Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 58 / Friday, March 26, 2010 / Notices 14585 

by RSA to participate in these in-depth 

case studies to determine factors or 

variables that are related to high 

performance as defined for this project. 

The factors or variables may be 

decisions or activities that are under the 

control of the State VR agency, or they 

may be characteristics of the external 

State environment. Information from the 

case study analysis will be used in the 

design of an intervention model by the 

successful grantee that will serve as the 

basis for the demonstration projects to 

be carried out and evaluated by the 

grantee under this priority. 

Proposed Priority 

The Assistant Secretary for Special 

Education and Rehabilitative Services 

proposes a priority under the Special 

Demonstration Programs to fund a 

project to identify, develop, and 

implement model demonstration 

projects to improve outcomes for 

individuals receiving Social Security 

Disability Insurance (SSDI) who are 

served by State vocational rehabilitation 

(VR) agencies. Under this priority, the 

project must be designed to contribute 

to the following outcomes: 

• Identify through in-depth case 

study of selected State VR agencies 

factors that account for the relatively 

better qualitative and quantitative 

results of these agencies in achieving 

employment outcomes at or above 

substantial gainful activity (SGA) for 

SSDI beneficiaries. 

• Determine whether there are a 

sufficient number of factors related to 

the better employment outcome results 

that are within the control of the State 

VR agency, and if so, develop an 

intervention model incorporating those 

factors that can be replicated in other 

State VR agencies and that can be 

evaluated in terms of the model’s 

impact after implementation. 

• Implement and evaluate the 

intervention model in at least three 

State VR agencies, selected by the 

Rehabilitation Services Administration 

(RSA) based on information provided by 

the grantee, that are willing to 

implement the model. One criterion for 

selecting these State VR agencies is that 

SSDI beneficiaries whom they serve 

have an employment outcome rate at or 

below the rate for other State VR 

agencies. 

• If the model demonstration projects 

show an improved employment rate for 

SSDI beneficiaries, complete the 

development of the intervention model 

incorporating information acquired 

through the model demonstration 

projects, recommend any strategies 

needed for implementation of the model 

by other State VR agencies, and 

disseminate the findings of this 

demonstration project to State VR 

agencies. 

Types of Priorities 

When inviting applications for a 

competition using one or more 

priorities, we designate the type of each 

priority as absolute, competitive 

preference, or invitational through a 

notice in the Federal Register. The 

effect of each type of priority follows: 

Absolute priority: Under an absolute 

priority, we consider only applications 

that meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(3)). 

Competitive preference priority: 

Under a competitive preference priority, 

we give competitive preference to an 

application by (1) awarding additional 

points, depending on the extent to 

which the application meets the priority 

(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting 

an application that meets the priority 

over an application of comparable merit 

that does not meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(2)(ii)). 

Invitational priority: Under an 

invitational priority, we are particularly 

interested in applications that meet the 

priority. However, we do not give an 

application that meets the priority a 

preference over other applications (34 

CFR 75.105(c)(1)). 

Final Priority 

We will announce the final priority in 

a notice in the Federal Register. We will 

determine the final priority after 

considering responses to this notice and 

other information available to the 

Department. This notice does not 

preclude us from proposing additional 

priorities, requirements, definitions, or 

selection criteria, subject to meeting 

applicable rulemaking requirements. 

Note: This notice does not solicit 

applications. In any year in which we choose 

to use this priority, we invite applications 

through a notice in the Federal Register. 

Executive Order 12866: This notice 

has been reviewed in accordance with 

Executive Order 12866. Under the terms 

of the order, we have assessed the 

potential costs and benefits of this 

proposed regulatory action. 

The potential costs associated with 

this proposed regulatory action are 

those resulting from statutory 

requirements and those we have 

determined as necessary for 

administering this program effectively 

and efficiently. 

In assessing the potential costs and 

benefits—both quantitative and 

qualitative—of this proposed regulatory 

action, we have determined that the 

benefits of the proposed priority justify 

the costs. 

