[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 235 (Thursday, December 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 72982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23769]



[[Page 72982]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Notice of Intent To Revise a Currently Approved 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 revise and request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection (OMB No. 
0524-0038) for Form CSREES-2103 ``Certification of Offset and 
Entitlement for 1890 Land-Grant Institutions.''

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 6, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice and requests for 
copies of the information collection may be submitted by any of the 
following methods to Joanna Moore, Policy Specialist, Office of 
Extramural Programs; Policy, Oversight, and Funds Management Branch; 
Mail: CSREES/USDA; Mail Stop 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; 
Washington, DC 20250-2299; Hand Delivery/Courier: 800 9th Street, SW., 
Waterfront Centre, Room 2249, Washington, DC 20024; Fax: (202) 401-
7752; or E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Danus, Chief, Policy, Oversight, 
and Funds Management Branch; Office of Extramural Programs; CSREES/
USDA; Mail Stop 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 
20250-2299; Phone: (202) 401-4325; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    CSREES proposes to revise this information collection to include 
all forms used by grantees to certify the availability of matching 
funds for the formula funds provided to CSREES cooperating 
institutions, most of which are the 1862 and 1890 land-grant 
institutions. The formula funds are provided to the eligible CSREES 
cooperating institutions under sections 1433, 1444, and 1445 of the 
National Agricultural research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (NARETPA), Hatch Act, Smith-Lever Act, and McIntire-Stennis 
Cooperative Forestry Research Act. Consequently, CSREES proposes 
revising the title of the Information Collection from ``Certification 
of Offset and Entitlement for 1890 Land-Grant Institutions'' to 
``Certification of Offset and Entitlement'' as these forms would now 
apply to all CSREES cooperating institutions required to certify that 
matching funds are available. Previously this information collection 
only applied to the 1890 land-grant institutions for the purposes of 
certifying the matching requirements under NARETPA sections 1444 and 
1445.
    CSREES plans to eventually develop a form (i.e., to replace the 
current form) that would be part of the set of SF-424 Mandatory, 
Application for Federal Assistance, to be used for the annual 
application of CSREES formula funds. CSREES is in the process of 
developing a pilot for the submission of required forms via Grants.gov 
for one of the CSREES formula grant programs (i.e., formula funds 
provided under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act).
    Title: Certification of Offset and Entitlement.
    OMB Number: 0524-0038.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: May 31, 2006.
    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 education. This information collection is needed for 
eligible cooperating institutions to certify that matching funds are 
available prior to the receipt of formula funds provided under NARETPA 
sections 1433, 1444, and 1445; Hatch Act; Smith-Lever Act; and 
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act.
    Need for the Information: Form CSREES-2103, ``Certification of 
Offset and Entitlement'' will be submitted up to three times per year 
for research and extension activities to provide information on the 
projected matching funds, the actual matching funds, and any revisions 
to the actual matching funds.
    Respondents: Respondents will be the 57 1862 land-grant 
institutions: 2 state agricultural experiment stations not associated 
with an 1862 land-grant institution; 18 1890 land-grant institutions, 
including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University; 9 
schools of veterinary medicine; and 10 certified forestry schools, 
which will provide information to USDA on the amount and source of non-
Federal funds made available by the States to the eligible institutions 
to meet the matching requirements for each CSREES formula program.
    Estimate of the Burden: The estimated burden on the respondents for 
Form CSREES-2103, ``Certification of Offset and Entitlement,'' is 3.6 
hours per response. This burden estimate is based on a small survey of 
eligible institutions that have experience completing the current form.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 96.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 838.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,016.8 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Up to three times a year.
    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 the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 1st day of December 2005.
Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 05-23769 Filed 12-7-05; 8:45 am]
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