[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 30497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12425]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 30497]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 17, 2012.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) Whether the 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 burden 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 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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
(202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

    Title: NIFA Proposal Review Process.
    OMB Control Number: 0524-0041.
    Summary of Collection: The National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture (NIFA) is responsible for performing a review of proposals 
submitted to NIFA competitive awards 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 NIFA are of high quality and are consistent 
with the goals and requirements of the funding program. Proposals 
submitted to NIFA 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 
electronically submitted (ah-hoc) reviews in the Peer Review System.
    Need and Use of the Information: The collected information from the 
evaluations is used to support NIFA grant programs. NIFA uses the 
results of each proposal to determine whether a proposal should be 
declined or recommended for award. In order to obtain this information, 
an electronic questionnaire is used to collect information about 
potential panel and ad-hoc reviewers. If this information is not 
collected, it would be difficult for a review panel and NIFA staff to 
determine which projects warrant funding, or identify appropriate 
qualified reviewers. In addition, Federal grants staff and auditors 
could not assess the quality or integrity of the review, and the writer 
of the application would not benefit from any feedback on why the 
application was funded or not.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; Individuals or households; Federal Government; 
State, Local or Tribal Government; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 54,600.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 100,497.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-12425 Filed 5-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-09-P