Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 2004 Implementation Information Collections, 10637-10641 [E6-2948]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• Economic Development Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10637-10641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2948]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Economic Development 
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2004 Implementation Information 
Collections

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Commerce.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce's Economic Development 
Administration (EDA) published an interim final rule revising its 
regulations to reflect the amendments made to its authorizing statute, 
the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA), by the 
Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 2004. In 
connection with its reauthorization and publication of an interim final 
rule, EDA conducted a review of its forms and other information 
collections to ensure that they are consistent with the statute and the 
regulations, as well as with current EDA practices and policies. As 
part of this review and in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, EDA published a notice in the November 14, 2005 Federal 
Register providing the general public and other federal agencies with a 
60-day period in which to comment on EDA's information collections.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice, EDA is submitting 
for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance the proposed 
information collections set forth in this notice. EDA is requesting OMB 
approval of these information collections no later than April 30, 2006. 
Additionally, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden under the Paperwork Reduction Act, EDA is providing 
the general public and other federal agencies with an opportunity to 
comment on the proposed information collections set forth in this 
notice.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed information collections 
contained in this notice must be submitted on or before April 3, 2006 
to the contact person listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collections to David Rostker, EDA Desk 
Officer, facsimile: (202) 395-7285; e-mail: David--Rostker@omb.eop.gov. 
Please indicate ``Comments on EDA Reauthorization Act of 2004 
Implementation Information Collections'' on each submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the proposed information collections contained in this notice 
should be directed to: Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, Department of Commerce, HCHB Room 6625, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; facsimile: (202) 482-4218; email: 
dhynek@doc.gov. Please note that any correspondence sent by regular 
mail may be substantially delayed or suspended in delivery, since all 
regular mail sent to the Department of Commerce is subject to extensive 
security screening.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    EDA's mission is to lead the federal economic agenda by promoting 
innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth 
and success in the worldwide economy. EDA will fulfill its mission by 
fostering entrepreneurship, innovation and productivity through 
investments in infrastructure development, capacity building and 
business development in order to attract private capital investments 
and higher-skill, higher-wage jobs to regions experiencing substantial 
and persistent economic distress. In order to administer and monitor 
its economic development programs and its Trade Adjustment Assistance 
for Firms program effectively, EDA collects certain information from 
applicants for, and recipients of, EDA investment assistance.
    On August 11, 2005 EDA published an interim final rule in the 
Federal Register (70 FR 47002) revising its regulations to reflect the 
amendments made to PWEDA by the Economic Development Administration 
Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-373) (the ``2004 Act''). With 
limited exceptions, the interim final rule (IFR) became effective on 
October 1, 2005. On December 15, 2005, EDA published a second interim 
final rule in the Federal Register (70 FR 74193) to put into effect 
immediately only those changes to the August 11, 2005 interim final 
rule specified in the Conference Report (H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 109-272) 
accompanying the FY 2006 Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 109-108).
    EDA conducted a review of its forms and other information 
collections to ensure that they are consistent with the amendments to 
PWEDA made by the

[[Page 10638]]

2004 Act and with the interim final rule. As part of its continuing 
effort to reduce respondent burden under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, as amended (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), on November 14, 2005 EDA 
published a notice in the Federal Register (70 FR 69137) providing the 
general public and other federal agencies with a 60-day period in which 
to comment on its information collections. EDA received two public 
comments regarding the Form ED-840P (Petition by a Firm for 
Certification of Eligibility to Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance), 
which are addressed later in this notice as part of the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance for Firms discussion.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice, EDA is submitting 
for OMB clearance the proposed information collections set forth in 
this notice. EDA is requesting OMB approval of these information 
collections no later than April 30, 2006. As part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, the general public and other federal agencies may submit 
comments on the proposed information collections set forth in this 
notice during the time period specified in the DATES section of this 
notice. Comments should be submitted to the contact person specified in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice. When publishing a final rule 
during 2006, EDA will consider additional paperwork and respondent 
burdens (if any) resulting from changes to the interim final rule and 
will revise the information collections set forth in this notice as 
needed.
    EDA forms are available for downloading, filling-in and printing 
(pdf file format) on EDA's Internet Web site at https://www.eda.gov. 
These forms are not currently transaction-based. EDA anticipates that 
certain of its forms and other information collections will be able to 
be filed online when EDA begins posting application packages and other 
forms on grants.gov, the electronic storefront for interactions between 
grant applicants and federal grant-making agencies. EDA does, however, 
generally accept submissions of information from respondents via 
electronic mail and magnetic media (e.g., diskette).

