[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 200 (Monday, October 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61185-61186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26442]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


30 Day Federal Register Notice of Submission of Network to 
Freedom Application Package to Office of Management and Budget; 
Opportunity for Public Comment

AGENCY: Department of the Interior; National Park Service; and National 
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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ABSTRACT: Public Law 105-203 authorizes the National Underground 
Railroad Network to Freedom Program (NURNFP) to develop and administer 
the Network to Freedom, a nationwide collection of governmental and 
nongovernmental properties facilities, and programs associated with the 
historic Underground Railroad movement. The NURNFP is developing an 
application process through which associated elements can be included 
in the Network to Freedom. The information collection will (a) verify 
associations to the Underground Railroad, (b) measure minimum levels of 
standards for inclusion in the Network, and (c) identify general 
element activities.

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
and 5 CFR parts 1320, Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements, the 
NPS invites public comment on the proposed information collection 
request (ICR). Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the 
information including whether the information has practical utility, 
(2) the accuracy of the reporting burden estimate; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. The purpose of the proposed ICR 
is to evaluate sites, facilities, and programs that are applying for 
inclusion in the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The 
information will be used by the National Park Service to determine if 
sites, facilities, and programs seeking inclusion in the Network to 
Freedom meet the minimum elements criteria.
    There were no public comments received as a result of publishing in 
the Federal Register a 60 day notice of intention to request clearance 
of information collection for this survey.

DATES: Public comments will be accepted on or before November 15, 2000.

SEND COMMENTS TO: The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of 
OMB, Attention Desk Officer for the Interior Department, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20530. Please also send 
comments to Diane Miller, National Coordinator, Underground Railroad 
Network to Freedom Program, National Park Service, Midwest Regional 
Office, 1709 Jackson St., Omaha, Nebraska 68102.
    Public comments, including names and addresses of respondents, may 
be made available for public review. Individual respondents may request 
that their address be withheld from the public comment record. This 
will be honored to the extent allowable by law. There also may be 
circumstances in which a respondent's identity would be withheld from 
the public comment record, as allowable by law. If you wish to withhold 
your name and/or address, you must stat this prominently at the 
beginning of your comment. Anonymous comments will not be considered. 
Comments from organizations or businesses, and from individuals or 
businesses may be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.
    Copies of the proposed ICR requirements can be obtained from Diane 
Miller, National Coordinator, Underground Railroad Network to Freedom 
Program, National Park Service, Midwest Regional Office, 1709 Jackson 
St., Omaha, Nebraska 68102.

[[Page 61186]]

    The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information 
collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to ensure maximum 
consideration, OMB should receive comments 30 days from the date of 
publication in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE STUDY PACKAGE SUBMITTED FOR 
OMB REVIEW, CONTACT: Diane Miller, phone: 402-221-3749, or Aaron Mahr, 
505-988-6736.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Application.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    OMB Number: To be assigned.
    Expiration Date: To be assigned.
    Type of Request: Request for new clearance.
    Description of Need: The National Underground Railroad Network to 
Freedom Program is identifying guidelines and criteria for associated 
elements to enter the Network to Freedom. The Application documents 
sites, facilities, and programs, and demonstrates that they meet the 
criteria established for inclusion. The documentation will be 
incorporated into a database that will be available to the general 
public for information purposes.
    The proposed information to be collected regarding these sites, 
facilities, or programs is not available from existing records, 
sources, or observations.
    Automated Data Collection: Respondents must verify associations and 
characteristics through descriptive texts that are the result of 
historical research. Evaluations are based on subjective analysis of 
the information provided. At the present time there is no automated way 
to gather this information.
    Description of Respondents: The affected public is state, tribal, 
and local governments, federal agencies, businesses, non-profit 
organizations, and individuals, throughout the United States. 
Applications to the Network to Freedom are voluntary.
    Estimated Average Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Average Number of Responses: Each respondent will respond 
only one time, so the numbers of responses will be the same as the 
number of respondents.
    Estimated Average Burden Hours per Response: 10 hours.
    Frequency of Response: One time per respondent.
    Estimated Annual Reporting Burden: 1000 hours.

Leonard E. Stowe, Information Collections Clearance Officer, WASO 
Administrative Program Center, National Park Service.

    Dated: September 29, 2000.
Betsy Chittenden,
Acting Manager, Administrative Program Center, WASO, NPS.
[FR Doc. 00-26442 Filed 10-13-00; 8:45 am]
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