Notice of Intent To Seek OMB Approval To Collect Information: Forms Pertaining to the Peer Preview of ARS Research Projects, 79555-79557 [2015-32065]
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Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 245
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
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
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Intent To Seek OMB Approval
To Collect Information: Forms
Pertaining to the Peer Preview of ARS
Research Projects
Agricultural Research Service
(ARS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The proposed information
collection requirement described below
will be submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB
implementing regulations. The
Department is soliciting public
comments on the subject proposal.
DATES: Written comments on this notice
must be received by February 22, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments
concerning this notice to: Michael S.
Strauss, Peer Review Program
Coordinator, Office of Scientific Quality
Review (OSQR); Agricultural Research
Agency, USDA; 5601 Sunnyside
Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland 20705;
Phone: 301–504–3283; Fax: 301–504–
1251.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael S. Strauss, 301–504–3283.
The OSQR
will seek approval from OMB to update
six existing forms and one new form
that will allow the ARS to efficiently
manage data associated with the peer
review of agricultural research. All
forms are transferred and received in an
electronic storage format that does not
include online access.
Abstract: The OSQR was established
in September of 1999 as a result of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act 1998 (‘‘The Act’’)
(Pub. L. 105–185). The Act included
mandates to perform scientific peer
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:21 Dec 21, 2015
Jkt 238001
reviews of all research activities
conducted by the USDA. The Office
manages the ARS peer review system by
centrally planning peer panel reviews
for ARS research projects on a 5-year
cycle.
Each set of reviews is assigned a
chairperson to govern the review
process. Peer reviewers are, with few
exceptions, non-ARS scientists. Peer
review panels are convened to provide
in-depth discussion and review of the
research project plans. Each panel
reviewer receives information on
between 1 and 5 ARS research projects.
On average, 165 research projects are
reviewed annually by an estimated 200
reviewers; whereby approximately 155
are reviewed by panel and
approximately 15 are reviewed through
an ad hoc (written review) process. The
organization and management of this
peer review system, particularly panel
reviews, is highly dependent on the use
of forms.
The OSQR will seek OMB approval of
the following forms:
1. Confidentiality Agreement Form—
USDA uses this form to document that
a selected reviewer is responsible for
keeping confidential any information
learned during the subject peer review
process. The Confidentiality Agreement
is signed prior to the reviewer’s
involvement in the peer review process.
This form requires an original signature.
Electronically transmitted scans of
signed forms are also accepted.
2. Panelist Information Form—USDA
uses this form to gather up-to-date
background information about the
reviewer as well as information relevant
to the paying of an honorarium and for
travel, where appropriate. Reviewers
often include sensitive information on
this form and, thus it is not retained or
recorded in electronic form by the
OSQR.
3. Peer Review of an ARS Research
Project Form (Peer Review Form)—
USDA uses this form to guide the
reviewer’s in-depth written comments
on the subject project. The form
contains the reviewing criteria and
space for the reviewer’s narrative
comments and evaluation.
3. Reviewer Comment Form (New).
This form is supplied to members of a
panel not receiving the above Peer
Review Form to provide a vehicle
whereby they may record comments or
recommendations for any plan before
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
their panel but for which they do not
have in-depth review responsibility.
4. Ad Hoc Review Form. USDA uses
this in select cases (for Ad Hoc
Reviewers who are not members of a
review panel), a check-off listing of
action classes at the end of the form
allows them to provide an overall rating
of the plan.
5. Recommendations for ARS
Research Project Form—
(Recommendations Form)—USDA uses
this form to guide the panel’s evaluation
and critique of the review process. The
form contains the recommendations of
the panel for the subject research
project.
6. Panel Expense Report Form
(Expense Report)—USDA uses this form
to document a panel reviewer’s expense
incurred traveling to and attending a
peer review meeting. The Expense
Report includes lodging, meals, and
transportation expenses. When
completed, the form contains sensitive
information, but is used only in the rare
circumstance that a panel meeting
requires travel of the participants.
