[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3139-3140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01811]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Information Collection Request for Volunteer Program--Earth Team
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is requesting comments from all
interested individuals and organizations on an extension and a revision
of a currently approved information collection associated with
Volunteer Program--Earth Team. The Volunteer Interest and Placement
Summary and the Timesheet forms are used by the respondents. The
information NRCS collects on the forms is used to match the skills of
individuals, who are 14 years of age or older and interested in
volunteering for opportunities that will further NRCS's mission.
APPLICABLE DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by April
12, 2019.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your
comments, include OMB Control Number 0578-0024. You may submit comments
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal website: http://www.regulations.gov via docket number NRCS-2018-0011. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments electronically.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to the
collection activities or to request a copy of the information
collection, contact Alan Benge, Program Specialist, NRCS Distribution
Center/Earth, USDA Farm Production and Conservation, 4407 121st Street,
Urbandale, IA 50323, (515) 776-3846, or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Volunteer Program--Earth Team.
OMB Number: 0578-0024.
Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2019.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: NRCS is collecting information from individuals who are
interested in volunteering to work with NRCS. The information will be
used by NRCS to assign the volunteer to an appropriate position, and to
track their volunteer time. Collection of this information is necessary
to match volunteers with NRCS assignments as authorized by section 1526
of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-98). NRCS is
authorized to recruit, train, and accept (following Civil Service
classification laws, rules, or regulations) individuals to serve
without compensation. Subject to certain conditions, most volunteers
may assist in agency programs or projects, and may perform activities
that the employees may perform. The two forms Volunteer Interest and
Placement Summary Forms, NRCS-PER-002, and Timesheet Form, NRCS-PER-
004, are used to collect information from the individuals.
The timesheet is an optional form and provides the volunteer or
volunteer's supervisor a simplified method for tracking the volunteer's
time. The form is placed in a volunteer ``case file'' and will be
destroyed 3 years after the volunteer has completed service. In the
event the volunteer is injured while engaged in volunteer activities
and claims workman's compensation, the ``case file'' will be
transferred to an Official Personnel Folder.
The information collection burden estimates have been updated.
There were no other revisions required.
Estimate of Average Time to Respond: Public reporting burden for
this collection of information is estimated to average 4 minutes per
response.
Type of Respondents: Retirees, students, teachers, or senior
citizens.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 7,120.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.5.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 14,440.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,010.80 hours.
We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information
collection to help us to:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of NRCS, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the
collection
[[Page 3140]]
of information, including the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
All responses received in response to this notice, including names
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public records.
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office
of Management and Budget approval.
Matt Lohr,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-01811 Filed 2-8-19; 8:45 am]
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