[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68492-68493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28238]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Renewal of an Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 3) and the office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, this notice announces the Agricultural 
Research Service's (ARS) intent to seek reinstatement of the ARS Animal 
Health National Program Assessment Survey, renamed as the Agricultural 
Research Service National Program Assessment Survey and expanded so 
that it can be used by other ARS National Programs. This voluntary 
information collection will give the beneficiaries of ARS research the 
opportunity to provide input on the impact of the research conducted by 
ARS in the last National Program cycle for each of the respective 
National Programs. This input will be used for planning the research 
agenda for the next 5-year program cycle.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 4, 2016 to be assured of 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Dr. Robert C. 
MacDonald, Agricultural Project Coordinator, Agricultural Research 
Service, Office of National Programs, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, GWCC, Room 
4-2142, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705. Submit electronic comments to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert C. MacDonald at (301) 504-
1184.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: ARS Animal Health National Program Assessment Evaluation 
Form.
    OMB Number: 0518-0042.
    Expiration Date: April 30, 2016.
    Type of Request: Approval to seek reinstatement of the ARS Animal 
Health National Program Assessment Survey, renamed as the Agricultural 
Research Service National Program Assessment Survey and expanded so 
that it can be used by other ARS National Programs. This voluntary 
information collection will give the beneficiaries of ARS research the 
opportunity to provide input on the impact of the research conducted by 
ARS in the last National Program cycle for each of the respective 
National Programs. This survey seeks input from the beneficiaries of 
research conducted by ARS for program planning and ensures alignment of 
the ARS National Programs with the needs of our customers, partners, 
and stakeholders.
    Abstract: ARS research covers the span of nutrition, food safety 
and quality, animal and plant production and protection, and natural 
resources and sustainable agricultural systems. It is organized into 
seventeen National Programs addressing specific areas of this research. 
These
    National Programs serve to bring coordination, communication, and 
empowerment to approximately 750 research projects carried out by ARS 
and focus on the relevance, impact, and quality of ARS research. The 
requested voluntary electronic evaluation survey will give the 
beneficiaries of ARS research the opportunity to provide input on the 
impact of several ARS National Programs. For the purpose of this 
National Program Assessment, impact is defined as
    research that has influenced or will significantly influence the 
area covered by the National Program; has created or will create 
information, best practices, and/or economic opportunities for the 
National Program's customers, partners, and stakeholders; or has 
enabled or will enable action and regulatory agencies to formulate 
policies and regulations to support American agriculture. The report 
and evaluation form will be available online through a dedicated URL. 
The input provided through the completion of the evaluation form will 
be shared with customers, partners, and stakeholders as part of each 
National Program's assessment process.
    The ARS has 17 National Programs, each of which are assessed every 
5 years on a rotating basis as part of ARS' National Program planning 
cycle to

[[Page 68493]]

ensure the relevance, quality, and impact of ARS research. The 
assessment serves as both a retrospective evaluation and as the 
foundation for future priority setting for the Agency. Although the 
exact process for an assessment varies by the nature of the National 
Program, all include the following four stages:
     Conducting an in-house program assessment and documenting 
research accomplishments and/or progress for presentation to external 
reviewers;
     Conducting an external review of accomplishments and/or 
progress, based on the preceding documentation, focused on the 
research's relevance, quality, and impact;
     Recording the results of the review; and
     Informing ARS leadership of evaluation results.
    All of the methodologies for an assessment include developing a 
written report of accomplishments from research conducted during the 
previous 5 years. One assessment method involves sending the 
accomplishment report to a broad group of informed stakeholders for 
their reference and asking them to respond by completing an online 
survey about the impact of the National Program. This survey 
information is then compiled into a report that can be shared with 
stakeholders and ARS Administrators. The survey information can also be 
used for the next step of the National Program Planning cycle, which is 
planning for the following 5 years.
    This survey has previously been used by only one of ARS' National 
Programs but interest in its use has expanded. Three National Programs 
will be using this survey within the 3-year information collection 
period and possibly a fourth, which has been included in the burden 
hour estimate. Because ARS National Program planning cycle is 5 years 
in length and is staggered among National Programs, only one or two 
National Programs will be using the survey in any given year. The 
survey consists of a set of questions used in common by several or all 
of the National Programs and a few questions specific to a given 
National Program.
    Estimate of Burden: Completing the electronic evaluation form is 
estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 800.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200 hours.
    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 the assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the input provided by a wide array of 
customers, and; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technology. Comments should 
be sent to the address in the preamble. All responses to this notice 
will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: October 26, 2015.
Simon Y. Liu,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-28238 Filed 11-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-03-P