Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 35995-35996 [2014-14829]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 122 / Wednesday, June 25, 2014 / Notices (e) The possibility that, even if an agency discourages ex parte communications during specified stages of the rulemaking process, such communications may nonetheless occur. (f) The potential need to give agency personnel guidance about whether or to what extent to provide information to persons not employed by the agency during a face-to-face meeting. Communications Before an NPRM Is Issued 4. Agencies should not impose restrictions on ex parte communications before an NPRM is issued. 5. Agencies may, however, disclose, in accordance with ¶ 8 of this recommendation, the occurrence or content of ex parte communications received before an NPRM is issued, as follows: (a) In the preamble of the later-issued NPRM or other rulemaking document; or (b) In the appropriate rulemaking docket once it is opened. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Communications After an NPRM Has Been Issued 6. If an agency cannot accommodate all requests for in-person meetings after an NPRM has been issued, it should consider holding a public meeting (which may be informal) in lieu of or in addition to individual, private meetings. 7. After an NPRM has been issued, agencies should disclose to the public: (a) The occurrence of all oral ex parte communications, including the identity of those involved in the discussion and the date and location of the meeting. (b) The content of all oral ex parte communications through a written summary filed in the appropriate rulemaking docket. Agencies may either: (i) Direct their own personnel to prepare and submit the necessary summary; or (ii) Request or require private persons to prepare and submit the necessary summary of meetings in which they have participated, although it remains the agency’s responsibility to ensure adequate disclosure. (c) All written submissions, in the appropriate rulemaking docket. Additional Considerations after the Comment Period Has Closed 8. Agencies should determine whether, and under what circumstances, ex parte communications made after the close of the comment period should be permitted and, if so, how they should be considered. 9. If an agency receives, through an ex parte communication, any significant new information that its decisionmakers choose to consider or rely upon, it should disclose the information and consider reopening the comment period, to provide the public with an opportunity to respond. 10. When an agency receives a large number of requests for ex parte meetings after the comment period has closed, it should consider using a reply comment period or offering other opportunities for receiving public input on submitted comments. See Admin. Conf. of the United States, Recommendation 2011–2, Rulemaking Comments ¶ 6, 76 Fed. Reg. 48,791 (Aug. 9, 2011) (encouraging the use of reply comment VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:01 Jun 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 periods and other methods of receiving public input on previously submitted comments). Quasi-Adjudicatory Rulemakings 11. If an agency conducts ‘‘quasiadjudicatory’’ rulemakings that involve conflicting private claims to a valuable privilege, its ex parte communications policy should clearly and distinctly articulate the principles and procedures applicable in those rulemakings. 12. Agencies should explain whether, how, and why they are prohibiting or restricting ex parte communications in quasi-adjudicatory rulemakings. Agencies may conclude that ex parte communications in this context require a different approach from the one otherwise recommended here. 13. Agencies should explain and provide a rationale for any additional procedures applicable to ex parte communications received in quasi-adjudicatory rulemakings. Accommodating Digital Technology 14. Agencies should consider how digital technology may aid the management or disclosure of ex parte communications. For example, agencies may be able to use technological tools such as video teleconferencing as a cost effective way to engage with interested persons. 15. Agencies should avoid using language that will inadvertently exclude ex parte communications made via digital or other new technologies from their policies. 16. Agencies should state clearly whether they consider social media communications to be ex parte communications and how they plan to treat such communications. Agencies should ensure consistency between policies governing ex parte communications and the use of social media. [FR Doc. 2014–14878 Filed 6–24–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6110–01–P UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Notice of July 9 Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid Meeting United States Agency for International Development. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA). Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2014. Time: 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Location: Horizon Room, Ronald Reagan Building. SUMMARY: Purpose The Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) brings together USAID and private voluntary organizations (PVO) officials, representatives from universities, PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35995 international nongovernment organizations (NGOs), U.S. businesses, and government, multilateral, and private organizations to foster understanding, communication, and cooperation in the area of foreign aid. Agenda USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah will make opening remarks, followed by panel discussions among ACVFA members and USAID leadership on the Global Development Lab. The full meeting agenda will be forthcoming on the ACVFA Web site at https:// www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/ organization/advisory-committee. Stakeholders The meeting is free and open to the public. Persons wishing to attend should register online at https://ow.ly/ wlC6G. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jayne Thomisee, 202–712–5506. Dated: June 18, 2014. Jayne Thomisee, Executive Director & Policy Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development. [FR Doc. 2014–14836 Filed 6–24–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request June 19, 2014. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13. Comments regarding (a) whether the 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 burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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 those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques and other forms of information technology. Comments regarding this information collection received by July 25, 2014 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and E:\FR\FM\25JNN1.SGM 25JNN1 35996 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 122 / Wednesday, June 25, 2014 / Notices Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. Commentors are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720–8681. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Forest Service Title: Commercial Use of Woodsy Owl Symbol—36 CFR part 272. OMB Control Number: 0596–0087. Summary of Collection: Part 272 of Title 36 CFR authorizes the Chief of the Forest Service to approve commercial use of the Woodsy Owl symbol and to collect royalty fees for such use. An individual or corporation may apply for a Woodsy Owl license by contacting Forest Service personnel by telephone, fax, and email or by writing. The Forest Service National Symbols Coordinator will evaluate the data to determine if an individual corporation, or organization, requesting a license to use the Woodsy Owl symbol commercially should be granted a license or, if currently licensed, to determine the royalty fee the licensed entity must pay to the agency based on a percentage of the licensee’s total sales and whether the licensed entity has met its stated objectives. Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to determine how long the individual, corporation, or organization has been in business; the products the individual, corporation, or organization sells or plans to see; the geographical location from which the products will be sold; the projected sales volume; and how the individual, corporation, or organization plans to market the products. If information is not collected royalty fees would not be collected in keeping with federal cash management policies, and quantity of merchandise objectives would not be effectively monitored. Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 21. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:01 Jun 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly. Total Burden Hours: 114. Forest Service Title: Generic Information Collection and Clearance of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. OMB Control Number: 0596–0226. Summary of Collection: Executive Order 12862 directs Federal agencies to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector. Improving Forest Service (FS) programs requires ongoing assessment of service delivery, by which we mean systematic review of the operation of a program compared to a set of explicit or implicit standards, as a means of contributing to the continuous improvement of the program. Need and Use of the Information: The information collection activity will garner qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Administration’s commitment to improving service delivery. By qualitative feedback we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study. This feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, training or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and actionable communications between FS and its customers and stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management. Feedback collected under this generic clearance will provide useful information, but it will not yield data that can be generalized to the overall population. 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, PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 methods for assessing potential nonresponse bias, the protocols for data collection, and any testing procedures that were or will be undertaken prior fielding 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. Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit; Not-forprofit Institutions and State, Local or Tribal Government. Number of Respondents: 3,500,000. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 875,000. Charlene Parker, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2014–14829 Filed 6–24–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Prince of Wales Island Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Prince of Wales Island Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Craig, Alaska. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110– 343) (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review and recommend projects authorized under Title II of the Act. DATES: The meetings will be held July 10, 11 and 31, August 6, and 28, September 25, and October 23, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. All RAC meetings are subject to cancellation. For status of meeting prior to attendance, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Craig Ranger District, 504 9th Street, Craig, Alaska. If you wish to attend via teleconference, please call 907–826– 3271 for instructions. Written comments may be submitted as described under SUPPLEMENTARY SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25JNN1.SGM 25JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35995-35996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14829]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 19, 2014.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) whether the 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 burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (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 those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques 
and other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by July 25, 
2014 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and

