44866 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 26, 2017 / Notices 

studied. The type of feedback being 

solicited will provide insights into 

customer or stakeholder perceptions, 

experiences and expectations, and to 

contribute directly to the improvement 

of program management, provide an 

early warning of service issues, or focus 

attention on areas where 

communication, training or changes in 

operations might improve delivery of 

products or services. 

SBA expects to use various methods 

(e.g., focus groups, customer satisfaction 

surveys, comment cards), to solicit 

public feedback and will target areas 

such as: Timeliness, appropriateness, 

accuracy of information, courtesy, 

efficiency of service delivery, and 

resolution of issues with service 

delivery. Responses will be assessed to 

plan and inform efforts to improve or 

maintain the quality of service offered to 

the public. If this information is not 

collected, vital feedback from customers 

and stakeholders on the Agency’s 

services will be unavailable. 

The Agency will only submit a 

collection for approval under this 

generic clearance if it meets the 

following conditions: 

The collection is voluntary; 

The collection is low-burden for 

respondents (based on considerations of 

total burden hours, total number of 

respondents, or burden-hours per 

respondent) and is low-cost for both the 

respondents and the Federal 

Government; 

The collection is non-controversial 

and does not raise issues of concern to 

other Federal agencies; 

The collection is targeted to the 

solicitation of opinions from 

respondents who have experience with 

the program or may have experience 

with the program in the near future; 

Personally identifiable information 

(PII) is collected only to the extent 

necessary and is not retained; 

Information gathered will be used 

only internally for general service 

improvement and program management 

purposes and is not intended for release 

outside of the agency; 

Information gathered will not be used 

for the purpose of substantially 

informing influential policy decisions; 

Information gathered will yield 

qualitative information; 

This type of generic clearance for 

qualitative information will not be used 

for quantitative information collections 

that are designed to yield reliably 

actionable results, such as monitoring 

trends over time or documenting 

program performance. Such data uses 

require more rigorous designs that 

address: The target population to which 

generalizations will be made, the 

sampling frame, the sample design 

(including stratification and clustering), 

the precision requirements or power 

calculations that justify the proposed 

sample size, the expected response rate, 

methods for assessing potential nonresponse bias, the protocols for data 

collection, and any testing procedures 

that were or will be undertaken prior to 

undertaking the study. Depending on 

the degree of influence the results are 

likely to have, such collections may still 

be eligible for submission for other 

generic mechanisms that are designed to 

yield quantitative results. 

As a general matter, the generic 

information collections will not result 

in any new system of records containing 

privacy information and will not ask 

questions of a sensitive nature, such as 

sexual behavior and attitudes, religious 

beliefs, and other matters that are 

commonly considered private. 

Affected Public: Individuals; Business 

or Other For-Profit; Not-For-Profit 

Institutions; State, Local, or Tribal 

Government. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: 7,500. 

Projected average burden estimates for 

the next three years: 

Average Annual Number of Collection 

Activities: 8. 

Responses per Respondent: 1. 

Total Annual Responses: 7,500. 

Average Minutes per Response: 38 

minutes. 

Annual Burden Hours: 4,750. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Request for Comments: Comments 

submitted in response to this notice will 

be summarized and/or included in the 

request for OMB approval. Comments 

are invited on: (a) Whether the 

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 

collection of information; (c) ways to 

enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 

of the information to be collected; (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; 

and (e) estimates of capital or start-up 

costs and costs of operation, 

maintenance, and purchase of services 

to provide information. 

Burden means the total time, effort, or 

financial resources expended by persons 

to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or 

provide information to or for a Federal 

agency. This includes the time needed 

to review instructions; to develop, 

acquire, install and utilize technology 

and systems for the purpose of 

collecting, validating and verifying 

information, processing and 

maintaining information, and disclosing 

and providing information; to train 

personnel and to be able to respond to 

a collection of information, to search 

data sources, to complete and review 

the collection of information; and to 

transmit or otherwise disclose the 

information. 

Curtis B. Rich, 

Management Analyst. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20579 Filed 9–25–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8025–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice: 10124] 

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection: FLO Professional 

Development Fellowship (PDF) 

Application 

AGENCY: Department of State. 

ACTION: Notice of request for public 

comment. 

SUMMARY: The Department of State is 

seeking Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) approval for the 

information collection described below. 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, we are 

requesting comments on this collection 

from all interested individuals and 

organizations. The purpose of this 

notice is to allow 60 days for public 

comment preceding submission of the 

collection to OMB. 

DATES: The Department will accept 

comments from the public up to 

November 27, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by any of the following methods: 

• Web: Persons with access to the 

Internet may comment on this notice by 

going to www.Regulations.gov. You can 

search for the document by entering 

‘‘Docket Number: DOS–2017–0038’’ in 

the Search field. Then click the 

‘‘Comment Now’’ button and complete 

the comment form. 

• Email: FLOAskEmployment@

state.gov. 

• Regular Mail: Send written 

comments to: Bureau of Human 

Resources, Family Liaison Office, 2201 

C Street NW., Washington, DC 20520. 

• Fax: (202) 647–1670. 

