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[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31138-31139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12232]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, this 
notice announces the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service's (CSREES) intention to revise and extend a currently 
approved information collection, Form CSREES-1232, ``Project Summary,'' 
Form CSREES-1233, ``Conflict of Interest List,'' and Form CSREES-1234, 
``National Environmental Policy Act Exclusions Form''.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before July 20, 
2000, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Sally J. 
Rockey, Deputy Administrator, Competitive Research Grants and Awards 
Management, CSREES, USDA, STOP 2240, Washington, D.C. 20250-2240. E-
mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sally J. Rockey, (202) 401-1761.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Titles: Project Summary; Conflict of Interest List; and National 
Environmental Policy Act Exclusions Form.
    OMB Number: 0524-0033.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2000.
    Type of Request: Revise and extend currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: CSREES has primary responsibility for providing linkages 
between the Federal and State components of a broad-based, national 
agricultural research, extension, and education system. Focused on 
national issues, its purpose is to represent the Secretary of 
Agriculture and carry out the intent of Congress by administering

[[Page 31139]]

formula and grant funds appropriated for agricultural research, 
extension, and education. Before awards can be made, certain 
information is required from applicants as part of an overall proposal 
package. This information includes project summaries, descriptions of 
the research, literature reviews, curricula vitae of principal 
investigators, other relevant technical aspects of the proposed 
project, and supporting documentation of an administrative and 
budgetary nature.
    Since several programs use these forms and some programs are peer 
reviewed and others are not, the number of copies requested by CSREES 
varies. The number required may be as few as three and as many as 
fifteen. If the proposals are not peer reviewed fewer copies are needed 
since copies are not needed for members of a peer review panel. If a 
program uses a peer review panel the number of copies may still vary 
since the size of the panels vary with each program. Multiple copies 
are requested as a result of a desire to minimize delays in beginning 
the review process that would be caused if CSREES were required to make 
the copies inhouse, and minimization of the risk of proposals becoming 
separated, incorrectly organized, or misplaced during a high volume, 
minimally-staffed, time-driven photocopying process.
    CSREES developed a general ``Application Kit'' (OMB Approval 0525-
0022) for most of its programs. This kit includes the necessary forms 
and instructions for applicants requesting support under various 
competitive and noncompetitive funding programs sponsored by CSREES. In 
1994, CSREES sought and received approval of three additional forms. 
These forms include: Form CSREES-1232, ``Project Summary,'' Form 
CSREES-1233, ``Conflict of Interest List,'' and Form CSREES-1234, 
``National Environmental Policy Act Exclusions Form''. These forms are 
primarily used for proposal evaluation and administration. While some 
of the information will be used to respond to inquiries from Congress 
and other government agencies, the forms are not designed to be 
statistical surveys or data collection instruments. Their completion by 
potential recipients is a normal part of an application to Federal 
agencies for support for basic and applied scientific research, 
education and extension activities.
    The following information has been collected and will continue to 
be collected through these forms:
    CSREES-1232--Project Summary: Lists the Principal Investigator(s) 
and their institution(s), the proposal type (distinguishes among 
funding mechanisms), project title, and key words, along with a project 
summary which allows for quick screening and assignment of proposals to 
peer reviewers.
    CSREES-1233--Conflict of Interest List: Lists the person(s) in the 
field who by virtue of a current or prior relationship with the 
applicant may have a conflict of interest for purposes of selecting 
peer review panel members. This information aims to assure objective 
reviews, and the form has been revised to specifically cite potential 
conflicts of interest by category to assist applicants and CSREES in 
identifying such conflicts to better meet the standards in the various 
program administrative regulations.
    CSREES-1234--National Environmental Policy Act Exclusions Form: 
Assists identification of whether a proposal fits within one of the 
exclusions listed for compliance with NEPA (as implemented by USDA in 7 
CFR part 1b and supplemented by CSREES in 7 CFR part 3407). This 
information has been and will continue to be used in determinations as 
to whether further action is needed to meet the NEPA requirements.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4.25 hours for Form CSREES-1232, 
1.75 hours for Form CSREES-1233, and .25 hours for Form CSREES-1234. 
This average was based on a survey of grantees who had recently been 
approved for awards. They were asked to give an estimate of time it 
took them to complete each form. This estimate was to include such 
things as: (1) Reviewing the instructions; (2) Searching existing data 
sources; (3) Gathering and maintaining the data needed; and (4) Actual 
completion of the forms. The average time it took each respondent was 
calculated from their responses.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, business or other for 
profit, non-profit institutions and small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,200 for the CSREES-1232 and 
CSREES-1233; 5,000 for the CSREES-1234.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,450 hours, broken 
down by: 13,600 hours for the CSREES-1232 (4.25 hours per 3,200 
respondents); 5,600 hours for the CSREES-1233 (1.75 hours per 3,200 
respondents); and 1,250 hours for the CSREES-1234 (one-quarter hour per 
5,000 respondents).
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Sally J. 
Rockey, Deputy Administrator, CSREES, (202) 401-1761. E-mail: 
[email protected].
    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; (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. 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.

    Done at Washington, DC, on this 8th day of May, 2000.
Charles W. Laughlin,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-12232 Filed 5-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
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