### 2685 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 12 / Tuesday, January 20, 2015 / Notices

**DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION**

**[Docket No.: ED–2015–ICCD–0005]**

**Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Race to**  **the Top-Early Learning Challenge: Descriptive Study of Tiered Quality**  **Rating and Improvement Systems in Nine Round 1 States** 

**AGENCY :**  Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Department of Education (ED).

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq. ), ED is proposing a new information collection.

**DATES :**  Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 23, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http:// www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED–2015–ICCD–0005 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, ED will temporarily accept
comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted; ED will only accept comments during the comment period in this mailbox when the regulations.gov site is not available. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Mailstop L–OM–2–2E319, Room 2E115, Washington, DC 20202.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Tracy Rimdzius, 202–208–7154.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department’s information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Race to the TopEarly Learning Challenge: Descriptive Study of Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement Systems in Nine Round 1 States.

OMB Control Number: 1850–NEW. Type of Review: A new information collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 70.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 259.

Abstract: The Study of Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (RTT–ELC TQRIS) will collect data from two to three RTT–ELC states on TQRIS ratings, component-level ratings, indicator-level ratings, and kindergarten entry assessments. In the event that the kindergarten entry assessment data are not available from state databases, the study will reach out to selected districts in the RTT–ELC states to collect such data. If this step proves necessary, the study will reach out to up to 42 districts in order to ultimately recruit 14 districts from which to collect assessment data. The study will use these data to conduct analyses of the relationship between TQRIS ratings and child outcome measures to inform ongoing development and improvement of TQRIS systems at the state level.

Dated: January 13, 2015. Tomakie Washington, Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2015–00688 Filed 1–16–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY** 

**Wind and Water Power Program: Guidance and Application for**  **Hydroelectric Incentive Payments**

**AGENCY :**  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability of guidance and open application period.

**SUMMARY :**  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is publishing Guidance for the EPAct 2005 Section 242 Program. The guidance describes the hydroelectric incentive payment requirements and explains the type of information that owners or authorized operators of qualified hydroelectric facilities can provide DOE when applying for hydroelectric incentive payments. This incentive is available for electric energy generated and sold for a specified 10-year period as authorized under section 242 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. In Congressional appropriations for Federal fiscal year 2014, DOE received funds to support this hydroelectric incentive program for the first time. At this time, DOE is only accepting applications from owners and authorized operators of qualified hydroelectric facilities for hydroelectricity generated and sold in calendar year 2013.

**DATES :**  DOE is currently accepting applications from January 20, 2015 through February 19, 2015. Applications information must be sent to hydroincentive@ee.doe.gov by midnight EDT, February 19, 2015, or they will not be considered timely filed for calendar year 2013 incentive payments.

**ADDRESSES :**  Written correspondence may be sent to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE– 4), by email at hydroincentive@ ee.doe.gov

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Requests for additional information should be directed to Mr. Steven Lindenberg, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE–4), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121, (202) 586– 2783, hydroincentive@ee.doe.gov

. Electronic communications are recommended for correspondence and required for submission of application information.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  In the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005; Pub. L. 109–58), Congress established a new program to support the expansion of hydropower energy development at existing dams and impoundments