Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 1997 / Notices 7435

or data collection instruments. Their

completion by potential recipients is a

normal part of the application to Federal

agencies which support basic and

applied scientific research.

The following information has been

collected and will continue to be

collected:

CSREES–1232—Proposal

Identification: 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—Identification of

Conflicts of Interest: Lists the person(s)

who are in conflict of interest with the

applicant(s). This has been used when

selecting peer review panels to assure

objective reviews, and has been revised

to specifically cite potential conflicts of

interest by category to better meet the

requirements set out in 7 CFR 3411.12.

CSREES–1234—Collection of

Environmental Impact Information:

Allows identification of whether or not

the proposal fits one of the exclusions

listed for compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act (7 CFR part

3407). This information has been and

will continue to be used in

determinations as to whether or not

further action is needed to meet the

requirements of this Act.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average one and onequarter hour per response.

Respondents: Non-profit institutions,

individuals, businesses, Federal

Government, and State, Local, or Tribal

Governments.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 3,200 for the CSREES–1232

and CSREES–1233; 4,800 for the

CSREES–1234.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 4,400 hours, broken down

by: 1,600 hours for the CSREES–1232

(one-half hour per 3,200 respondents);

1,600 hours for the CSREES–1233 (onehalf hour per 3,200 respondents); and

1,200 hours for the CSREES–1234 (onequarter hour per 4,800 respondents).

Copies of this information collection

can be obtained from Suzanne

Plimpton, Policy and Program Liaison

Staff, CSREES, (202) 401–1302. E-mail:

OEP@reeusda.gov.

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 may be sent to:

Sally J. Rockey, Deputy Administrator,

Competitive Research Grants and

Awards Management, CSREES, USDA,

STOP 2240, Washington, DC. 20250–

2240, (202) 401–1766. E-mail:

OEP@reeusda.gov.

All responses to this notice will be

summarized and included in the request

for OMB approval. All comments also

will become a matter of public record.

Done at Washington, DC, on this 7th day

of February, 1997.

B.H. Robinson,

Administrator, Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service.

[FR Doc. 97–3993 Filed 2–18–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–22–M

Foreign Agricultural Service

Notice of Request for Extension and

Revision of a Currently Approved

Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Foreign

Agricultural Service’s intention to

request an extension for, and a revision

to, a currently approved information

collection in support of the regulations

governing low-tier duty entry of rawcane sugar into the U.S. domestic

market.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by April 21, 1997 to be assured

of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Mail or deliver comments to Stephen C.

Hammond, Team Leader, Import

Policies and Programs Division, Foreign

Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Stop 1021, Washington, DC

20250–1021. For further information,

contract Mr. Hammond at telephone

number (202) 720–1061.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Certificate of Quota Eligibility

OMB NUMBER: 0551–0014.

Expiration date of approval: April 30,

1997.

Type of request: Extension and

revision of a currently approved

information collection.

Abstract: The Harmonized Tariff

Schedule of the United States (HTS)

authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture

to establish the quantity of raw cane

sugar which may be entered at the lowtier rates of the tariff-rate quota (TRQ).

The terms under which Certificates of

Quota Eligibility will be issued to

foreign countries that have been

allocated a share of the TRQ are set forth

in 15 C.F.R. Part 2011, Subpart A,

allocation of Tariff-rate quota on

Imported Sugars, Syrups, and Molasses.

The authority for Certificates of Quota

Eligibility is additional U.S. note

5(b)(iv) to chapter 17 of the HTS.

The regulations, promulgated by the

U.S. Trade Representative, provides for

the issuance of Certificates of Quota

Eligibility by the Secretary of

Agriculture, and in general prohibits

sugar subject to the TRQ from being

imported into the United States or

withdrawn from warehouse for

consumption at the low-tier duty rates

unless such sugar is accompanied by a

Certificate of Quota Eligibility.

Certificates of Quota Eligibility are

issued to foreign countries by the

‘‘Licensing Authority’’ who is the Team

Leader, Import Quota Programs, Import

Policies and Programs Division, Foreign

Agricultural Service, United States

Department of Agriculture, or his or her

designee. The issuance of Certificates of

Quota Eligibility is in such amounts and

at such times as the Secretary

determines are appropriate to enable the

foreign country to fill its quota

allocation for such quota period in a

reasonable manner, taking into account

traditional shipping patterns, harvesting

period, U.S. import requirements, and

other relevant factors.

The information required to be

collected on the Certificate of Quota

Eligibility is used to monitor and

control the imports of sugar. Proper

completion of the certificate of quota

eligibility is mandatory for those foreign

governments that are eligible and elect

to export raw sugar to the United States

under the provisions of the tariff-rate

quota.

Estimate of burden: The public

reporting burden for these collections

vary in direct relation to the number of

Certificates of Quota Eligibility issued.

Respondents: Foreign governments.

Estimated number of respondents: 40

per annum.

Estimated number of responses per

respondent: 15 per annum.
7436 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 1997 / Notices

Estimated total annual burden of

respondents: 100 hours.

