[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70225-70226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31143]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration


Award for Excellence in Economic Development--Request for 
Comments

ACTION: Proposed Information Collection, comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
350(C)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 17, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hyneck, Departmental 
Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Nat Wienecke, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Congressional 
Liaison, Program Research and Evaluation, Room 7824, Washington, DC 
20230, telephone: (202) 482-5631.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    EDA provides a broad range of economic development assistance to 
help distressed communities design and implement effective economic 
development strategies. Part of this assistance includes disseminating

[[Page 70226]]

information about best practices and encouraging collegial learning 
among economic development practitioners. EDA has created the Award for 
Excellence in Economic Development to recognize outstanding economic 
development activities of national importance. In order to make Awards 
for Excellence in Economic Development, EDA must collect two kinds of 
information: (a) information identifying the nominee and contacts 
within the organization being nominated and (b) information explaining 
why the nominee should be given the award. The information will be used 
to determine those applicants best meeting the preannounced selection 
criteria. Use of a nomination form standardizes and limits the 
information collected as part of the nomination process. This makes the 
competition fair and eases any burden on applicants and reviewers 
alike. Participation in the competition is voluntary. The award is 
strictly honorary.

II. Method of Collection

    As part of the development of the Award for Excellence in Economic 
Development, EDA has designed a short nomination form. Nominees will 
submit the form to EDA, where they will be screened for completeness 
and forwarded to the Selection Panel for review. The information will 
be used by the Selection Panel to determine those applicants best 
meeting the pre announced selection criteria. The Selection Panel will 
include: three representatives of the economic development practitioner 
community; one member from academe; three representatives of the 
Economic Development Administration; and up to two at-large members.

III. Data

    OMB Number(s): 0610-0097.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    Burden: 150 hours.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement of previously-approved collection.
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government and not-for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 150.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $11,180.

IV. Request for 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 shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the equality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques of other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection, they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 12, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-31143 Filed 12-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-34-P