[[Page 35996]]

Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New 
Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. 
Commentors are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Forest Service

    Title: Commercial Use of Woodsy Owl Symbol--36 CFR part 272.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0087.
    Summary of Collection: Part 272 of Title 36 CFR authorizes the 
Chief of the Forest Service to approve commercial use of the Woodsy Owl 
symbol and to collect royalty fees for such use. An individual or 
corporation may apply for a Woodsy Owl license by contacting Forest 
Service personnel by telephone, fax, and email or by writing. The 
Forest Service National Symbols Coordinator will evaluate the data to 
determine if an individual corporation, or organization, requesting a 
license to use the Woodsy Owl symbol commercially should be granted a 
license or, if currently licensed, to determine the royalty fee the 
licensed entity must pay to the agency based on a percentage of the 
licensee's total sales and whether the licensed entity has met its 
stated objectives.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to 
determine how long the individual, corporation, or organization has 
been in business; the products the individual, corporation, or 
organization sells or plans to see; the geographical location from 
which the products will be sold; the projected sales volume; and how 
the individual, corporation, or organization plans to market the 
products. If information is not collected royalty fees would not be 
collected in keeping with federal cash management policies, and 
quantity of merchandise objectives would not be effectively monitored.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 21.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 114.

Forest Service

    Title: Generic Information Collection and Clearance of Qualitative 
Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0226.
    Summary of Collection: Executive Order 12862 directs Federal 
agencies to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the 
best service available in the private sector. Improving Forest Service 
(FS) programs requires ongoing assessment of service delivery, by which 
we mean systematic review of the operation of a program compared to a 
set of explicit or implicit standards, as a means of contributing to 
the continuous improvement of the program.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collection 
activity will garner qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in 
an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Administration's 
commitment to improving service delivery. By qualitative feedback we 
mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and 
opinions, but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative 
results that can be generalized to the population of study. This 
feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder 
perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of 
issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, 
training or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or 
services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and 
actionable communications between FS and its customers and 
stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the 
improvement of program management.
    Feedback collected under this generic clearance will provide useful 
information, but it will not yield data that can be generalized to the 
overall population. 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 non-response bias, the protocols for data collection, and any 
testing procedures that were or will be undertaken prior fielding 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.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit; 
Not-for-profit Institutions and State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 3,500,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 875,000.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-14829 Filed 6-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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