7. Panel Invoice Form (Honorarium
Form)—USDA uses this form to
document the transfer of an honorarium
to a peer reviewer. Reviewers receive
honoraria as compensation for serving
as peer review panelists. This form
requires an original signature. It is used
only in special circumstances where
reviewers cannot accept a direct bank
transfer of the honorarium. In such
cases this is used in lieu of the SF–1034
to provide OSQR a written record of the
honorarium payment.
(1) USDA’s collection of information
on the Confidentiality Agreement Form
is needed to document that a selected
reviewer is responsible for keeping
confidential any information learned
during the subject peer review process.
The Confidentiality Agreement would
be signed prior to the reviewer’s
involvement in the peer review process.
(2) USDA’s collection of information
on the Panelist Information Form is
needed to gather up-to-date background
information about the reviewer. It
contains sensitive information.
(3) USDA’s collection of information
on the Peer Review Form and Reviewer
Comment Form is needed to guide the
reviewer’s comments on the subject
project. Both contain review guidance
and space to insert comments.
(4) USDA’s collection of information
on the Ad Hoc Review Form is needed
E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM
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79556
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 245 / Tuesday, December 22, 2015 / Notices
to guide reviewer comments of those not
participating in a chaired panel and
affords a place to select an overall
Action Class rating for the plan.
(5) USDA’s collection of information
on the Recommendations Form is
needed to guide the panel’s critique of
the review process. It contains the
recommendations of the panel for the
subject research project.
(6) USDA’s collection of information
on the Expense Report Form is needed
to document a panel reviewer’s
expenses incurred by attending a peer
review meeting. The Expense Report
includes lodging, meals, and
transportation expenses. It includes
sensitive information.
(7) USDA’s collection of information
on the Honorarium Form is needed to
document the transfer of an honorarium
to the peer reviewer in those rare cases
where an SF–1034 is not completed.
The honorarium is given to reviewers as
appreciation for their time spent on the
panel review process.
Estimate of Burden: The burden
associated with this approval process is
the minimum required to achieve
program objectives. The information
collection frequency is the minimum
consistent with program objectives. The
following estimates of time required to
complete the forms are based on OSQR’s
experience in working with reviewers
and accepting their input into our
procedures.
1. Confidentiality Agreement Form:
This form takes up to10 minutes to
complete. It only requires a signature
and date, but the reviewer must read
and consider the terms of the agreement.
2. Panelist Information Form: This
form takes about 30 minutes to
complete. It resembles a typical request
for personal information; many
reviewers provide the same data as grant
reviewers in other peer review
programs.
3. Peer Review of an ARS Research
Project Form (Peer Review Form). This
form may take 4–7 hours to complete.
Because this is a review, the page length
varies. Reviewers are free to write as
much as they wish, but to complete the
form they must thoroughly read and
evaluate a research project plan that
may exceed 60–70 pages in length.
4. Reviewer Comment Form (New).
This form takes 1 hours to complete. It
typically contains a general assessment
of the plan with only brief comments
and is usually one page or less when
completed.
5. Recommendations for ARS
Research Project Form
(Recommendations Form).
This form takes 1–2 hours to
complete. Because this is a review, the
page length significantly varies. For
most plans it is completed by the OSQR
from the Peer Review Forms and
Reviewer Comment Forms and reviewed
and revised by reviewers as part of their
panel discussions. For the rare occasion
where a panel meets in-person, the form
is prepared by the designated primary
reviewer for that plan who combines
comments from all reviewers as found
on the Peer Review Form and Reviewer
Comment Form, and further analyses
derived from the panel’s discussions.
5. Panel Expense Report Form
(Expense Report): This form takes 30
minutes to complete.
6. Panel Invoice Form (Honorarium
Form): This form takes 3 minutes to
complete. This form has the reviewer’s
personal information pre-filled and the
reviewer only verifies its accuracy and
signs.
Respondents and Estimated Number
of Respondents: Scientific experts,
currently working in the same
discipline as the research projects under
review, are selected to review research
projects. These experts are notable peers
within and external to the ARS.
Annually, about 165 peer reviewers
complete these forms. As most plans are
discussed using an online/telephone
conference utility travel is not generally
required and, thus, most reviewers do
not complete Expense Report and
Invoice Forms.