II. Collections of Information

A. Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (OMB Control No. 0610-0091)

    1. Purpose: Chapters 3 and 5 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, 
as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341 et seq.; ``Trade Act''), direct the 
Secretary of Commerce to accept petitions from firms that have been 
adversely affected by increased imports of articles like or directly 
competitive with their own. The Secretary of Commerce has delegated 
this statutory authority to EDA, which administers the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance for Firms program to assist trade-injured U.S. manufacturing 
and producing firms to develop and implement strategies for competing 
in the global marketplace. EDA uses Form ED-840P (Petition by a Firm 
for Certification of Eligibility to Apply for Trade Adjustment 
Assistance) to collect information from a petitioning firm to determine 
if it is eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance. In 
addition, Sec. Sec.  315.6 and 315.16 of the IFR set out requirements 
for submission of an appropriate adjustment proposal for technical 
assistance following certification. Section 315.9 of the IFR entitles a 
person or entity with a ``substantial interest'' in an accepted 
petition for TAA certification to request a public hearing on the 
petition, but requires submission of a written request in accordance 
with detailed procedures.
    We propose consolidating into this OMB Control Number the following 
two information collections previously assigned OMB Control Nos.: 0610-
0105 (Adjustment Assistance Proposals: Sections 315.6 and 315.16 of 
EDA's Interim Final Rule) and 0610-0106 (Request for Hearing: Section 
315.9 of EDA's Interim Final Rule) to better account for all the 
information collections pertaining to EDA's Trade Adjustment Assistance 
for Firms Program. Accordingly, the information collections assigned to 
this OMB Control Number (0610-0094) now encompass the following 
requirements: (i) Form ED-840P; (b) request for a public hearing; and 
(c) requirements for an adjustment assistance proposal.
    2. Public Comments: EDA received two public comments on the Form 
ED-840P, Petition by a Firm for Eligibility to Apply for Trade 
Adjustment Assistance. Both comments were submitted by EDA-sponsored 
Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (``TAACs'') and contained common 
themes and recommendations, many of which are reflected on the revised 
Form ED-840P submitted with the PRA package for OMB clearance. Under 
the TAA program, EDA funds a national network of eleven TAACs. One of 
the essential roles of a TAAC is to help interested firms complete the 
ED-840P, assemble the required supporting documentation, and submit the 
completed package to EDA for investigation. This service is provided at 
no cost to the firm.
    Specifically, the commenters generally opined that the burden on 
firms seeking certification of eligibility from EDA seems excessive 
considering that firms must be experiencing threshold levels of 
economic distress in order to qualify for the TAA Program. EDA is 
sensitive to respondent burden and narrowly tailors its information 
collections to ensure that they are consistent with the law, efficient 
and meet agency needs in a manner that causes the least intrusion and 
burden on EDA clients. The revised (and streamlined) Form ED-840P 
submitted with the PRA package evinces this policy in large part by 
adopting many of the commenters' suggestions, which we agree will 
reduce overall burden on the petitioning (client) firm.
    Both commenters also express concern that the ``customer list'' 
information collection (which requires petitioning firms to submit the 
names and contact persons for 8 or 9 customers--preferably customers 
who decreased their purchases from the firm during the petition 
period--of which the TAAC generally conducts telephone interviews with 
at least 3) is overly burdensome and discourages many firms from 
submitting certification petitions. The customer list interviews 
conducted by the TAACs are one of the most important components of the 
overall petition investigation process. The interviews allow the TAACs 
to verify independently a firm's claim that the increase in imports of 
like or directly competitive articles is an important cause of the 
firm's loss of sales or production and decline in employment (the 
cornerstone of the TAA Program). In an effort to reduce overall 
respondent burden and in response to this comment, EDA is reducing the 
number of customers that a firm must list from 8 or 9 down to 4.
    The commenters also suggest that EDA eliminate the notarization 
requirement for the Form ED-840P. EDA agrees with this suggestion and 
proposes elimination of the notarization requirement on the revised 
Form ED-840P. However, EDA does not agree with the commenters' 
suggestion to eliminate the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule as the 
primary indicator of increased imports of like or directly competitive 
articles, but does agree that alternative metrics to track imports 
accurately for purposes of the TAA Program are needed. EDA hopes to 
work with the TAACs and other stakeholders towards this goal.
    Other comments aimed at reducing respondent burden include: 
eliminating the requirement that firms submit federal income tax 
returns and state