Copies of this information collection

can be obtained from Valerie Countiss,

the agency Information Collection

Coordinator, at (202) 720–6713.

Request for comments: Send

comments regarding (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 automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Comments may be sent to Stephen C.

Hammond, Team Leader, Import

Policies and Programs Division, Foreign

Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Stop 1021, Washington, DC

20250–1021. All responses to this notice

will be summarized and included in the

request for OMB approval. All

comments will also become a matter of

public record.

Signed at Washington, DC, February 12,

1997.

August Schumacher, Jr.,

Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.

[FR Doc. 97–3994 Filed 2–18–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and

Technology

[Docket No. 961121324–7019–03]

RIN 0693–ZA14

Announcement of Availability of

Funding for Focused Program

Competitions—Advanced Technology

Program (ATP)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards

and Technology, Technology

Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Technology

Administration’s National Institute of

Standards and Technology (NIST)

announces the availability of funding

for four Focused Program competitions

under the Advanced Technology

Program (ATP) for fiscal year 1997,

targeted on specific technology areas.

The four Focused Program competitions

being held are: (1) 97–04, Digital Data

Storage; (2) 97–05, Technologies for the

Integration of Manufacturing

Applications (TIMA); (3) 97–06,

Component-Based Software (CBS); and

(4) 97–07, Tissue Engineering. This

notice provides general information for

these Focused Program competitions.

DATES: Proposal due dates and other

specific instructions will be published

in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD)

at the time the competitions are

announced. Dates, times, and locations

of Proposers’ Conferences held for

interested parties considering applying

for funding will also be announced in

the CBD.

ADDRESSES: Information on the ATP

may be obtained from the following

address: National Institute of Standards

and Technology, Advanced Technology

Program, Administration Building

(Bldg. 101), Room A407, Quince

Orchard & Clopper Roads, Gaithersburg,

MD 20899–0001.

Additionally, information on the ATP

is available on the Internet through the

World Wide Web (WWW) at http://

www.atp.nist.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for ATP information,

application materials, and/or to have

your name added to the ATP mailing

list for future mailings may also be

made by:

(a) Calling the ATP toll-free ‘‘hotline’’

number at 1–800–ATP-FUND or 1–800–

287–3863. You will have the option of

hearing recorded messages regarding the

status of the ATP or speaking to one of

our customer representatives who will

take your name and address. if our

representatives are all busy when you

call, leave a message after the tone. To

ensure that the information is entered

correctly, please speak distinctly and

slowly and spell the words that might

cause confusion. Leave your phone

number as well as your name and

address:

(b) Sending a facsimile (fax) to 301–

926–9524 or 301–590–3053; or

(c) Sending electronic mail to

atp@nist.gov. Include your name,

full mailing address, and phone

number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The statutory authority for the ATP is

Section 5131 of the Omnibus Trade and

Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub. L.

100–418, 15 U.S.C. 278n), as modified

by Pub. L. 102–245. The ATP

implementing regulations are published

at 15 CFR part 295. The Catalog of

Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

number and program title for the ATP

are 11.612, Advanced Technology

Program (ATP).

The ATP is a rigorously competitive

cost-sharing program designed to assist

United States industry/businesses

pursue high-risk, enabling technologies

with significant commercial/economic

potential. The ATP provides multi-year

funding to single companies and to

industry-led joint ventures to pursue

research and development (R&D)

projects with high-payoff potential for

the nation. The ATP accelerates

enabling technologies that, because they

are risky, are unlikely to be developed

in time to compete in rapidly changing

world markets without such a

partnership between industry and the

Federal government. The ATP

challenges industry to take on projects

characterized by high technical risk but

commensurately high potential payoff to

the nation. Proposers must provide

credible arguments as to the project

feasibility.

The funding instrument used in ATP

awards is a ‘‘cooperative agreement.’’

Through the cooperative agreement, the

ATP fosters a government-industry

partnership to accomplish a public

purpose of support or stimulation. NIST

plans a substantial role in these awards

by providing technical assistance and

monitoring the technical work and

business progress.

Funding Availability

An estimated $15 million in first year

funding is available for each of the

Focused Program Competitions 97–04,

97–05, and 97–06. An estimated $12

million in first year funding is available

for Focused Program Competition 97–

07. The ATP reserves the right to utilize

for any competition more or less

funding than the amounts stated above.

The actual number of proposals funded

will depend on the quality of the

proposals received and the amount of

funding requested in the highest ranked

proposals. Outyear funding beyond the

first year is contingent on the approval

of future Congressional appropriations

and satisfactory project performance.

Eligibility Requirements, Selection

Criteria, and Proposal Review Process

The eligibility requirements, selection

criteria, and the proposal review process

are discussed in detail in the ATP

implementing regulations published at

15 CFR Part 295.

Funding Amounts, Award Period and

Cost Sharing (Matching) Requirements

(a) Single companies can receive up to

$2 million of ATP funds for up to 3