Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request, 11623-11624 [E8-4133]

Agencies

• Corporation for National and Community Service

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11623-11624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4133]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. Sec. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps 
to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed.
    Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed renewal and revision of its AmeriCorps*VISTA Project Progress 
Report (OMB Control Number 3045-0043). The previously approved Progress 
Report will expire on October 1, 2008.
    This reinstatement with changes reflects the Corporation's intent 
to modify selected sections of the collection instrument to reduce the 
burden on respondents and to reflect changes in data considered ``core 
reporting'' information to meet a variety of needs, including adding 
new data elements as needed to ensure information collection captures 
appropriate data for the Corporation's required performance measurement 
and other reporting.
    Copies of the information collection request can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed in the addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section by May 5, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title of the 
information collection activity, by any of the following methods:
    (1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community 
Service; Attn, Craig Kinnear, Program Analyst, Room 9103A; 1201 New 
York Avenue, NW., Washington DC, 20525.
    (2) By hand delivery or by courier to the Corporation's mailroom at 
Room 8100 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    (3) By fax to: (202) 565-2789, Attention Craig Kinnear, Program 
Analyst.
    4) Electronically through the Corporation's e-mail address system: 
ckinnear@cns.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Kinnear, (202) 606-6708, or by 
e-mail at ckinnear@cns.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation is particularly interested 
in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are expected to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses).

Background

    The Progress Report (PPR) was designed to assure that 
Americorps*VISTA sponsors address and fulfill legislated program 
purposes, meet agency program management and grant requirements, and 
assess progress toward project plan goals agreed upon in the signing of 
the Memorandum of Agreement.

Current Action

    The Corporation seeks to revise the previously used PPR to: (a) 
Reduce respondent burden; (b) enhance data collected via this 
information collection tool; (c) establish reporting periods consistent 
with the Corporation's integrated grants management and reporting 
policies.
    The current PPR is used by Americorps*VISTA sponsors and grantees 
to report progress toward accomplishing work plan goals and objectives, 
reporting actual outcomes related to self-nominated performance 
measures meeting challenges encountered, describing significant 
activities, and requesting technical assistance. The PPR is also used 
to collect demographic data elements used by the Corporation for 
aggregate reporting purposes. Submissions of the PPR are done 
quarterly.
    The revised PPR will be divided into two separate parts in order to 
reduce burden and to increase data integrity. All demographic data 
elements will be removed from the quarterly submissions and added to an 
annual VISTA Progress Report Supplement (VPRS) due 30 days after the 
end of the fiscal year. The quarterly reports will retain their purpose 
of providing monitoring and oversight of individual projects, while the 
annual data collection will serve the purpose of aggregate performance 
reporting for the VISTA program. Burden will be reduced by collecting 
the demographic data elements once a year instead of quarterly. Data 
integrity will be increased by tying data elements to specific fiscal 
years rather than project reporting cycles.
    The Corporation anticipates making available to all 
AmeriCorps*VISTA sponsors and grantees both sections of the revised PPR 
by July 1, 2008.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: Americorps*VISTA Program Progress Report (PPR).
    OMB Number: 3045-0043.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: AmeriCorps*VISTA and sponsoring organizations, 
site supervisors, and members.
    Total Respondents: 1,100.
    Frequency: Quarterly for the PPR; annually for the VPRS.
    Average Time Per Response: 7 hours for the PPR; 9 hours for the 
VPRS.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 40,700 hours for both the PPR and 
VPRS.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the

[[Page 11624]]

information collection request; they will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: February 27, 2008.
Carol Rogers,
Acting Director, Americorps*VISTA.
[FR Doc. E8-4133 Filed 3-3-08; 8:45 am]
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