[[Page 10639]]

employment tax returns with their petition submissions; (ii) 
eliminating the ``number of sales accounts'' question from the Form ED-
840P; and (iii) changing the requirement that the period covered by the 
petition must not end more than 120 days prior to the date the petition 
is submitted to EDA for investigation to180 days prior to submission. 
EDA agrees that eliminating the income and employment tax return 
requirements will go a long way to reducing respondent burden, as will 
eliminating the sales account question from the Form ED-840P. The 
revised Form ED-840P (and the instruction thereto) reflect these 
changes and EDA will revise section 315.8(b) of the IFR to reflect 
these changes when publishing a final rule during 2006. EDA does not 
agree with the suggestion to change the temporal scope of the petition 
from 120 days to 180 days prior to submission to EDA. We believe that, 
in order to maintain the integrity and relevance of the certification 
process, 120 days is an appropriate outer-limit for consideration of a 
petition. This is especially the case since (under the Trade Act) EDA 
has 60 days from receipt of the petition to complete its investigation.
    Another comment suggests that EDA accept the electronic submission 
of petitions. While EDA does not currently accept petitions submitted 
electronically, we anticipate that certain of our forms and other 
information collections will be able to be filed online when EDA begins 
posting application packages and other forms on grants.gov, the 
electronic storefront for interactions between grant applicants and 
federal grant-making agencies. Finally, one comment suggests a change 
to the ``interim decline'' period set forth in 13 CFR 315.7(b)(2) and 
(3). This comment is outside the scope of our PRA submission to OMB, 
but since we received similar comments during the IFR public comment 
period, it will be addressed when EDA publishes a final rule during 
2006.
    3. Method of Collection: Paper Report.
    4. Data:
    Agency Form Number: ED-840P (Petition by a Firm for Certification 
of Eligibility to Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.)
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Manufacturing or producing firms.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 381.
    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours--Form ED-840P; 120 hours--
Adjustment Assistance Proposal; 1 hour--request for hearing.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 23,201.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

B. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies and Planning 
Investments (OMB Control No. 0610-0093)

    1. Purpose: The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) 
is the foundation for most of EDA's programs. Information gathered 
through the CEDS is needed by EDA to ensure that regions served by EDA-
supported planning organizations have or are developing continuous 
community-based planning processes and have thoroughly thought out the 
types of economic development implementation activities that are needed 
in the region to alleviate unemployment, underemployment, and depressed 
incomes. Many of EDA's economic development assistance programs either 
require a CEDS or call for consistency with a CEDS. A major feature of 
EDA's investment strategy has always been to require a solid and 
inclusive comprehensive planning process before public works or 
economic adjustment assistance (with the exception of strategy 
development) investments are made.
    In addition, section 214 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C3154) authorizes the 
Secretary to waive the CEDS requirement in ``special impact areas'' if 
the Secretary determines that the project proposed by the eligible 
recipient will fulfill a pressing need and will be useful in 
alleviating or preventing conditions of excessive unemployment or 
otherwise assist in providing useful employment opportunities for 
unemployed residents. Part 310 of the EDA regulations implements this 
provision of law and requires an applicant to provide information to 
determine the merit of its request for a waiver of the CEDS 
requirement. In determining if a project can claim special impact 
status, EDA considers a range of objective economic criteria, including 
changes in an area's economic base as a result of altered trade 
patterns, abnormally high unemployment rates for a two-year period, and 
designation as a Federally-Declared Disaster area, among others. The 
information collection associated with this requirement was formerly 
separately controlled as ``Special Impact Area'' under OMB Control No. 
0610-0104. Inasmuch as the sole use of this information collection is 
in connection with determining whether the CEDS requirement should be 
waived, we propose placing it along with other CEDS-related collections 
under OMB Control Number 0610-0093.
    2. Public Comments: None.
    3. Method of Collection: Paper Report.
    4. Data:
    Agency Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments; Indian Tribes; 
institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 611.
    Estimated Time per Response: Initial CEDS for District 
Organizations and other EDA-funded planning organizations--242 hours; 
CEDS for non-Districts and non-EDA-funded organizations--40 hours; 
Annual CEDS Report--40 hours; CEDS update--77 hours; Special Impact 
Area--8 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 30,786.
    (Initial CEDS for District Organizations and other EDA-funded 
planning organizations--3,630 hours; CEDS for non-Districts and non-
EDA-funded organizations--3,360 hours; Annual CEDS Report--16,000 
hours; CEDS update--7,700 hours; Special Impact Area--96 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