FREQUENCY OF RESPONSE:
Number of
respondents
Form
Confidentiality Agreement .........................................................................
Peer Review Forms (Required for all reviewers and they have 2 review
assignments on average.).
Reviewer Comment Form (Optional where reviewer does not have primary or secondary review assignment for a plan).
Expense Report (Only for those reviewers traveling to the review) .........
Honorarium Form (Only for those reviewers paid by check) ....................
Panelist Information Forms .......................................................................
Recommendations Form (For use only for panels not meeting online.) ..
Annual frequency
165
155
1 per respondent (Total of 165).
2 per panel respondent (Total of 310.).
155
On average, 2 per panel respondent (Total of 310).
10
10
165
10
1
1
1
2
per
per
per
per
respondent
respondent
respondent
respondent
(Total of 10).
(Total of 10).
for each form (Total of 165).
(Total of 20).
ESTIMATED TOTAL ANNUAL BURDEN ON RESPONDENTS
Number
completed
annually
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Form
(time required to complete)
Confidentiality Agreement (10 min.) ......................................................................................................................
Panelist Information Forms (30 min.) ....................................................................................................................
Peer Review Forms (∼6 hrs) .................................................................................................................................
Recommendations Form (2 hr) .............................................................................................................................
Reviewer Comment Form (New) (1 hr) .................................................................................................................
Honorarium Form (3 min.) .....................................................................................................................................
Expense Report (30 min.) .....................................................................................................................................
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chap.35.
Comments: The Notice is soliciting
comments from members of the public
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:21 Dec 21, 2015
Jkt 238001
and affected agencies concerning the
proposed collection of information to:
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed
collection is necessary for the proper
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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165
155
155
10
310
10
10
Total burden
(hr.)
28
78
930
20
310
.5
5
performance of ARS functions,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the
accuracy of the estimated burden from
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 245 / Tuesday, December 22, 2015 / Notices
proposed collection of information; (3)
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including the use of
appropriate automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses. 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.
Dated: December 9, 2015.
Simon Y. Liu,
Associate Administrator, ARS.
BILLING CODE 3410–03–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive
License
Agricultural Research Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Agricultural Research Service, intends
to grant to Oregon State University of
Corvallis, Oregon, an exclusive license
to the variety of blackberry described in
U.S. Plant Patent Application Serial No.
14/756,637, ‘‘Blackberry Plant Named
‘Columbia Giant’,’’ filed on September
28, 2015.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before January 21, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to: USDA,
ARS, Office of Technology Transfer,
5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Rm. 4–1174,
Beltsville, Maryland 20705–5131.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mojdeh Bahar of the Office of
Technology Transfer at the Beltsville
address given above; telephone: 301–
504–5989.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Federal Government’s patent rights in
this plant variety are assigned to the
United States of America, as represented
by the Secretary of Agriculture. The
prospective exclusive license will be
royalty-bearing and will comply with
the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C.
209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective
exclusive license may be granted unless,
within thirty (30) days from the date of
this published Notice, the Agricultural
Research Service receives written
evidence and argument which
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
17:21 Dec 21, 2015
Mojdeh Bahar,
Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015–32064 Filed 12–21–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–03–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
December 16, 2015.
[FR Doc. 2015–32065 Filed 12–21–15; 8:45 am]
VerDate Sep<11>2014
establishes that the grant of the license
would not be consistent with the
requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37
CFR 404.7.
Jkt 238001
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 or other forms of information
technology should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), OIRA_Submission@
OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806
and to Departmental Clearance Office,
USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602,
Washington, DC 20250–7602.
Comments regarding these information
collections are best assured of having
their full effect if received within 30
days of this notification. Copies of the
submission(s) may be obtained by
calling (202) 720–8958.
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.
PO 00000
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79557
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Title: Laboratories.
OMB Control Number: 0583–0158.
Summary of Collection: The Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has
been delegated the authority to exercise
the functions of the Secretary as
provided in the Federal Meat Inspection
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA)
(21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and the Egg
Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21
U.S.C. 1031). These statues mandate
that FSIS protect the public by verifying
that meat and poultry products are safe,
wholesome, unadulterated, and
properly labeled and packaged.
