Notice of Intent To Request Approval To Establish a New Information Collection, 14339-14340 [2012-5796]
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14339
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 77, No. 47
Friday, March 9, 2012
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Request for Revision of a
Currently Approved Information
Collection
Office of Advocacy and
Outreach/1890 Programs
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice
announces the Office of Advocacy and
Outreach/1890 Programs intention to
request an extension for a currently
approved information collection for the
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received May 8, 2012.
Additional Information or Comments:
Contact Mona Adkins-Easley, Higher
Education Initiatives Program Lead, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., 530–A,
Whitten Building, Washington, DC
20250 or call 202–692–0251(O) or 202–
720–7136 (Fax).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title:
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Application.
OMB Number: 0503–0015.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30,
2012.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The USDA/1890 National
Scholars Program is a joint human
capital initiative between the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and
the 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant
Universities. Through the Program,
USDA offers scholarships to high school
and college students who are seeking a
bachelor’s degree in the fields of
agriculture, food, or natural resource
sciences and related disciplines at 1890
Land-Grant Universities. In order for
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SUMMARY:
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graduating high school students and
current freshman and sophomores to be
considered for the scholarship, a
completed application is required. The
first section of the high school
application requests the applicant to
include biographical information (i.e.
name, address, age, etc.); educational
background information (i.e. grade point
average, test scores, name of
university(ies) interested in attending
and desired major); and extracurricular
activities. The second section of the
application is completed by the
student’s guidance counselor and
requests information pertaining to the
student’s academic status, graduate
point average, and test scores. The last
section of the application, which is to be
completed by a teacher, provides
information that assesses the applicant’s
interests, habits, and potential. The first
section of the college application
requests the applicant to include
biographical information (i.e. name,
address, age, etc.); educational
background information (i.e. grade point
average, test scores, name of
university(ies) interested in attending
and desired major); extracurricular
activities, and an essay. Two letters of
recommendation are required by a
Department Head, Dean of a College or
one of the University Vice President and
a College Professor, however, there are
not sections included in the application
that these individuals will need to
complete.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 1 hour per
response.
Respondents: High School Students,
Freshman and Sophomore College
Students, Teachers, and Guidance
Counselors.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
2,400 (600 applications).
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 7,200 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) 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; (3)
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ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to Mona AdkinsEasley, Higher Education Initiatives
Program Lead, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., 530–A, Whitten Building,
Washington, DC 20250. All comments
received will be available for public
inspection during regular business
hours at the same address.
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.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012–5649 Filed 3–8–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and
Agriculture
Notice of Intent To Request Approval
To Establish a New Information
Collection
National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) regulations, this notice
announces the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture (NIFA) intention
to request approval to establish a new
information collection for the NIFA
Division of Community and Education.
DATES: Written comments on this notice
must be received by May 8, 2012, to be
assured of consideration. Comments
received after that date will be
considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Written comments
concerning this notice and requests for
copies of the information collection may
be submitted by any of the following
methods: Email:
gmendez@nifa.usda.gov; Fax: 202–720–
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM
09MRN1
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14340
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2012 / Notices
0857; Mail: Office of Information
Technology (OIT), NIFA, USDA, STOP
2216, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–2216.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gidel Mendez, eGovernment Program
Leader; Email: gmendez@nifa.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Division of Community and
Education Project Output Tracking
Questionnaires.
OMB Number: 0524–XXXX.
Type of Request: Intent to request
approval to establish a new information
collection system for three years.
Abstract: The Division of Community
and Education (DOCE) at the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
houses grant programs that are
responsible for awarding funds to
secondary and postsecondary
institutions to support a variety of
activities including curriculum
development, faculty development,
experiential learning activities, and
scientific instrumentation, among
others. In order to improve federal
program effectiveness and public
accountability, DOCE will create
questionnaires that will ask project
directors to quantitatively report on the
activities they use for their project and
the outputs that are produced from the
money.
Need and Use of the Information: Per
the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993, agencies are
expected to provide adequate oversight
and eliminate waste and inefficiency in
federal programs. These questionnaires
will help to do this in two ways: 1. They
will provide transparency in the way in
which federal money is spent; and 2.
They will help to inform and guide
programmatic priorities.
The information collected by these
questionnaires will be able to be
aggregated across the division, creating
a clear picture of how the money was
spent and the outputs that resulted
without identifying specific project
directors or institutions. This aggregated
information can be summarized, and
presented to stakeholders, as well as be
used to respond to congressional
inquiries.
In addition, trends and patterns in the
way in which money was spent will be
evident. National Program Leaders will
be able to determine how much grant
money went toward specific grant
activities in a given year. They may be
able to use this information to adjust
programmatic priorities for the
following fiscal year if projects
addressing particular grant activities are
disproportionately funded.
The information collected from the
questionnaire will provide a more
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comprehensive and accurate assessment
of national program outputs. Currently,
project directors are required to
complete Current Research Information
System (CRIS) reports annually, as well
as a final report. There are no specific
guidelines for the CRIS reports, and as
a result, the reports often do not contain
quantitative information relevant to
project and program goals. CRIS reports
do, however, provide important
descriptive information, but
standardized information at the division
level is needed to augment these
reports.