C. Proposal and Application Requirements (OMB Control No. 0610-0094)

    1. Purpose: The information collections contained in the Pre-
Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-900P) are necessary for 
EDA to evaluate on a preliminary basis whether investment proposals 
satisfy eligibility and programmatic requirements contained in PWEDA, 
the accompanying EDA's regulations and the applicable Announcement of 
Federal Funding Opportunity (``FFO'') for the proposed project. For 
those investment proposals that EDA wishes to further pursue, the 
applicant is invited by EDA to submit a ``formal'' application for EDA 
investment assistance. The information collections contained in the 
Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-900A) are necessary to 
allow EDA to make final determinations that applicants and projects 
meet eligibility and programmatic requirements contained in PWEDA, the 
accompanying regulations, the applicable FFO, and other federal 
authorities (e.g. OMB Circulars). The information collections contained 
in the formal application are also necessary to finalize the terms and 
conditions of the investment, including but not limited to the scope of 
work and non-federal share and other funding commitments for the 
project.
    2. Public Comments: None.
    3. Method of Collection: Paper Report.
    4. Data:

[[Page 10640]]

    Agency Form Numbers: ED-900P (Pre-Application for Investment 
Assistance); ED-900A (Application for Investment Assistance).
    Affected Public: State and local governments; Indian Tribes; 
institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; and for-
profit organizations and private individuals (only for proposals and 
applications for training, research or technical assistance investments 
under Section 207 of PWEDA).
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1735.
    Estimated Time per Response: ED-900P--8 hours; ED-900A--38 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 37,550 (7,568 for ED-900P; 
29,982 for ED-900A).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

D. Revolving Loan Fund Reporting and Compliance Requirements Grants 
(OMB Control No. 0610-0095)

    1. Purpose: The information collections assigned to this OMB 
Control Number are necessary to implement, monitor and enforce the 
requirements of EDA's Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) investments. 
Specifically, subpart B of 13 CFR Part 307 sets forth specific 
restrictions and requirements applicable to RLF investments, including 
submission of financial and performance reports, audit requirements, 
use of RLF income, maintenance of loan documentation, capital 
utilization standard requirements, and RLF Plan obligations. Recipients 
must manage RLF investments in accordance with an RLF Plan, which must 
be submitted to and approved by EDA and passed by resolution of the RLF 
recipient's governing board prior to the initial disbursement of EDA 
funds. The RLF administrator must also monitor its borrowers and 
certify to EDA that they are in compliance with applicable civil rights 
and environmental law, flood hazard insurance and Davis-Bacon Act 
requirements.
    2. Public Comments: None.
    3. Method of Collection: Paper Report.
    4. Data:
    Agency Form Numbers: ED-209A (RLF Annual Report); ED-209S (RLF 
Semi-Annual Report); ED-209I (Income and Expense Statement).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments; Indian Tribes; 
institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 596.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 hours for general regulatory/
programmatic compliance; 40 hours to develop the RLF Plan; 12 hours for 
the Semi-Annual Report and the Annual Report; and 2 hours for the 
Income and Expense Statement.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 23,428 (8,940 hours for 
general Regulatory/Programmatic Compliance; 600 hours to develop the 
RLF Plan; 12,696 hours for the Semi-Annual Report and the Annual 
Report; and 1,192 hours for the Income and Expense Statement).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

