[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43235-43236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15406]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 20, 2022 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43235]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Notice of Intent To Extend and Revise a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice 
announces the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) 
intention to request an extension and revision of collection titled 
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP).

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by September 
19, 2022 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that 
date will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
    Instructions: All comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Martin, 202-445-5388, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program 
(VMLRP).
    OMB Control Number: 0524-0050.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: 12/31/2022.
    Type of Request: Notice of intent to extend and revise a currently 
approved information collection.
    NIFA is requesting a three-year extension for the current 
collection entitled ``Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.''
    NIFA is also proposing to update the VMLRP application forms to 
ensure that they align with the VMLRP loan repayment and awardee 
requirements as found in 7 U.S.C. 3151a and 7 CFR 3431, as well as 
updated VMLRP program policies as outlined in NIFA-21-015 VMLRP Program 
Guidance Manual (March 2021).
    Abstract: In January 2003, the National Veterinary Medical Services 
Act (NVMSA) was passed into law adding section 1415A to the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1997. This 
law established a new Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program 
(VMLRP) (7 U.S.C. 3151a) authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to 
carry out a program of entering into agreements with veterinarians 
under which they agree to provide veterinary services in veterinarian 
shortage situations. The purpose of the program is to ensure an 
adequate supply of trained food animal veterinarians in shortage 
situations.
    NIFA is requesting to extend and modify a currently approved 
information collection. NIFA will collect information from current and 
former VMLRP participants and State Animal Health Officials. NIFA will 
use this information to assess the VMLRP program and to improve 
oversight of the program. Each form has been updated to align with the 
VMLRP loan repayment and awardee requirements as found in 7 U.S.C. 
3151a and 7 CFR 3431, as well as updated VMLRP program policies. The 
surveys have been modified based on stakeholder input to maximize the 
impact of feedback collected and minimize the burden of responding for 
State Animal Health Officials, applicants, and participants of the 
VMLRP.
    Total Estimate of Burden: The estimated annual reporting burden for 
all VMLRP collection is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Estimated
                                                                     Estimated       Estimated     total annual
               Type of respondents                   Number of       number of      burden per       burden on
                                                    respondents    responses per     response       respondents
                                                                    respondent        (hours)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicants:
    Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program,              150               1              11           1,650
     Application OMB0524-0050...................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Applicants subtotal.....................  ..............  ..............  ..............           1,650
State Animal Health Officials:
    Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program                60               4               2             480
     Shortage Situation Nomination OMB0524-0050.
    Survey of Animal Health Officials Completing              60               1             .25              15
     VMLRP Veterinary Shortage Nomination Form..
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        State Animal Health Officials subtotal..  ..............  ..............  ..............             495
Active Participants:
    Service Log.................................             150             260             .25           9,750
    Applicant Feedback Survey...................             150               1             .25              38
    Awardee Feedback Survey.....................              80               1             .25              20
    Close-out Report............................              80               1              .5              40
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Active Participants subtotal............  ..............  ..............  ..............           9,848
Past Participants:

[[Page 43236]]

 
    Post-Award Termination Survey...............             240               1             .25              60
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Past Participants subtotal..............  ..............  ..............  ..............              60
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
            Grand Total.........................  ..............  ..............  ..............          12,053
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (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.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request to OMB for approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.
    Obtaining a Copy of the Information Collection: A copy of the 
information collection and related instructions may be obtained free of 
charge by contacting Robert Martin as directed above.

    Done at Washington, DC, this day of July 5, 2022.
Dionne Toombs,
Acting Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2022-15406 Filed 7-19-22; 8:45 am]
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