Intergovernmental Review: This 

program is subject to Executive Order 

12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR 

part 79. One of the objectives of the 

Executive order is to foster an 

intergovernmental partnership and a 

strengthened federalism. The Executive 

order relies on processes developed by 

State and local governments for 

coordination and review of proposed 

Federal financial assistance. 

This document provides early 

notification of our specific plans and 

actions for this program. 

Accessible Format: Individuals with 

disabilities can obtain this document in 

an accessible format (e.g., braille, large 

print, audiotape, or computer diskette) 

by contacting the Grants and Contracts 

Services Team, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 

room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 

20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245– 

7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll 

free, at 1–800–877–8339. 

Electronic Access to This Document: 

You can view this document, as well as 

all other documents of this Department 

published in the Federal Register, in the 

text or Adobe Portable Document 

Format (PDF) on the Internet at the 

following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ 

fedregister. To use PDF you must have 

the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 

available free at this site. 

Note: The official version of this document 

is the document published in the Federal 

Register. Free Internet access to the official 

edition of the Federal Register and the Code 

of Federal Regulations is available on GPO 

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/ 

index.html. 

Dated: March 23, 2010. 

Alexa Posny, 

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services. 

[FR Doc. 2010–6787 Filed 3–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

National Institute on Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)— 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Projects and Centers Program— 

Rehabilitation Research and Training 

Centers (RRTCs)—Employment 

Outcomes for Individuals Who Are 

Blind or Visually Impaired 

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services, Department of 

Education. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed priority. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

(CFDA) Number: 84.133B–6. 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
14586 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 58 / Friday, March 26, 2010 / Notices 

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for 

Special Education and Rehabilitative 

Services proposes a priority for the 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Projects and Centers Program 

administered by NIDRR. Specifically, 

this notice proposes a priority for an 

RRTC. The Assistant Secretary may use 

this priority for competitions in fiscal 

year (FY) 2010 and later years. We take 

this action to focus research attention on 

areas of national need. We intend this 

priority to improve rehabilitation 

services and outcomes for individuals 

with disabilities. 

DATES: We must receive your comments 

on or before April 26, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Address all comments about 

this notice to Donna Nangle, U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland 

Avenue, SW., room 6029, Potomac 

Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 

20202–2700. 

If you prefer to send your comments 

by e-mail, use the following address: 

donna.nangle@ed.gov. You must 

include the term ‘‘Proposed Priority for 

an RRTC on Center on Employment 

Outcomes for Individuals who are Blind 

or Visually Impaired’’ in the subject line 

of your electronic message. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 245– 

7462 or by e-mail: 

donna.nangle@ed.gov. 

If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD), call the 

Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 

1–800–877–8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice of proposed priority is in concert 

with NIDRR’s Final Long-Range Plan for 

FY 2005–2009 (Plan). The Plan, which 

was published in the Federal Register 

on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8165), can 

be accessed on the Internet at the 

following site: http://www.ed.gov/ 

about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/ 

policy.html. 

Through the implementation of the 

Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve the 

quality and utility of disability and 

rehabilitation research; (2) foster an 

exchange of expertise, information, and 

training to facilitate the advancement of 

knowledge and understanding of the 

unique needs of traditionally 

underserved populations; (3) determine 

best strategies and programs to improve 

rehabilitation outcomes for underserved 

populations; (4) identify research gaps; 

(5) identify mechanisms of integrating 

research and practice; and (6) 

disseminate findings. 

Invitation to Comment: We invite you 

to submit comments regarding this 

notice. 

We invite you to assist us in 

complying with the specific 

requirements of Executive Order 12866 

and its overall requirement of reducing 

regulatory burden that might result from 

this proposed priority. Please let us 

know of any further ways we could 

reduce potential costs or increase 

potential benefits while preserving the 

effective and efficient administration of 

the program. 

During and after the comment period, 

you may inspect all public comments 

about this notice in room 6029, 550 12th 

Street, SW., PCP, Washington, DC, 

between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 

p.m., Washington, DC time, Monday 

through Friday of each week except 

Federal holidays. 

