[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 37 (Friday, February 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9277-9278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3603]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Proposed Information Collection Renewal; Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed.
    Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed revision of its Interest Accrual Form (OMB Number 3045-0053). 
Copies of the form can be obtained by contacting the office listed 
below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section by April 26, 2005.
    The Corporation is particularly interested in comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluate 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;

[[Page 9278]]

     Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written input to the Corporation by any of 
the following methods:
    (1) Electronically through the Corporation's e-mail address system 
to Bruce Kellogg at [email protected].
    (2) By fax to (202) 565-2742, Attention Mr. Bruce Kellogg.
    (3) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community 
Service, National Service Trust Office, 8th Floor, Attn: Mr. Bruce 
Kellogg, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20525.
    (4) By hand delivery or by courier to the Corporation's mailroom at 
Room 6010 at the mail address given in paragraph (3) above, between 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Send comments to Bruce Kellogg, National Service Trust, Corporation 
for National and Community Service, 1201 New York Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC, 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Kellogg, (202) 606-5000, ext. 
526.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Corporation for National and Community Service supports 
programs that provide opportunities for individuals who want to become 
involved in national service. The service opportunities cover a wide 
range of activities over varying periods of time. Upon successfully 
completing an agreed-upon term of service in an approved AmeriCorps 
program, a national and community service participant--an AmeriCorps 
member--receives an ``education award''. This award is an amount of 
money set aside in the member's name in the National Service Trust 
Fund. Members have seven years in which to draw against any unused 
balance.
    The National Service Trust is the office within the Corporation 
that administers the education award program. This involves tracking 
the service for all AmeriCorps members, ensuring that certain 
requirements of the Corporation's enabling legislation are met, and 
processing school and loan payments that the members authorize.

II. Current Action

    After an AmeriCorps member completes a period of national and 
community service, the individual receives an education award that can 
be used to pay against qualified student loans or pay for current post 
secondary educational expenses. Also, the Corporation's legislation 
requires that it pay, on behalf of AmeriCorps members, all or a portion 
of the interest that accrues during their service periods, if their 
loans were in forbearance during their service and if they successfully 
complete their terms of service. The intention is to keep the qualified 
student loan debt of an AmeriCorps member from increasing during his or 
her service period.
    To pay the appropriate portion of the accrued interest, the 
Corporation must know the total amount of interest that accrued during 
the entire service period. Most loan holders will not release 
information regarding their borrowers unless they have a written 
statement authorizing this release. The Interest Accrual Form serves to 
(1) request that the loan holder calculate the amount of interest that 
accrued and (2) give permission to and direct the loan holder to 
release this information to the Corporation.
    The form was first designed and some variation of it has been in 
use since the summer of 1994. Along with minor formatting changes, such 
as replacing boxes with lines for the member's name and SSN to enhance 
legibility, and wording to clarify certain sections of the existing 
form, for example regarding which interest is qualified or what time 
period should be excluded, the Corporation is requesting the name of 
the agency be cited, in cases where the loan is made by a state agency, 
in accordance with recent legislative changes. The changes impose no 
additional burden.
    The Corporation seeks to continue using this particular form, 
albeit in a revised version. The current form is due to expire May 31, 
2005.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: Interest Accrual Form.
    OMB Number: 3045-0053.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: Individuals who have completed a term of national 
service who wish the National Service Trust to pay certain interest 
accruing on qualified student loans.
    Total Respondents: 7,000 responses annually (estimated annual 
average over the next three years).
    Frequency: Experience has shown that some members do not have 
qualified student loans and others have several).
    Average Time Per Response: Total of 10 minutes (three minutes for 
the AmeriCorps member and seven minutes for the loan holder).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,167 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: February 17, 2005.
Ruben Wiley,
Manager, National Service Trust.
[FR Doc. 05-3603 Filed 2-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-$$-P