Solicitation of Input and Participation in a Dialogue To Review the Standardized Program Structure for Foreign Assistance, 71731-71732 [E7-24491]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 18, 2007 / Notices on accreditation, 22 CFR part 96, all agencies and persons providing adoption services in Convention cases must be accredited, temporarily accredited, approved, supervised or exempt in order to provide adoption services in Convention cases. By the terms of the IAA, Convention cases are adoption cases initiated in the child’s country of residence with the filing of the appropriate application (the application for advance processing of an orphan petition or petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative in the United States) on or after April 1. Dated: December 7, 2007. Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. E7–24494 Filed 12–17–07; 8:45 am] for all attendees. Persons who plan to attend should so advise the office of Dr. Keith D. Miller, Department of State, Office of Overseas Schools, Room H328, SA–1, Washington, DC 20522–0132, telephone 202–261–8200, by January 7, 2008. Each visitor will be asked to provide his/her date of birth and driver’s licence or U.S. passport number at the time of registration and attendance and must carry a valid photo ID to the meeting. All attendees must use the C Street entrance to the building. Dated: December 11, 2007. Keith D. Miller, Executive Secretary, Overseas Schools Advisory Council, Department of State. [FR Doc. E7–24490 Filed 12–17–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–24–P BILLING CODE 4710–06–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 6030] [Public Notice 6014] Overseas Schools Advisory Council Notice of Meeting yshivers on PROD1PC62 with NOTICES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Solicitation of Input and Participation in a Dialogue To Review the Standardized Program Structure for Foreign Assistance The Overseas Schools Advisory Council, Department of State, will hold its Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday, January 17, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 1105, Department of State Building, 2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public. The Overseas Schools Advisory Council works closely with the U.S. business community in improving those American-sponsored schools overseas, which are assisted by the Department of State and attended by dependents of U.S. Government families and children of employees of U.S. corporations and foundations abroad. This meeting will deal with issues related to the work and the support provided by the Overseas Schools Advisory Council to the Americansponsored overseas schools. The agenda includes a review of the recent activities of American-sponsored overseas schools and the overseas schools regional associations, a review of projects selected for the 2006 and 2007 Educational Assistance Programs, which are under development, and selection of projects for the 2008 Educational Assistance Program. Members of the general public may attend the meeting and join in the discussion, subject to the instructions of the Chair. Admittance of public members will be limited to the seating available. Access to the State Department is controlled, and individual building passes are required The Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance (F) is commencing public consultations on the ‘‘Standardized Program Structure for Foreign Assistance’’ (Program Structure). The Program Structure was developed in 2006 through a deliberative interagency process as part of the Secretary’s Foreign Assistance Reform. It serves as a lexicon for categorizing and tracking foreign assistance activities from a number of different foreign assistance appropriation accounts, collectively totaling in approximately $25 billion in U.S. Foreign Assistance. F will consider changes to the Program Structure through a three-phase process: • Phase I will engage public stakeholders (including NonGovernmental Organizations—NGOs) in dialogue; • Phase II will engage Federal interagency partners; and • Phase III will occur when all external and internal stakeholder input is collected and analyzed, and then forwarded to the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance for a decision regarding proposed adjustments to the Program Structure. This process is expected to take 4–6 months from the start date of the first stage, and will result in a refined Program Structure that will serve as the foundation for future planning and performance products. This notice pertains to Phase I. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Dec 17, 2007 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 71731 The purpose of the consultative process is to fulfill a commitment to engage with external stakeholders to obtain input to improve the Program Structure (for example, to clarify definitions, identify gaps, or remove duplication). Consultation with external stakeholders and analysis of their inputs are expected to last for a period of between 8–12 weeks. F will use the administrative, technical, and logistical services of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) to facilitate consultations. Effective December 3, 2007, the Department of State will solicit the public for recommended changes at the ‘‘program area’’ level (e.g. Transnational Crime; Rule of Law and Human Rights; Health; Macroecomonic Foundation for Growth; Disaster Readiness) of the structure, and below (i.e. program element; program sub-element). The public is strongly encouraged to review the PROGRAM STRUCTURE by going to the following Internet site: https:// www.state.gov/documents/organization/ 93447.pdf. Written recommendations for changes will be accepted ONLY between December 3–14, 2007 (tentative timeframe), and must be made, by means of e-mail, to the following address: ForeignAssistanceDefinitions@state.gov. Recommendations must state clearly the recommended change, the rationale for the change, and the expected impact on other aspects of the Program Structure. Following the solicitation period, five (5) focus group meetings (addressing each of the program objectives) will be managed by the Department of State, and hosted and facilitated by NAPA at their location (900 7th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001). Focus group sessions are tentatively scheduled to take place the week of January 7, 2008. Participation will be limited to a predetermined number of attendees (due to space limitations), but the Department of State and NAPA will make every effort to ensure representation of a broad cross-section of stakeholders. The focus groups will review written comments, discuss any additional suggestions for changes and make