Estimate of Burden: DOCE estimates
that an average of 20 minutes is required
to complete the questionnaire and
supplemental questionnaire with
respect to each award. DOCE estimates
that it makes approximately 300 awards
each year, which means that there are
300 Project Directors that must complete
these questionnaires annually.
Therefore, the total annual burden on
Project Directors is 100 hours.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
the Agency’s estimate of the burden 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 those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
to OMB for approval. All comments will
become a matter of public record.
Done in Washington, DC, March 1, 2012.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and
Economics.
[FR Doc. 2012–5796 Filed 3–8–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and
Information Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Broadband
Technology Opportunities Program
(BTOP) Quarterly and Annual
Performance Progress Reports
National Telecommunications
and Information Administration.
AGENCY:
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ACTION:
Notice.
The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written Comments must be
submitted on or before May 8, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via email to
JJessup@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instruments and instructions should be
sent to Anthony G. Wilhelm, Director,
BTOP, Office of Telecommunications
and Information Applications, National
Telecommunications and Information
Administration, via email at btop@ntia.
doc.gov, or by telephone at (202) 482–
2048.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. Abstract
The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery
Act) appropriated funds for BTOP,
which included competitive grants to
expand public computer center capacity
and innovative programs to encourage
sustainable adoption of broadband
service. Section 6001 of the Recovery
Act establishes five core purposes to be
advanced by projects funded under
BTOP:
(1) To provide access to broadband
service to consumers residing in
unserved areas of the country;
(2) To provide improved access to
broadband service to underserved areas
of the country;
(3) To provide broadband access,
education, and support to community
anchor institutions (e.g., schools,
libraries, and medical facilities), or
organizations and agencies serving
vulnerable populations (e.g., lowincome, unemployed, and aged), or jobcreating strategic facilities located in
State- or Federally-designated economic
development areas;
(4) To improve access to, and use of,
broadband service by public safety
agencies; and
(5) To stimulate the demand for
broadband, economic growth, and job
creation.
OMB also requires agencies
administering grant programs to
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14339-14340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5796]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Notice of Intent To Request Approval To Establish a New
Information Collection
AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice
announces the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
intention to request approval to establish a new information collection
for the NIFA Division of Community and Education.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 8, 2012,
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will
be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice and requests for
copies of the information collection may be submitted by any of the
following methods: Email: gmendez@nifa.usda.gov; Fax: 202-720-
[[Page 14340]]
0857; Mail: Office of Information Technology (OIT), NIFA, USDA, STOP
2216, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2216.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gidel Mendez, eGovernment Program
Leader; Email: gmendez@nifa.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Division of Community and Education Project Output Tracking
Questionnaires.
OMB Number: 0524-XXXX.
Type of Request: Intent to request approval to establish a new
information collection system for three years.
Abstract: The Division of Community and Education (DOCE) at the
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) houses grant programs
that are responsible for awarding funds to secondary and postsecondary
institutions to support a variety of activities including curriculum
development, faculty development, experiential learning activities, and
scientific instrumentation, among others. In order to improve federal
program effectiveness and public accountability, DOCE will create
questionnaires that will ask project directors to quantitatively report
on the activities they use for their project and the outputs that are
produced from the money.
Need and Use of the Information: Per the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993, agencies are expected to provide adequate
oversight and eliminate waste and inefficiency in federal programs.
These questionnaires will help to do this in two ways: 1. They will
provide transparency in the way in which federal money is spent; and 2.
They will help to inform and guide programmatic priorities.
The information collected by these questionnaires will be able to
be aggregated across the division, creating a clear picture of how the
money was spent and the outputs that resulted without identifying
specific project directors or institutions. This aggregated information
can be summarized, and presented to stakeholders, as well as be used to
respond to congressional inquiries.
In addition, trends and patterns in the way in which money was
spent will be evident. National Program Leaders will be able to
determine how much grant money went toward specific grant activities in
a given year. They may be able to use this information to adjust
programmatic priorities for the following fiscal year if projects
addressing particular grant activities are disproportionately funded.
The information collected from the questionnaire will provide a
more comprehensive and accurate assessment of national program outputs.
Currently, project directors are required to complete Current Research
Information System (CRIS) reports annually, as well as a final report.
There are no specific guidelines for the CRIS reports, and as a result,
the reports often do not contain quantitative information relevant to
project and program goals. CRIS reports do, however, provide important
descriptive information, but standardized information at the division
level is needed to augment these reports.
Estimate of Burden: DOCE estimates that an average of 20 minutes is
required to complete the questionnaire and supplemental questionnaire
with respect to each award. DOCE estimates that it makes approximately
300 awards each year, which means that there are 300 Project Directors
that must complete these questionnaires annually. Therefore, the total
annual burden on Project Directors is 100 hours.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 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 those who are
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request to OMB for approval. All comments will become a matter of
public record.
Done in Washington, DC, March 1, 2012.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2012-5796 Filed 3-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