Assistance to Individuals With 

Disabilities in Reviewing the 

Rulemaking Record: On request we will 

provide an appropriate accommodation 

or auxiliary aid to an individual with a 

disability who needs assistance to 

review the comments or other 

documents in the public rulemaking 

record for this notice. If you want to 

schedule an appointment for this type of 

accommodation or auxiliary aid, please 

contact the person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 

Purpose of Program: The purpose of 

the Disability and Rehabilitation 

Research Projects and Centers Program 

is to plan and conduct research, 

demonstration projects, training, and 

related activities to develop methods, 

procedures, and rehabilitation 

technology that maximize the full 

inclusion and integration into society, 

employment, independent living, family 

support, and economic and social selfsufficiency of individuals with 

disabilities, especially individuals with 

the most severe disabilities, and to 

improve the effectiveness of services 

authorized under the Rehabilitation Act 

of 1973, as amended. 

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 

764(b)(2). 

Applicable Program Regulations: 34 

CFR part 350. 

Proposed Priority 

This notice contains one proposed 

priority. 

Center on Employment Outcomes for 

Individuals Who are Blind or Visually 

Impaired 

Background 

Rehabilitation Research and Training 

Centers (RRTCs) 

The purpose of the RRTC program is 

to improve the effectiveness of services 

authorized under the Rehabilitation Act 

of 1973, as amended, through advanced 

research, training, technical assistance, 

and dissemination activities in general 

problem areas, as specified by NIDRR. 

Such activities are designed to benefit 

rehabilitation service providers, 

individuals with disabilities, and the 

family members or other authorized 

representatives of individuals with 

disabilities. In addition, NIDRR intends 

to require all RRTC applicants to meet 

the requirements of the General 

Rehabilitation Research and Training 

Centers (RRTC) Requirements priority 

that it published in a notice of final 

priorities in the Federal Register on 

February 1, 2008 (72 FR 6132). 

Additional information on the RRTC 

program can be found at: http:// 

www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/resprogram.html#RRTC. 

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements 

of RRTCs 

RRTCs must— 

• Carry out coordinated advanced 

programs of rehabilitation research; 

• Provide training, including 

graduate, pre-service, and in-service 

training, to help rehabilitation 

personnel more effectively provide 

rehabilitation services to individuals 

with disabilities; 

• Provide technical assistance to 

individuals with disabilities, their 

representatives, providers, and other 

interested parties; 

• Demonstrate in their applications 

how they will address, in whole or in 

part, the needs of individuals with 

disabilities from minority backgrounds; 

• Disseminate informational materials 

to individuals with disabilities, their 

representatives, providers, and other 

interested parties; and 

• Serve as centers of national 

excellence in rehabilitation research for 

individuals with disabilities, their 

representatives, providers, and other 

interested parties. 

Center on Employment Outcomes for 

Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually 

Impaired 

Background 

More than 21 million noninstitutionalized adults, age 18 and 

above, report trouble seeing even when 

wearing glasses or contacts (U.S. 

Department of Health and Human 

Services, 2008). Of working-age (16–64 

years) individuals who report blindness 

or serious difficulty seeing even when 

wearing glasses, 38.9 percent are 

employed (American Foundation for the 

Blind, 2009). In contrast, 71.2 percent of 

individuals in this age range with no 

disabling condition are employed (U.S. 

Department of Labor, 2009). 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 58 / Friday, March 26, 2010 / Notices 14587 

Previous research, some of which has 

been conducted by NIDRR-funded 

centers on blindness and low vision, has 

identified a number of barriers to, and 

facilitators of, employment for 

individuals who are blind or visually 

impaired. Facilitators include, but are 

not limited to, postsecondary education 

or training, braille literacy, inclusive 

corporate cultures, and some 

characteristics of vocational 

rehabilitation (VR) services (CapellaMcDonall, 2005; Golub, 2006; Jernigan 

Institute, 2009; Kirchner & Smith, 2005). 

