[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48876-48877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20798]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Application for the Senior Community 
Service Employment Program

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service is seeking comments from 
all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a 
currently approved information collection for application to the Senior 
Community Service Program. The Forest Service surveys senior applicants 
for enrollment into the Senior Community Service Employment Program 
(SCSEP). Questions asked are personal information such as: Name, age, 
income residency, gender, education, ethnic group, English speaking 
ability, veteran, and disability status. This information is used to 
qualify individuals for enrollment into the SCSEP and assist with 
subsidized placement for the agency's special use program. The 
collected information will help the Forest Service determine 
eligibility for enrollment in the Senior Community Service Employment 
Program. Information will be collected from prospective applicants and 
enrollees age 55 years or older.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 14, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to Director, Senior, Youth, 
& Volunteer Programs Staff, (MAIL STOP 1136), Forest Service, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20090-1136. Comments also 
may be submitted via facsimile to (703) 605-5115 or by e-mail to: syvp/[email protected]. The public may inspect comments received at 1621 N. Kent 
Street, Room 1010, Rosslyn, VA 22209. Visitors are encouraged to call 
ahead to (703) 605-4853.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Priscella McCray, Senior, Youth, & 
Volunteer Programs Staff, at (703) 605-4853.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is designed 
to provide part-time employment opportunities and training to low-
income and disadvantaged persons age 55 or above. To establish the 
eligibility of each individual for enrollment into the program, it is 
necessary to collect income information and age data. The application 
document is the tool needed to collect this pertinent data and other 
relevant information required by the Department of Labor. The 
Department of Labor is the grantor for the SCSEP and provides 
guidelines for the program's operation. The authority for data 
collection is contained in the Federal Register Rules and Regulations, 
section 641.100, prepared by the Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration. The application is used by Forest Service 
Staffs to collect information required to determine eligibility for 
enrollment in the SCSEP. Information attesting that the applicant meets 
the current income guidelines and age requirements to participate and 
benefit from the SCSEP, is documented on the application, signed by the 
applicant, and the Forest Service staff. The application also becomes a 
part of the participant's official personnel folder and is maintained 
with other personnel documents related to the employment and work 
history of the individual.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be extended:
    Title: Application for the Senior Community Service Employment 
Program.
    OMB Number: 0596-0099.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Sections I and II are completed by the applicant or a 
Forest

[[Page 48877]]

Service official on behalf of the applicant, to determine eligibility 
for the program or continued participation in the program. The 
remaining sections, III, IV, and V are completed by a Forest Service 
official with responsibility for determining eligibility for 
participation in the program. The statistical data in these sections 
are collected and used for a Quarterly Progress Report (QPR) prepared 
by the Forest Service and transmitted to the Department of Labor. The 
QPR is a requirement of the current program regulations. The data 
collected from the Forest Service is used by the Department of Labor to 
prepare a composite activity report highlighting the program's 
accomplishments and demographic efforts over the program year and is 
transmitted annually to Congress.
    Data gathered in this information collection are not available from 
other sources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 12 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Economically disadvantaged individuals, 
including legal aliens, age 55 or older.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 6,500.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,300 hours.

Request for Comments

    The agency invites comments on the following: (a) The necessity of 
the proposed information collection for the proper performance of 
agency functions, including the practical utility of the information; 
(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) the enhancements of the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) the minimization of 
the burden of 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 comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will become a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: July 30, 2003.
Irving W. Thomas,
Acting Deputy Chief, Business Operations.
[FR Doc. 03-20798 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
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