You must include the DS form 

number (if applicable), information 

collection title, and the OMB control 

number in any correspondence. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Direct requests for additional 

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 26, 2017 / Notices 44867 

information regarding the collection 

listed in this notice, including requests 

for copies of the proposed collection 

instrument and supporting documents, 

to Ramona Sandoval, 2201 C Street 

NW., Washington, DC, who may be 

reached on 202–647–1076 or at 

sandovalrm@state.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

• Title of Information Collection: FLO 

Professional Development Fellowship 

(PDF) Application. 

• OMB Control Number: None. 

• Type of Request: New Collection. 

• Originating Office: Bureau of 

Human Resources, Family Liaison 

Office (HR/FLO). 

• Form Number: DS–4297. 

• Respondents: The PDF program is 

open to spouses and partners of directhire U.S. government employees from 

all agencies serving overseas under 

Chief of Mission authority at U.S. 

embassies and consulates overseas. 

• Estimated Number of Respondents: 

260. 

• Estimated Number of Responses: 

260. 

• Average Time per Response: 2.75 

hours. 

• Total Estimated Burden Time: 715 

annual hours. 

• Frequency: Annually. 

• Obligation to Respond: Required to 

Obtain a Benefit. 

• We are soliciting public comments 

to permit the Department to: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

information collection is necessary for 

the proper functions of the Department. 

• Evaluate the accuracy of our 

estimate of the time and cost burden for 

this proposed collection, including the 

validity of the methodology and 

assumptions used. 

• Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected. 

• Minimize the reporting burden on 

those who are to respond, including the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of information 

technology. 

Please note that comments submitted 

in response to this Notice are public 

record. Before including any detailed 

personal information, you should be 

aware that your comments as submitted, 

including your personal information, 

will be available for public review. 

Abstract of proposed collection: FLO 

needs the information collected in the 

PDF application to determine who will 

receive a Professional Development 

Fellowship. The information is 

provided to selection committees that 

use a set of criteria to score the 

applications. Respondents are spouses 

and partners of direct-hire U.S. 

government employees from all agencies 

serving overseas under Chief of Mission 

who want to maintain, enhance, and/or 

develop professional skills while 

overseas. The information is sought 

pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2651a— 

Organization of the Department of State, 

22 U.S.C. 3921—Management of the 

Foreign Service. 

Methodology: Applicants will email 

the completed application to FLO’s PDF 

program manager. 

Susan Frost, 

Director, Family Liaison Office, Bureau of 

Human Resources, Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20513 Filed 9–25–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–15–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[STB Docket No. EP 670 (Sub–No. 1)] 

Notice of Rail Energy Transportation 

Advisory Committee Meeting 

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. 

ACTION: Notice of Rail Energy 

Transportation Advisory Committee 

meeting. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a 

meeting of the Rail Energy 

Transportation Advisory Committee 

(RETAC), pursuant to the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (FACA). 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. 

E.D.T. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in 

the Hearing Room on the first floor of 

the Board’s headquarters at 395 E Street 

SW., Washington, DC 20423. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michael Higgins (202) 245–0284; 

Michael.Higgins@stb.gov. [Assistance 

for the hearing impaired is available 

through the Federal Information Relay 

Service (FIRS) at: (800) 877–8339.] 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RETAC 

was formed in 2007 to provide advice 

and guidance to the Board, and to serve 

as a forum for discussion of emerging 

issues related to the transportation of 

energy resources by rail, including coal, 

ethanol, and other biofuels. 

Establishment of a Rail Energy 

Transportation Advisory Committee, 

Docket No. EP 670. The purpose of this 

meeting is to continue discussions 

regarding issues such as rail 

performance, capacity constraints, 

infrastructure planning and 

development, and effective coordination 

among suppliers, carriers, and users of 

energy resources. Potential agenda items 

for this meeting include a performance 

measures review, industry segment 

updates by RETAC members, a 

presentation on energy transportation 

logistics, and a roundtable discussion. 

The meeting, which is open to the 

public, will be conducted in accordance 

with the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2; Federal Advisory 

Committee Management regulations, 41 

CFR pt. 102–3; RETAC’s charter; and 

Board procedures. Further 

communications about this meeting may 

be announced through the Board’s Web 

site at www.stb.gov. 

Written Comments: Members of the 

public may submit written comments to 

RETAC at any time. Comments should 

be addressed to RETAC, c/o Michael 

Higgins, Surface Transportation Board, 

395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 

20423–0001 or Michael.Higgins@

stb.gov. 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 1321, 49 U.S.C. 

11101; 49 U.S.C. 11121. 

Decided: September 20, 2017. 

By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Rena Laws-Byrum, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20505 Filed 9–25–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 

Notice of Request for Extension of a 

Currently Approved Information 

Collection 

AGENCY: United States Trade and 

Development. 

ACTION: Request for comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

U.S. Trade and Development Agency 

has submitted a request to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) to 

review and approve an extension for a 

currently approved information 

collection for Evaluation of USTDA 

Performance. USTDA published its first 

Federal Register Notice on this 

information request extension on July 

12, 2017, at 82 FR 32223, at which time 

a 60-day comment period was 

announced. No comments were received 

in response to this notice at the end of 

the comment period. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

OMB by October 26, 2017 to be assured 

of consideration. 

ADDRESSES: Copies of the subject form 

and the request for extension prepared 

for submission to OMB may be obtained 

from the Agency Submitting Officer. 

Comments should be addressed as 

follows: Desk Officer for USTDA, Office