Barriers include negative employer 

attitudes about blindness and work 

disincentives experienced by Social 

Security beneficiaries. These 

disincentives include reduced benefits 

and potential ineligibility for health care 

coverage for those who become 

employed and whose income exceeds 

program income limits (Crudden, 

Sansing & Butler, 2005; Stapleton, 

O’Day, Livermore, & Imparato, 2006). 

There is little empirical research that 

applies the results of this research on 

barriers and facilitators to the 

development and testing of specific 

practices, services, and interventions to 

improve employment outcomes in 

either the general population of 

individuals who are blind or who have 

visual impairments, or in 

subpopulations of individuals from this 

population who are at even greater risk 

for poor employment outcomes. Such 

populations include, but are not limited 

to, individuals who have more severe 

vision loss or who have multiple 

disabilities (National Longitudinal 

Transition Study-2, 2005; Shaw, Gold & 

Wolffe, 2007). 

Moreover, although there are a variety 

of services, practices, and interventions 

that are currently being used to improve 

employment outcomes for individuals 

who are blind or visually impaired, 

there is little research that supports the 

effectiveness and use of these 

interventions and practices. Some of 

these interventions and practices 

directly relate to improving employment 

outcomes. These include the use of peer 

mentoring as well as collaborations 

between VR agencies and consumer 

organizations that can provide access to 

mentors and input regarding VR 

services and counselor training (Drew & 

Alan, 2006; Iowa Department for the 

Blind, 2009; National Federation of the 

Blind, 2009). Other practices and 

interventions, such as training to 

promote positive adjustment to an 

acquired disability, and orientation/ 

mobility training, are intended to have 

more general effects, but appear to affect 

occupational success as well (Drew & 

Alan, 2004; Omvig, 2005). Research is 

necessary to determine the effectiveness 

of these practices and to identify and 

validate other promising practices that 

improve employment outcomes for this 

population. 

References 

American Foundation for the Blind. (2009). 

Interpreting Bureau of Labor Statistics 

employment data. See http://

www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=15&

SubTopicID=177. 

Capella-McDonnall, M.E. (2005). Predictors 

of competitive employment for blind and 

visually impaired consumers of 

vocational rehabilitation services. 

Journal of Visual Impairment & 

Blindness, 99, 303–315. 

Crudden, A., Sansing, W., & Butler, S. (2005). 

Overcoming barriers to employment: 

Strategies of rehabilitation providers. 

Journal of Visual Impairment & 

Blindness, 99, 325–335. 

Drew, D.W., & Alan, G.M. (Eds). (2004). 

Contemporary issues in orientation and 

mobility. Institute on Rehabilitation 

Issues, Monograph No. 29. Washington, 

DC: The George Washington University, 

Rehabilitation Continuing Education 

Program. 

Drew, D.W., & Alan, G.M (Eds.). (2006). 

Consumer organizations: Important 

resources for vocational rehabilitation 

agencies. Institute on Rehabilitation 

Issues Monograph No. 31. Washington, 

DC: The George Washington University, 

Center for Rehabilitation Counseling 

Research and Education. 

Golub, D.B. (2006). A model of successful 

work experience for employees who are 

visually impaired: The results of a study. 

Journal of Visual Impairment & 

Blindness, 100, 715–725. 

Iowa Department for the Blind. (2009). 

Pathfinders: Changing Lives together. 

See http://www.blind.state.ia.us/living/

pathfinders. 

Jernigan Institute. (2009). The Braille literacy 

crisis in America: Facing the truth, 

reversing the trend, empowering the 

blind. National Federation of the Blind. 

See http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Braille_

Initiative.asp. 

Kirchner, C, & Smith, B. (2005). Transition to 

what?: Education and employment 

outcomes for visually impaired youths 

after high school. Journal of Visual 

Impairment & Blindness, 99, 499–503. 

National Federation of the Blind. (2009). 

