[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3193-3195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-904]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Application Package and Reporting Requirements for the Veterinary 
Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), as part 
of its compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites the general public to comment 
on proposed information collection for the Veterinary Medicine Loan 
Repayment Program (VMLRP). This Notice initiates a 60-day comment 
period and prescribes the proposed application forms and program 
reporting requirements for the VMLRP that will be submitted to the

[[Page 3194]]

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The NIFA 
may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Comments regarding this information collection must be received 
on or before March 22, 2010 to be assured of having their full effect.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include the text ``VMLRP Application 
Forms'' in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: (202) 401-7752.
    Mail: paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 
20250-2299.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: National Institute of Food and Agriculture; 
U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 2258, Waterfront Centre; 800 9th 
Street, SW; Washington, DC 20024.
    Instructions: All comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Sherman; National Program Leader, 
Veterinary Science; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. 
Department of Agriculture; STOP 2220; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; 
Washington, DC 20250-2220; Voice: 202-401-4952; Fax: 202-401-6156; E-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed Collection

    Title: Application Package and Reporting Requirements for the 
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP).
    Abstract: NIFA is proposing these application forms and reporting 
requirements for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) 
as authorized under section 1415A of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA). This 
information collection applies to Subpart B of 7 CFR Part 3431.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Intent to request OMB 
approval to establish a new information collection for VMLRP 
applications. Form Numbers: NIFA-01-10 Applicant Information, NIFA-02-
10 Personal Statement, NIFA-03-10 List of Recommenders, NIFA-04-10 Loan 
Information Form, NIFA-05-10 Contract, NIFA-06-10 Certifications for 
Application, NIFA-07-10 Intent of Employment, NIFA-08-10 Recommendation 
Form.
    Need and Use of the Information: The NIFA will carry out NVMSA by 
entering into educational loan repayment agreement with veterinarians 
who agree to provide veterinary services in veterinarian shortage 
situations for a determined period of time. The information proposed 
for collection permits the NIFA to request from VMLRP applicants 
information related to eligibility, qualifications, career interests, 
and recommendations necessary to evaluate their applications for 
repayment of educational indebtedness in return for agreeing to provide 
veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. The 
information proposed for collection will also be used to determine an 
applicant's eligibility for participation in the program. NIFA plans to 
publish a Request for Applications (RFA) for VMLRP loan repayment 
applications from individual veterinarians. These forms will be made 
available at the NIFA VMLRP website as a PDF-fillable document (to be 
printed and then returned by fax or mail), and includes questions 
requiring check boxes or text with a word limitation to minimize the 
burden for applicants and reviewers. Submitted application forms will 
be reviewed and evaluated by a peer panel according to the criteria 
identified in the published RFA.
    Method of Collection: Collection allows program applicants to make 
all submissions by fax, courier, or regular mail. The information 
collection is required of all applicants who request to enter into an 
agreement with the Secretary of USDA for VMLRP participation. NIFA 
plans to provide a web-based option within two years, to allow 
applicants to complete and submit their applications online.
    Frequency of Response: Annual application.
    Affected Public: Applicants, recommenders, financial institutions, 
and employers of applicants.
    Type of Respondents: Applicants, Veterinarians, organizational 
officials, and employers of applicants.
    The estimated annual reporting burden is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Estimated
                                                     Number of       number of    Average burden   Annual burden
               Type of respondents                  respondents    responses per     hours per         hours
                                                                    respondent       response        requested
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicants:
    Applicant Information.......................             100               1            1                100
    Personal Statement..........................             100               1            6                600
    List of Recommenders........................             100               1             .5               50
    Loan Information............................             100               2             .5              100
    Contract....................................             100               1             .25              25
    Certification for Applications..............             100               1             .25              25
    Intent of Employment........................             100               1            1                100
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Applicants subtotal.....................             100  ..............  ..............           1,000
                                                 ===============================================================
Recommenders:
    Recommendation..............................             300               1            1                300
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Recommenders subtotal...................             300               1            1                300
                                                 ===============================================================
Financial Institutions:
    Loan Information............................             200               1             .25              50
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Financial Institutions subtotal.........             200               1             .25              50
                                                 ===============================================================

[[Page 3195]]

 
            Grand Total.........................             600  ..............  ..............           1,350
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice 
will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of 
the information collection. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the VMLRP, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the public burden estimate (the estimated 
amount of time needed for individual respondents to provide the 
requested 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; (d) ways to minimize the public 
burden through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up 
costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to 
provide information.
    Obtaining a Copy of the Information Collection: A copy of the 
information collection is available at the VMLRP Web site: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp.

Proposed VMLRP Application Forms and Reporting Requirements

    Pursuant to the requirements enacted in the NVMSA of 2004 (as 
revised), and the implementing regulation for this Act, the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture hereby proposes to implement:

I. Application Forms

    The following forms are to be completed and submitted by the 
applicant by the established deadline.
    (a) Applicant Information Form: Collects relevant identifying, 
contact, and employment information from the applicant. Authorizes the 
disclosure of information that confirms the applicant is not under a 
service obligation or has a Federal judgment lien against his/her 
property.
    (b) Personal Statement: Includes a discussion of applicant 
knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience relative to the shortage 
situation applied for.
    (c) List of Recommenders: Identifies colleagues that can speak to 
the applicant's capability to fulfill program obligations. A minimum of 
three recommendations is required for each application.
    (d) Loan Information Form: Authorizes the disclosure of information 
to the lenders and their authorized collection agents to confirm that 
the applicant's loans are current in their repayment status.
    (e) Contract: A legal agreement that binds the selected applicant 
and the Secretary of USDA and/or NIFA Director to the terms and 
conditions for participation in the VMLRP, including obligations of 
both parties.
    (f) Certifications for Application: Validates the contractual 
agreement, accuracy of information provided by the applicant, and 
request for confidential recommendations.
    (g) Intent of Employment: Section 1 provides information on the 
shortage situation the applicant intends to fill upon receipt of a 
VMLRP award. Section 2 confirms the applicant's ability to secure an 
offer of employment or establish and/or maintain a practice in a 
veterinary shortage situation within the time period specified in the 
VMLRP service agreement offer.

II. Recommendation Form

    To be completed and submitted by colleagues identified by the 
applicant no later than 15 days after the established application 
deadline. Includes ratings and short answers to assess applicant's 
capabilities to provide veterinary services in the specific shortage 
situation the applicant is applying for. At least three separate 
recommendations are required.

III. Reporting Requirements

    Program participants will be required to verify that the terms of 
the VMLRP contract are being met on a quarterly basis. Subsequent 
quarterly loan repayments will not be disbursed until this verification 
is provided. This report will be due ten business days after the end of 
each three month interval during the VMLRP contract for the previous 
three month period and must include:
    (a) A listing of states, counties, and/or insular areas served.
    (b) A listing of veterinary services and activities provided in the 
shortage situation.
    (c) Percentage time (on a 40-hour week basis) providing service to 
veterinary shortage situation identified in the agreement.
    Program participants are responsible for notifying NIFA of any 
changes in the service being provided in the specified shortage 
situation during the three-year period. It is strongly recommended that 
program participants advise NIFA of these changes at least two months 
in advance to allow sufficient processing time. Failure to provide the 
updated information may result in the termination of the VMLRP contract 
and the program participant may be subject to penalties as outlined in 
Section C, Paragraph 3 of the contract.

    Done at Washington, DC, January 12, 2010.
Dr. Molly Jahn,
Acting Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2010-904 Filed 1-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P