recommendations about which changes should be further considered by the Department of State. Individuals and organizations interested in participating in focus group sessions should contact Lena Trudeau, Program Area Director, Strategic Initiatives, National Academy of Public Administration, (202) 315– 5476 (Direct), ltrudeau@napawash.org. Following the focus groups, a plenary session will review recommendations made by each of the groups, before final recommendations are forwarded to the E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM 18DEN1 71732 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 18, 2007 / Notices Department of State for consideration by the Federal interagency. The plenary session will occur in the late January timeframe (specific date to be determined) at NAPA offices, and like the focus groups, be limited to a predetermined number of attendees due to space limitations. Attendance will be determined by the Department of State with the objective of ensuring balanced and broad representation from stakeholders. The Department of State is committed to engaging its critical stakeholders in an unprecedented opportunity to review its Program Structure, so as to improve its foreign assistance reform effort currently underway. General information related to U.S. Foreign Assistance may be found at the following Internet site: https:// www.state.gov/f/. Dated: December 10, 2007. Paula R. Lynch, Acting Director Office of Global/Functional Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. E7–24491 Filed 12–17–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–02–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Federal Railroad Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. yshivers on PROD1PC62 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on October 5, 2007 (72 FR 57097). DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 17, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS–21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6292), or Ms. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, RAD– VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Dec 17, 2007 Jkt 214001 43, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6139). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.) The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Pub. L. 104–13, 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On October 5, 2007, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking OMB approval. 72 FR 57097. FRA received one comment in response to this notice. The comment came from John P. Tolman, Vice President and National Legislative Representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). The BLET is the duly designated and recognized collective bargaining representative for the craft or class of Locomotive engineer employed on all Class I railroads. The BLET also represents operating and other employees on numerous Class II and Class III railroads. In his letter, Mr. Tolman stated the following: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BLET supports the full range of information collection encompassed under OMB Control Number 2130–0500. However, BLET believes the revision of certain of FRA’s forms to require railroads to provide additional information already in their possession will enhance the safety data available to FRA and facilitate more precise analyses of trends in the industry. Specifically, the BLET is concerned that exclusive reliance on mileage-based data in developing accident/incident and injury casualty rates already has compromised the quality of analysis of switching operations. Furthermore, the narrow focus on mileagebased data also may infect data analysis for other freight operations in the future, because mileage-based measures fail to reflect the ongoing evolution of remote control locomotive operations throughout the American railroad industry. Mr. Tolman then alluded to FRA’s prior 60-day Federal Register renewal notice pertaining to these activities that was published on December 14, 2005 (70 FR 74103). He noted: In response to that notice, the BLET filed comments on January 4, 2006 * * * In those comments, we explained in detail, our rationale for revising certain FRA forms to require railroads to report the number of employee hours spent in each of the various classes of service, in addition to the mileage totals currently reported. PO 00000 Frm 00118 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 In its response to BLET’s comments of January 4, 2006, FRA acknowledged that BLET had raised important issues which needed to be looked into carefully. FRA further remarked that it would like to examine these issues by initiating an independent study sometime in 2006, budget permitting. In the current BLET letter dated November 29, 2007, Mr. Tolman goes on to observe: In the 21+ months since FRA acknowledged the need to study the vital safety issues our 2006 comments raised, funding for the study has not been allocated. We believe that lack of re-authorization for the rail safety program has been a major factor in this needed work not going forward. Nonetheless, the need for such a study—and possible revision of applicable forms thereafter—is as great today as it was nearly two years ago. Indeed, given that FRA has published at least two sets of guidelines pertaining to non-incidental remote control locomotive operations on main track, the issue of data normalization has become more pressing now, in our view. Accordingly, we urge FRA to reiterate the shared concerns identified in our previous comments, and to reaffirm its intention to study the issue when sufficient funding is available to do so. FRA appreciates BLET’s current letter of support for this vital information collection, and now reaffirms its intention to study this issue. Further, FRA hereby states that it will commit agency funding to this study, and plans on beginning this study sometime in the second quarter of 2008. Once this study is completed, FRA will review its accident/incident forms to determine appropriate changes and will, of course, keep the BLET fully apprised of developments. Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30 day notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)–(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30 day notice informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. The summaries below describe the nature of the information collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The proposed requirements are E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM 18DEN1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71731-71732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24491]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6030]