National Center for Mentoring 

Excellence: A program of the National 

Federation of the Blind. See http://

www.nfb.org/nfb/NCME_

Brochure1.asp?SnID=1447563890. 

National Longitudinal Transition Study-2. 

(2005). Changes over time in the early 

post school outcomes of youth with 

disabilities. See http://www.nlts2.org/

reports/2005_06/. 

Omvig, J.H. (2005). Freedom for the blind: 

The secret is empowerment. Baltimore, 

MD: National Federation of the Blind. 

Shaw, A., Gold, E., & Wolffe, K. (2007). 

Employment-related experiences of 

youths who are visually impaired: How 

are these youths faring? Journal of Visual 

Impairment & Blindness, 101, 7–21. 

Stapleton, D.C., O’Day, B.L., Livermore, G.A., 

& Imparato, A.J. (2006). Dismantling the 

poverty trap: Disability policy for the 

twenty-first century. The Milbank 

Quarterly, 84, 701–732. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services. (2008). Summary health 

statistics for the U.S. population: 

National Health Interview Survey, 2006. 

(DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2008– 

1564). Hyattsville, MD. 

Proposed Priority 

The Assistant Secretary for Special 

Education and Rehabilitative Services 

proposes a priority for a Rehabilitation 

Research and Training Center (RRTC) on 

Employment Outcomes for Individuals 

Who are Blind or Visually Impaired. 

This RRTC must conduct research that 

contributes to improving competitive 

employment outcomes for individuals 

who are blind or visually impaired, 

consistent with the individual’s 

informed choice and abilities (see 

section 100(a)(2)(B) of Title I of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended). 

For the purposes of this priority, this 

population is defined as individuals 

who have ‘‘central visual acuity of 20/ 

200 or less in the better eye with the use 

of a correcting lens. An eye which is 

accompanied by a limitation in the 

fields of vision such that the widest 

diameter of the visual field subtends an 

angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be 

considered for purposes of this 

paragraph as having a central visual 

acuity of 20/200 or less’’ (42 U.S.C. 

416(i)(1)(B)). Under this priority, the 

RRTC must contribute to the following 

outcomes: 

(a) Evidence-based interventions and 

practices designed to facilitate 

competitive employment outcomes for 

individuals who are blind or visually 

impaired. The RRTC must contribute to 

this outcome by developing and 

evaluating new interventions and 

practices, evaluating practices currently 

in use, or by conducting both of these 

types of research. 

(b) New knowledge about 

employment interventions and practices 

for individuals who are blind or visually 

impaired, and who are also at greater 

risk for poor employment outcomes due 

to other individual characteristics (e.g., 

individuals with more severe vision loss 

or individuals with multiple 

disabilities). The RRTC must contribute 

to this outcome by conducting research 

with at least one at-risk group (as 

described earlier in this paragraph) to: 

develop and evaluate new interventions 

or practices, evaluate practices currently 

being used with members of the at-risk 

group, or by conducting both of these 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
14588 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 58 / Friday, March 26, 2010 / Notices 

types of research. Applicants must 

identify the specific at-risk group or 

groups they propose to study, provide 

evidence that the selected population or 

populations are, in fact, at greater risk 

for poor employment outcomes, and 

explain how the proposed interventions 

and practices are expected to address 

the needs of the population or 

populations. 

(c) Increased incorporation of research 

findings into practice and policy. The 

RRTC must contribute to this outcome 

by: 

(1) Collaborating with providers of 

vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, 

employer groups, and stakeholders (e.g., 

individuals who are blind or visually 

impaired or consumer groups) in 

conducting the work of the RRTC; and 

(2) Conducting training and 

dissemination activities to facilitate the 

utilization of research findings in 

employment and VR settings. 

(d) In addition, through coordination 

with the NIDRR Project Officer, this 

RRTC must collaborate with: 

(1) Appropriate NIDRR-funded 

grantees, including knowledge 

translation grantees; and 

(2) Relevant Office of Special 

Education Programs and Rehabilitation 

Services Administration grantees. 