Need and Use of the Information:
FSIS will use two forms to collect
information for two distinct laboratory
programs. FSIS will use the PEPRL–F–
0008–04 form as a self assessment audit
checklist to collect information related
to the quality assurance/quality control
procedures in place at in-plant and
private laboratories participating n the
Pasteurized Egg Product Recognized
Laboratory program. FSIS uses the data
collected in the desk audit of existing
labs or in the appraisal of a new
applicant. Any non-federal laboratory
that is applying for the FSIS Accredited
Laboratory program will need to
complete an Application for FSIS
Accredited Laboratory Program 10,110–
2 form. FSIS will use the information
collected by the form to help access the
laboratory applying for admission to the
FSIS Accredited Laboratory program.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 14.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 13.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015–32174 Filed 12–21–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utility Service
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
December 16, 2015.
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments
regarding (a) whether the collection of
E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM
22DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79555-79557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32065]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 245 / Tuesday, December 22, 2015 /
Notices
[[Page 79555]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Intent To Seek OMB Approval To Collect Information:
Forms Pertaining to the Peer Preview of ARS Research Projects
AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB
implementing regulations. The Department is soliciting public comments
on the subject proposal.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by February 22,
2016.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to: Michael S.
Strauss, Peer Review Program Coordinator, Office of Scientific Quality
Review (OSQR); Agricultural Research Agency, USDA; 5601 Sunnyside
Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland 20705; Phone: 301-504-3283; Fax: 301-504-
1251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Strauss, 301-504-3283.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OSQR will seek approval from OMB to
update six existing forms and one new form that will allow the ARS to
efficiently manage data associated with the peer review of agricultural
research. All forms are transferred and received in an electronic
storage format that does not include online access.
Abstract: The OSQR was established in September of 1999 as a result
of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 1998
(``The Act'') (Pub. L. 105-185). The Act included mandates to perform
scientific peer reviews of all research activities conducted by the
USDA. The Office manages the ARS peer review system by centrally
planning peer panel reviews for ARS research projects on a 5-year
cycle.
Each set of reviews is assigned a chairperson to govern the review
process. Peer reviewers are, with few exceptions, non-ARS scientists.
Peer review panels are convened to provide in-depth discussion and
review of the research project plans. Each panel reviewer receives
information on between 1 and 5 ARS research projects.
On average, 165 research projects are reviewed annually by an
estimated 200 reviewers; whereby approximately 155 are reviewed by
panel and approximately 15 are reviewed through an ad hoc (written
review) process. The organization and management of this peer review
system, particularly panel reviews, is highly dependent on the use of
forms.
The OSQR will seek OMB approval of the following forms:
1. Confidentiality Agreement Form--USDA uses this form to document
that a selected reviewer is responsible for keeping confidential any
information learned during the subject peer review process. The
Confidentiality Agreement is signed prior to the reviewer's involvement
in the peer review process. This form requires an original signature.
Electronically transmitted scans of signed forms are also accepted.
2. Panelist Information Form--USDA uses this form to gather up-to-
date background information about the reviewer as well as information
relevant to the paying of an honorarium and for travel, where
appropriate. Reviewers often include sensitive information on this form
and, thus it is not retained or recorded in electronic form by the
OSQR.
3. Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Form (Peer Review Form)--
USDA uses this form to guide the reviewer's in-depth written comments
on the subject project. The form contains the reviewing criteria and
space for the reviewer's narrative comments and evaluation.
3. Reviewer Comment Form (New). This form is supplied to members of
a panel not receiving the above Peer Review Form to provide a vehicle
whereby they may record comments or recommendations for any plan before
their panel but for which they do not have in-depth review
responsibility.
4. Ad Hoc Review Form. USDA uses this in select cases (for Ad Hoc
Reviewers who are not members of a review panel), a check-off listing
of action classes at the end of the form allows them to provide an
overall rating of the plan.
5. Recommendations for ARS Research Project Form--(Recommendations
Form)--USDA uses this form to guide the panel's evaluation and critique
of the review process. The form contains the recommendations of the
panel for the subject research project.
