[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 150 (Monday, August 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45205-45206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17648]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 150 / Monday, August 4, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 45205]]



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 at 5 CFR part 1320, 
this notice announces the intent of the Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) to request approval for 
revision of the currently approved information collection for the 
CSREES application review process.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by October 8, 
2008, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, by any of the following methods:
    Mail: Information Collection Officer, CSREES, USDA, STOP 2216, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2216; Hand Delivery/
Courier: 800 9th Street, SW., Waterfront Centre, Room 4217, Washington, 
DC 20024; Fax: 202-720-0857; or e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Hitchcock, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: CSREES Application Review Process.
    OMB Number: 0524-0041.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: 01/31/2009.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval for the revision of a 
currently approved information collection for three years.
    Abstract: CSREES is responsible for performing a review of 
applications submitted to CSREES competitive award programs in 
accordance with section 103(a) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998, 7 U.S.C. 7613(a). Reviews are 
undertaken to ensure that projects supported by CSREES are of high 
quality and are consistent with the goals and requirements of the 
funding program.
    Applications submitted to CSREES undergo a programmatic evaluation 
to determine worthiness of Federal support. The evaluations consist of 
a peer panel review and may also entail an assessment by Federal 
employees and ad hoc reviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: The CSREES Application Review 
Process is accomplished through the use of the CSREES Peer Review 
System (PRS), a Web-based system which allows reviewers and potential 
reviewers to update personal information and to complete and submit 
reviews electronically to CSREES.
    Given the highly technical nature of many of these applications, 
the quality of the peer review greatly depends on the appropriate 
matching of the subject matter of an application with the technical 
expertise of a potential reviewer.
    Information about potential panel and ad hoc reviewers is collected 
via an electronic questionnaire. New reviewers are prompted via an e-
mail message to complete the questionnaire. The information from the 
completed questionnaire is loaded into a CSREES database system. The 
questionnaire collects basic biographical information including 
address, contact information, and professional expertise. If a 
reviewer's information is already included in the database, then the 
questionnaire serves as a request for the potential reviewer to update 
her/his information. Information in the database system is then used to 
match applications with the most appropriate (potential) reviewers.
    When a reviewer is selected by CSREES and the reviewer agrees to 
perform a review, the application and associated materials are then 
made available to her/him. With respect to the application, a reviewer 
must assure s/he: (1) Will comply with the CSREES Confidentiality 
Guidelines and (2) does not have a conflict of interest. Upon 
completion of a review, the reviewer completes various worksheets in 
PRS evaluating an application against established criterion providing 
comments as necessary. If appropriate, a peer panel is convened to 
review and discuss proposals and make funding recommendations.
    Information collected from the reviews and/or peer panel is used to 
determine whether an application is to be recommended for award. When 
CSREES has rendered a decision, copies of reviews (excluding the names 
of the reviewers) and summaries of review panel deliberations, if any, 
are provided to the submitting Project Director.
    The CSREES review process is recognized by the grantee and grantor 
community for its quality.
    Estimate of Burden: CSREES estimates that six hours are required to 
review an application on average. Applications receive an average of 
four written reviews. CSREES estimates that the potential reviewer 
questionnaire takes 10 minutes to complete. This estimate was based on 
feedback from a small sample of reviewers that participated in the 
completion of the reviewer questionnaire and the completion and 
submission of application reviews for the CSREES.
    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 estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information; (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 through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. All responses to 
this notice will be summarized and included in the request to OMB for 
approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.


[[Page 45206]]


    Done at Washington, DC, this 17th day of July, 2008.
Gale Buchanan,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. E8-17648 Filed 8-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P