Types of Priorities 

When inviting applications for a 

competition using one or more 

priorities, we designate the type of each 

priority as absolute, competitive 

preference, or invitational through a 

notice in the Federal Register. The 

effect of each type of priority follows: 

Absolute priority: Under an absolute 

priority, we consider only applications 

that meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(3)). 

Competitive preference priority: 

Under a competitive preference priority, 

we give competitive preference to an 

application by (1) awarding additional 

points, depending on the extent to 

which the application meets the priority 

(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting 

an application that meets the priority 

over an application of comparable merit 

that does not meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(2)(ii)). 

Invitational priority: Under an 

invitational priority, we are particularly 

interested in applications that meet the 

priority. However, we do not give an 

application that meets the priority a 

preference over other applications (34 

CFR 75.105(c)(1)). 

Final Priority 

We will announce the final priority in 

a notice in the Federal Register. We will 

determine the final priority after 

considering responses to this notice and 

other information available to the 

Department. This notice does not 

preclude us from proposing additional 

priorities, requirements, definitions, or 

selection criteria, subject to meeting 

applicable rulemaking requirements. 

Note: This notice does not solicit 

applications. In any year in which we choose 

to use this priority, we invite applications 

through a notice in the Federal Register. 

Executive Order 12866: This notice 

has been reviewed in accordance with 

Executive Order 12866. Under the terms 

of the order, we have assessed the 

potential costs and benefits of this 

proposed regulatory action. 

The potential costs associated with 

this proposed regulatory action are 

those resulting from statutory 

requirements and those we have 

determined as necessary for 

administering this program effectively 

and efficiently. 

In assessing the potential costs and 

benefits—both quantitative and 

qualitative—of this proposed regulatory 

action, we have determined that the 

benefits of the proposed priority justify 

the costs. 

Discussion of Costs and Benefits 

The benefits of the Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research Projects and 

Centers Program have been well 

established over the years in that similar 

projects have been completed 

successfully. This proposed priority will 

generate new knowledge and 

technologies through research, 

development, dissemination, utilization, 

and technical assistance projects. 

Another benefit of this proposed 

priority is that the establishment of a 

new RRTC will support and will 

improve the lives of individuals with 

disabilities. The new RRTC will 

generate, disseminate, and promote the 

use of new information that will 

improve the options for individuals 

with disabilities to obtain, retain, and 

advance in employment. 

Intergovernmental Review: This 

program is not subject to Executive 

Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 

CFR part 79. 

Accessible Format: Individuals with 

disabilities can obtain this document in 

an accessible format (e.g., braille, large 

print, audiotape, or computer diskette) 

by contacting the Grants and Contracts 

Services Team, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 

Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 

20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245– 

7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll 

free, at 1–800–877–8339. 

Electronic Access to This Document: 

You can view this document, as well as 

all other documents of this Department 

published in the Federal Register, in 

text or Adobe Portable Document 

Format (PDF) on the Internet at the 

following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ 

fedregister. To use PDF you must have 

Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 

available free at this site. 

Note: The official version of this document 

is the document published in the Federal 

Register. Free Internet access to the official 

edition of the Federal Register and the Code 

of Federal Regulations is available on GPO 

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/ 

index.html. 

Dated: March 23, 2010. 

Alexa Posny, 

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services. 

[FR Doc. 2010–6783 Filed 3–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Proposed Agency Information 

Collection 

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy. 

ACTION: Notice and request for OMB 

review and comment. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, the Department 

of Energy (DOE) invites public comment 

on a proposed emergency collection of 

information that DOE is developing to 

collect data on the status of activities, 

project progress, jobs created and 

retained, spend rates and performance 

metrics under the American Recovery 

and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 

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 shall 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 respondents, including through the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of information 

technology. 

DATES: Comments regarding this 

collection must be received on or before 

April 9, 2010. If you anticipate difficulty 

in submitting comments within that 

period, contact the person listed in 

ADDRESSES as soon as possible. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be 

sent to: 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES