[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 50820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20618]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 17, 2015.
    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.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by 
September 21, 2015 will be considered. Written comments should be 
addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New 
Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. 
Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. 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 United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), administers 
competitive, peer-reviewed research, education and extension programs. 
The reviews are undertaken to ensure that projects supported by NIFA 
are of a high-quality and are consistent with the goals and 
requirements of the funding program. 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), the Smith-Lever Act, and other legislative authorities.
    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.
    Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 100,497.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-20618 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-09-P