[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33478-33479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14416]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Notice of Intent To Revise a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 
CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) intention to revise 
a currently approved information collection entitled, ``Research, 
Education, and Extension project online reporting tool (REEport).''

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by August 17, 
2015, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by any of the following 
methods: Email: [email protected]; Fax: 202-720-0857; Mail: Office 
of Information Technology (OIT), NIFA, USDA, STOP 2216, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2216.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Martin, Records Officer; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Reporting Requirements for Research, Education, and 
Extension project online reporting tool (REEport).
    OMB Number: 0524-0048.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: January 31, 2018.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), NIFA 
administers several competitive, peer-reviewed research, education, and 
extension programs, under which awards of a high-priority are made. 
These programs are authorized pursuant to the authorities contained in 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.); Competitive, special, and 
facilities research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i) and other legislative 
authorities. NIFA also administers several formula funded research 
programs. The programs are authorized pursuant to the authorities 
contained in the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act of 
October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a-1-582a-7); the Hatch Act of 1887, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 4361a-361i); Section 1445 of Public Law 95-113, the 
Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3222); and 
Section 1433 of Subtitle E (Sections 1429-1439), Title XIV of Public 
Law 95-113, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3191-3201).
    The purpose of this revision is to collect two new pieces of 
information as part of REEport: (1) Demographic data on grant 
participants, and (2) additional lines on the REEport Financial Report 
for ``Non-Federal Funds'' used on projects funded by NIFA.
    Demographic Data: NIFA proposes to collect the following data as 
approved in the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). NIFA is 
being asked by other Federal Government entities for information 
regarding the demographics of grantee participants in research, higher 
education, and extension, including Project Directors, Co-Project 
Directors, Students, etc. Demographic data (i.e., gender, ethnicity, 
race, and disability status) should be provided directly by significant 
contributors, with the understanding that submission of such data is 
voluntary. There are no adverse consequences if the data are not 
provided. Confidentiality of demographic data will be in accordance 
with agency's policy and practices for complying with the requirements 
of the Privacy Act.

Gender

 Male;
 Female;
 Do not wish to provide

Ethnicity

 Hispanic or Latino;
 Not-Hispanic or not-Latino;
 Do not wish to provide

Race (Select One or More)

 American Indian or Alaska Native;
 Asian;
 Black or African American;
 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander;
 White;
 Do not wish to provide

Disability Status

 Yes (check yes if any of the following apply to you)
     Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
     Blind or serious difficulty seeing even when wearing 
glasses
     Serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs
     Other serious disability related to a physical, mental, or 
emotional condition

No

 Do not wish to provide

Addition to the ``Non-Federal Funds'' Section of the REEport Financial 
Report: NIFA proposes to collect the following data as part of the 
REEport Financial Report:

Other Non-Federal Funds

 Foundation Funding
 International Funding

I. Demographic Data

    Estimate of the Burden: The total reporting and record keeping 
requirements for the submission of the ``Demographic Data on Grant 
Project Participants'' is estimated to average 0.1 hour per response. 
This estimate is based on a percentage of 5 percent of the burden for a 
full Progress Report as previously approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 8700.
    Estimated Burden per Response: 0.1 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 870 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.

II. Addition of Data to ``Non-Federal Funds'' Section of the REEport 
Financial Report

    Estimate of the Burden: The total reporting and record keeping 
requirements for the submission of the ``Non-Federal Funds'' data on 
the REEport Financial Report is estimated to average 0.1 hour per 
response. This estimate is based on a percentage 5 percent of the 
burden for a full Financial Report as previously approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 8700.
    Estimated Burden per Response: 0.1 hours.

[[Page 33479]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 870 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. 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 5 day of June 2015.
Ann Bartuska,
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2015-14416 Filed 6-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-22-P