E. Construction Investments (OMB Control No. 0610-0096)

    1. Purpose: EDA investments under the Public Works and Economic 
Adjustment Programs help distressed communities revitalize and upgrade 
their physical infrastructure and economic development facilities. They 
provide grants to eligible applicants to promote long-range economic 
development in order to reduce unemployment, and increase income. The 
grants are used to design, build, improve or expand vital public 
infrastructure and economic development facilities. These facilities, 
in turn, help regions to attract new, or support existing businesses 
that will result in an environment where higher-skill, higher-wage jobs 
are created. EDA regulations at 13 CFR Part 305 include program 
requirements that are unique to construction awards. In some cases, 
these involve reporting or record keeping requirements.
    EDA intends to discontinue the Requirements for Approved 
Construction Investments (RFACI) publication currently associated with 
this OMB Control No. 0610-0096. The purpose of the RFACI is to provide 
guidance to EDA grant recipients to ensure compliance with federal 
regulations pertaining to federally assisted construction projects. 
Much of the RFACI is based on EDA regulations, the ``Common Rule'' set 
forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce in 15 CFR Parts 14 and 24 and 
other federal authorities. The RFACI is intended to supplement and 
explain these federal requirements and does not replace or negate such 
requirements. Any inconsistencies or conflicts are resolved in favor of 
such federal requirements. EDA will continue the information 
collections required pursuant to 13 CFR Part 305 and federal law under 
OMB Control No. 0610-0096 with a change in its title from 
``Requirements for Approved Construction Investments (9th Ed.)'' to 
``Construction Investments'' to avoid confusion with the to-be-
discontinued publication.
    2. Public Comments: None.
    3. Method of Collection: Paper Report.
    4. Data:
    Agency Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments; Indian Tribes; 
institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 707.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,140 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

F. Award Amendment Requests and Project Service Maps (OMB Control No. 
0610-0102)

    1. Purpose: An EDA investment award stipulates a contractual 
relationship between the recipient and EDA, which outlines the 
obligations and responsibilities of each party. EDA must maintain the 
ability to approve or reject any proposed changes to that relationship 
in order to ensure its funds are used in the most effective manner. It 
is necessary that a recipient wishing to amend its investment award 
submit a request to EDA, otherwise, the parties may be working under 
two different understandings of the terms of the investment award. This 
requirement is listed in section 302.7(a) of the IFR. A project service 
map helps EDA to monitor a Project's economic development effect on 
different areas in the region it was intended to assist. This 
requirement is set forth in Sec.  302.16(c) of the IFR.
    2. Public Comments: None.
    3. Method of Collection: Paper Report.
    4. Data:
    Agency Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments; Indian Tribes; 
institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; and for-
profit organizations and private individuals (only for training, 
research or technical assistance projects under Section 207 of PWEDA).
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 55 (20 planning investment 
amendments; 25 non-planning investments; and 10 project service maps).
    Estimated Time per Response: 4 hours for amendments to planning 
investments; 16 hours for amendments to non-planning investments; and 6 
hours for project service maps.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 540.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

[[Page 10641]]

G. Property Management (OMB Control No. 0610-0103)

    1. Purpose: Section 314.3(f) of the IFR generally provides that a 
recipient may request in writing that EDA approve the incidental use of 
property acquired or improved with EDA investment assistance, provided 
that respondent is in compliance with applicable law and the terms and 
conditions of the investment assistance and the incidental use does not 
otherwise interfere with the scope of the EDA project or the economic 
useful life of the property. This information collection is necessary 
in order for EDA to ensure that the use of property acquired or 
improved with EDA investment assistance complies with the authorized 
uses of property set forth in section 314.3 of the IFR and the terms 
and conditions of the EDA investment assistance. In addition, Sec.  
314.10(d) of the IFR generally provides that a recipient must request 
in writing a release of EDA's property interest and disclose to EDA the 
intended future use of the real property or tangible personal property 
for which a release is sought. A recipient receiving an EDA release is 
required to record a restrictive covenant of use. This request and 
declaration of intentions are necessary in order for EDA to determine 
whether to grant the recipient's release request. The recordation of 
the covenant of use is necessary to provide notice to the respondent's 
successors-in-interest that there are use restrictions that attach to 
the property.
    2. Public Comments: None.
    3. Method of Collection: Paper Report.
    4. Data:
    Agency Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments; Indian Tribes; 
institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 45 (25 requests for 
incidental use; 20 release requests).
    Estimated Time per Response: 6 hours per incidental use request; 12 
hours per release request.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 390.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

III. Request for Comments

    Public comments are invited with respect to each of the collections 
of information listed above 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 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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. 
Comments submitted in response to this notice will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: February 27, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-2948 Filed 3-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P