 Solicitation of Input and Participation in a Dialogue To Review 
the Standardized Program Structure for Foreign Assistance

    The Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance (F) is 
commencing public consultations on the ``Standardized Program Structure 
for Foreign Assistance'' (Program Structure). The Program Structure was 
developed in 2006 through a deliberative interagency process as part of 
the Secretary's Foreign Assistance Reform. It serves as a lexicon for 
categorizing and tracking foreign assistance activities from a number 
of different foreign assistance appropriation accounts, collectively 
totaling in approximately $25 billion in U.S. Foreign Assistance.
    F will consider changes to the Program Structure through a three-
phase process:
     Phase I will engage public stakeholders (including Non-
Governmental Organizations--NGOs) in dialogue;
     Phase II will engage Federal interagency partners; and
     Phase III will occur when all external and internal 
stakeholder input is collected and analyzed, and then forwarded to the 
Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance for a decision regarding proposed 
adjustments to the Program Structure.
    This process is expected to take 4-6 months from the start date of 
the first stage, and will result in a refined Program Structure that 
will serve as the foundation for future planning and performance 
products. This notice pertains to Phase I.
    The purpose of the consultative process is to fulfill a commitment 
to engage with external stakeholders to obtain input to improve the 
Program Structure (for example, to clarify definitions, identify gaps, 
or remove duplication). Consultation with external stakeholders and 
analysis of their inputs are expected to last for a period of between 
8-12 weeks. F will use the administrative, technical, and logistical 
services of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) to 
facilitate consultations.
    Effective December 3, 2007, the Department of State will solicit 
the public for recommended changes at the ``program area'' level (e.g. 
Transnational Crime; Rule of Law and Human Rights; Health; 
Macroecomonic Foundation for Growth; Disaster Readiness) of the 
structure, and below (i.e. program element; program sub-element). The 
public is strongly encouraged to review the PROGRAM STRUCTURE by going 
to the following Internet site: https://www.state.gov/documents/
organization/93447.pdf. Written recommendations for changes will be 
accepted ONLY between December 3-14, 2007 (tentative timeframe), and 
must be made, by means of e-mail, to the following address: 
ForeignAssistanceDefinitions@state.gov. Recommendations must state 
clearly the recommended change, the rationale for the change, and the 
expected impact on other aspects of the Program Structure.
    Following the solicitation period, five (5) focus group meetings 
(addressing each of the program objectives) will be managed by the 
Department of State, and hosted and facilitated by NAPA at their 
location (900 7th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001). Focus group 
sessions are tentatively scheduled to take place the week of January 7, 
2008. Participation will be limited to a predetermined number of 
attendees (due to space limitations), but the Department of State and 
NAPA will make every effort to ensure representation of a broad cross-
section of stakeholders. The focus groups will review written comments, 
discuss any additional suggestions for changes and make recommendations 
about which changes should be further considered by the Department of 
State. Individuals and organizations interested in participating in 
focus group sessions should contact Lena Trudeau, Program Area 
Director, Strategic Initiatives, National Academy of Public 
Administration, (202) 315-5476 (Direct), ltrudeau@napawash.org.
    Following the focus groups, a plenary session will review 
recommendations made by each of the groups, before final 
recommendations are forwarded to the

[[Page 71732]]

Department of State for consideration by the Federal interagency. The 
plenary session will occur in the late January timeframe (specific date 
to be determined) at NAPA offices, and like the focus groups, be 
limited to a predetermined number of attendees due to space 
limitations. Attendance will be determined by the Department of State 
with the objective of ensuring balanced and broad representation from 
stakeholders.
    The Department of State is committed to engaging its critical 
stakeholders in an unprecedented opportunity to review its Program 
Structure, so as to improve its foreign assistance reform effort 
currently underway. General information related to U.S. Foreign 
Assistance may be found at the following Internet site: https://
www.state.gov/f/.

    Dated: December 10, 2007.
 Paula R. Lynch,
 Acting Director Office of Global/Functional Affairs, Department of 
State.
 [FR Doc. E7-24491 Filed 12-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-02-P

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