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###### Department of Education

          - [Docket No.: ED-2022-SCC-0018]

# AGENCY:

Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), Department of Education (ED).

# ACTION:

Notice.

# SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct an emergency review of a revision of a currently approved collection.

# DATES:

The Department is requesting emergency processing and OMB approval for this information collection by March 15, 2022; and therefore, the Department is requesting public comments by March 14, 2022. A regular clearance process is also hereby being initiated to provide the public with the opportunity to comment under the full comment period. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 18, 2022.

# ADDRESSES:

                        To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use                         *http://www.regulations.gov*                         by searching the Docket ID number ED-2022-SCC-0018. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at                         *http://www.regulations.gov*                         by selecting the Docket ID number 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 include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments.                         *Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted.*                         Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the PRA Coordinator of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W208D, Washington, DC 20202-8240.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Karen Epps, 202-453-6337.

# 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                           ( print page 8821)                        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:*                     HEERF Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     1840-0849.                

*Type of Review:*                     A revision of a currently approved collection.                

*Respondents/Affected Public:*                     Private Sector; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.                

*Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses:*                     20,680.                

*Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours:*                     103,400.                

*Abstract:*                     Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020), authorizes the Secretary of Education to allocate formula grant funds to participating institutions of higher educations (IHEs). Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act allows the IHEs to use up to one-half of the total funds received to cover any costs associated with the significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus (with specific exceptions). Section 18004(a)(2) of the CARES Act authorizes the Secretary to make awards under parts A and B of title III, parts A and B of title V, and subpart 4 of part A of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (“HEA”), to address needs directly related to the coronavirus. These awards are in addition to awards made in Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. Section 18004(a)(3) of the CARES Act, Pub. authorizes the Secretary to allocate funds for part B of Title VII of the HEA, for IHEs that the Secretary determines have the greatest unmet needs related to coronavirus.                

This information collection request includes additions and revisions to the quarterly budget and expenditure reporting form used by grantees under these sections of the CARES Act, as well as comparable sections of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (Pub. L. 116-260) and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2). These revisions to the collection will ensure the Department will be able to more effectively monitor the use of funds by grantees that have received awards under these sections. The majority of the quarterly report aligns closely with the recently-approved annual reporting form, for which 60- and 30-day comment notices were published.

*Additional Information:*                     The Department is requesting emergency approval to allow the revisions to be implemented and announced prior to the first quarter reporting deadline on April 10, 2022. If the Department is unable to implement the changes in time for this reporting deadline, the Department will be lacking critical information needed to monitor and provide technical assistance to HEERF grantees. Given the amount of HEERF funds that have been distributed, it is imperative that the Department has the information needed to ensure that all uses of funds are in accordance with the governing statutes and program guidance.                

Kate Mullan,

PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.

[FR Doc. 2022-03268 Filed 2-15-22; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P