted to CSREES on a one-time 
basis. If sufficient changes occur within the organization, the grantee 
submits revised information.
    With regards to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (44 U.S.C. 3504 note), CSREES is proposing to postpone 
making an electronic option available for this information collection 
until the Federal government-wide electronic process is developed for 
collecting organizational information and statutory certifications from 
new grantees. Under the Federal Financial Assistance Management 
Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107), Federal agencies and OMB 
have been working together to streamline and simplify the award and 
administration of Federal grants. As a result of these activities, 
Federal agencies and OMB are proposing various regulations, policies, 
and business processes that will decrease the overall information 
collection burden to grant recipients by having a central location 
where this information is collected for use by all Federal grantmaking 
agencies.
    Estimate of the Burden: CSREES estimates the number of responses 
for the Form CSREES-665 will be 150 with an estimated response time of 
.5 hour per form, representing a total annual burden of 75 hours for 
this form. CSREES estimates the number of responses for the Form 
CSREES-666 will be 150 with an estimated response time of 6.3 hours per 
form, representing a total annual burden of 945 hours for this form. 
These estimates are based on a survey of grantees who had recently been 
approved for grant awards. They were asked to give an estimate of time 
it took them to complete each form. This estimate was to include such 
things as: (1) Reviewing the instructions; (2) Searching existing data 
sources; (3) Gathering and maintaining the data needed; and (4) Actual 
completion of the forms. The average time it took each respondent was 
calculated from their responses.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Erin 
Daly, Policy Specialist, Office of Extramural Programs; CSREES/USDA; 
Mail Stop 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,; Washington, DC 20250-
2299; 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 a 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 
information collection 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. 03-16508 Filed 6-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P