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[Federal Register: May 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 86)]
[Notices]               
[Page 24568]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05my10-37]                         

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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[[Page 24568]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service

 
Notice of Intent To Seek OMB Approval To Collect Information: 
Revision of a Form Pertaining to the Peer Review of ARS Research 
Projects

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The proposed revised form for the information collection 
requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB implementing regulations. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 9, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to: Michael S. 
Strauss, Peer Review Program Coordinator, Office of Scientific Quality 
Review; Agricultural Research Agency, USDA; 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, 
Beltsville, Maryland; 20705; Phone: 301-504-3283; Fax: 301-504-1251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Strauss, 301-504-3283.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Scientific Quality Review will 
seek approval from OMB to revise one existing form so as to comply with 
new Transportation Security Administration information needs for 
travelers. All forms are transferred and received in an electronic 
storage format that does not include on-line access.
    Abstract: The Office of Scientific Quality Review was established 
in September of 1999 as a result of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act 1998 (``The Act'')(Pub. L. 105-
185). The Act included mandates to perform scientific peer reviews of 
all research activities conducted by the USDA. The Office manages the 
ARS peer review system by centrally planning peer panel reviews for ARS 
research projects on a five-year cycle.
    Each set of reviews is assigned a chairperson to govern the review 
process. The majority of the peer reviewers are non-ARS scientists. 
Peer review panels are convened to provide in-depth discussion and 
review of the research project plans. Each panel reviewer receives 
information on between 1 and 20 ARS research projects.
    On average, 220 research projects are reviewed annually by an 
estimated 100 reviewers; whereby approximately 200 are reviewed by 
panel and approximately 20 are reviewed through an ad hoc process. The 
organization and management of this peer review system, particularly 
panel reviews, is highly dependent on the use of forms.
    The Office of Scientific Quality Review will seek OMB approval of 
the revised Panelist Information Form- USDA uses this form to gather 
up-to-date background information about the reviewer, as well as 
information necessary for the payment of the honorarium and, where 
necessary, for arranging travel. This form requires an original 
signature. Because of the sensitive nature of information on this form 
it is not copied or stored in an electronic file. The copy received is 
held only in a single locked file and destroyed when no longer needed, 
and in accordance with the relevant Records Retention Policies and 
under conditions mandated by the Privacy Act. The revised form re-
orders information requested so as to make clearer the purpose for each 
and adds a request for the respondent to indicate their gender, as 
required by the Transportation Security Administration.
    Estimate of Burden: The burden is the minimum required to achieve 
program objectives. The overall information collection frequency is the 
minimum consistent with program objectives. Revision of this form 
neither increases nor decreases the already-approved burden for this 
information collection.
    The Panelist Information Form takes about 20 minutes to complete. 
It resembles a typical request for personal information; many reviewers 
provide the same data as grant reviewers in other peer review programs. 
It also includes information necessary for arranging government-
sponsored travel and for paying an honorarium, when needed.
    Respondents and Estimated Number of Respondents: No change to the 
number of respondents is anticipated with this revision.
    Frequency of Response: No change to the frequency of response is 
anticipated with this revision.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: No change to the 
estimated total annual burden is anticipated with this revision.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chap. 
35.
    Comments: The Notice is soliciting comments from members of the 
public and affected agencies concerning revision of the form in the 
approved collection of information to: (1) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection is necessary for the proper performance of ARS 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the estimated burden from 
proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval.
    All comments will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 16, 2010.
Caird E. Rexroad, Jr.,
Associate Administrator for Operations and Management, Agricultural 
Research Service, USDA.
[FR Doc. 2010-10560 Filed 5-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P
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