[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65823-65824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26354]


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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 at 5 CFR part 1320, 
this notice announces the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service's intention to revise a currently approved 
information collection entitled, ``Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service Application Kit for Research and 
Extension Programs''.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by January 9, 
2009, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

[[Page 65824]]


ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice may be sent to Jason 
Hitchcock, USDA/CSREES/ISTM, STOP 2216, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-2216 or sent electronically to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of the information 
collection, contact Jason Hitchcock, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
Application Kit for Research and Extension Programs.
    OMB Number: 0524-0039.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: April 30, 2009.
    Type of Request: Revise a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service (CSREES) sponsors ongoing agricultural research, extension, and 
education programs under which competitive, formula, and special awards 
of a high-priority nature are made. Before awards can be made, certain 
information is required from applicants as part of an application 
process.
    The nature of the competitive, peer-reviewed process makes it 
important that information from applicants be available in a 
standardized format to ensure equitable treatment. Each year, request 
for applications are issued for various research, education, and 
extension areas targeted for support. Applicants submit applications 
for these targeted areas following formats outlined in the application 
guidelines accompanying each program's solicitation. CSREES awards 
grants after evaluating these applications, using peer review panels 
and other merit review processes. The forms and narrative information 
are mainly used for application evaluation and administration purposes. 
While some of the information is used to respond to inquiries from 
Congress and other government agencies, the forms are not designed to 
be statistical surveys.
    CSREES requires submission of grant applications electronically 
through the Grants.gov storefront. The application processes through 
Grants.gov leverage several standard forms. In addition to Grants.gov's 
standards forms, CSREES must collect some additional information for 
the proper evaluation and processing of applications. These forms 
include the following:
    Supplemental Information Form--This form is used in all grant 
application packages, and collects the program name and program code to 
which the applicant is applying, additional applicant type information, 
Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System 
account information, key words, and the conflict of interest 
information as an attached file.
    Application Type Form--This form is used principally by the 
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program to 
collect the specific type of application being submitted. This form is 
being revised to change the applicant type names and some business 
rules on the form.
    Application Modification Form--This form is used to indicate the 
forms or narrative portions of an application that an applicant has 
changed or corrected from a previously submitted application.
    Form CSREES-2008, Assurance Statement(s)--This form is used in 
formula grant programs and provides required assurances of compliance 
with regulations involving the protection of human subjects, animal 
welfare, and recombinant DNA research.
    Form CSREES-2010, Fellowships/Scholarships Entry/Annual Update/Exit 
Form--This form will apply only to CSREES award recipients to document 
fellowships and scholarships, pertinent demographic data on the 
fellows/scholars, the progress of the fellows/scholars under the 
program, and performance outcomes of the student beneficiaries.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions, State, local, or Tribal 
governments, and a limited number of for-profit institutions and 
individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents by form:
    Supplemental Information: 5,050.
    Application Type: 2,150.
    Application Modification: 0.
    Form CSREES-2008, Assurance Statement(s): 1,850.
    CSREES-2010, Fellowships/Scholarships Entry/Exit: 150.
    Summary of USDA/1890 Cooperation: 170.
    The individual form burden is as follows (calculated based on a 
survey of grant applicants conducted by CSREES):
    Supplemental Information: 2 hours.
    Application Type: 15 minutes.
    Application Modification: 5 minutes.
    Form CSREES-2008, Assurance Statement(s): 30 minutes CSREES-2010, 
Fellowships/Scholarships Entry/Annual.
    Update/Exit: 3 hours.
    Summary of USDA/1890 Cooperation: 50 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The annual total 
burden on the public for all forms is estimated to be 12,160 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    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 through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments should be 
sent to the address stated in the preamble.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of 
public record.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 29th day of Oct, 2008.
Gale Buchanan,
Undersecretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
 [FR Doc. E8-26354 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
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