[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21434-21436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08575]


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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.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations (5 CFR part 1320), which implements the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) intention to request an 
extension for the currently approved information collection for the 
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). This notice 
initiates a 60-day comment period. 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.

[[Page 21435]]


DATES: Comments regarding this information collection must be received 
on or before June 16, 2014 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.
    Email: [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 2308, 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; 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Application Package and Reporting Requirements for the 
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)
    OMB Number: 0524-0047.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: October 31, 2014.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Intent to extend currently 
approved information collection for three years.
    Abstract: These application forms and reporting requirements are 
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.
    Need and Use of the Information: The NIFA will carry out NVMSA by 
entering into educational loan repayment agreements with veterinarians 
who agree to provide veterinary services in veterinarian shortage 
situations for a determined period of time. The information collection 
allows 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. This information collection is also 
used to determine an applicant's eligibility for participation in the 
program. NIFA publishes a Request for Applications (RFA) to request 
VMLRP loan repayment applications from individual veterinarians on an 
annual basis. These forms are made available at the NIFA VMLRP Web site 
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 are 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 Agriculture for VMLRP participation.
    Frequency of Response: Annual application
    Affected Public: Applicants, recommenders, and financial 
institutions.
    Type of Respondents: Veterinarians and organizational officials.
    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
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
            Grand Total.........................             600  ..............  ..............           1,350
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    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 information collection 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the VMLRP, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the public

[[Page 21436]]

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: 
www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp.

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 continue its use 
of:

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. Three 
recommendations are 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 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 by an established 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. Three separate recommendations are required.

III. Reporting Requirements

    Program participants are 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 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 in Washington, DC, this 9th day of April, 2014.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Under Secretary, Research, Economics, and Education.
[FR Doc. 2014-08575 Filed 4-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P