6. Panel Expense Report Form (Expense Report)--USDA uses this form
to document a panel reviewer's expense incurred traveling to and
attending a peer review meeting. The Expense Report includes lodging,
meals, and transportation expenses. When completed, the form contains
sensitive information, but is used only in the rare circumstance that a
panel meeting requires travel of the participants.
7. Panel Invoice Form (Honorarium Form)--USDA uses this form to
document the transfer of an honorarium to a peer reviewer. Reviewers
receive honoraria as compensation for serving as peer review panelists.
This form requires an original signature. It is used only in special
circumstances where reviewers cannot accept a direct bank transfer of
the honorarium. In such cases this is used in lieu of the SF-1034 to
provide OSQR a written record of the honorarium payment.
(1) USDA's collection of information on the Confidentiality
Agreement Form is needed to document that a selected reviewer is
responsible for keeping confidential any information learned during the
subject peer review process. The Confidentiality Agreement would be
signed prior to the reviewer's involvement in the peer review process.
(2) USDA's collection of information on the Panelist Information
Form is needed to gather up-to-date background information about the
reviewer. It contains sensitive information.
(3) USDA's collection of information on the Peer Review Form and
Reviewer Comment Form is needed to guide the reviewer's comments on the
subject project. Both contain review guidance and space to insert
comments.
(4) USDA's collection of information on the Ad Hoc Review Form is
needed
[[Page 79556]]
to guide reviewer comments of those not participating in a chaired
panel and affords a place to select an overall Action Class rating for
the plan.
(5) USDA's collection of information on the Recommendations Form is
needed to guide the panel's critique of the review process. It contains
the recommendations of the panel for the subject research project.
(6) USDA's collection of information on the Expense Report Form is
needed to document a panel reviewer's expenses incurred by attending a
peer review meeting. The Expense Report includes lodging, meals, and
transportation expenses. It includes sensitive information.
(7) USDA's collection of information on the Honorarium Form is
needed to document the transfer of an honorarium to the peer reviewer
in those rare cases where an SF-1034 is not completed. The honorarium
is given to reviewers as appreciation for their time spent on the panel
review process.
Estimate of Burden: The burden associated with this approval
process is the minimum required to achieve program objectives. The
information collection frequency is the minimum consistent with program
objectives. The following estimates of time required to complete the
forms are based on OSQR's experience in working with reviewers and
accepting their input into our procedures.
1. Confidentiality Agreement Form: This form takes up to10 minutes
to complete. It only requires a signature and date, but the reviewer
must read and consider the terms of the agreement.
2. Panelist Information Form: This form takes about 30 minutes to
complete. It resembles a typical request for personal information; many
reviewers provide the same data as grant reviewers in other peer review
programs.
3. Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Form (Peer Review Form).
This form may take 4-7 hours to complete. Because this is a review, the
page length varies. Reviewers are free to write as much as they wish,
but to complete the form they must thoroughly read and evaluate a
research project plan that may exceed 60-70 pages in length.
4. Reviewer Comment Form (New). This form takes 1 hours to
complete. It typically contains a general assessment of the plan with
only brief comments and is usually one page or less when completed.
5. Recommendations for ARS Research Project Form (Recommendations
Form).
This form takes 1-2 hours to complete. Because this is a review,
the page length significantly varies. For most plans it is completed by
the OSQR from the Peer Review Forms and Reviewer Comment Forms and
reviewed and revised by reviewers as part of their panel discussions.
For the rare occasion where a panel meets in-person, the form is
prepared by the designated primary reviewer for that plan who combines
comments from all reviewers as found on the Peer Review Form and
Reviewer Comment Form, and further analyses derived from the panel's
discussions.
5. Panel Expense Report Form (Expense Report): This form takes 30
minutes to complete.
6. Panel Invoice Form (Honorarium Form): This form takes 3 minutes
to complete. This form has the reviewer's personal information pre-
filled and the reviewer only verifies its accuracy and signs.
Respondents and Estimated Number of Respondents: Scientific
experts, currently working in the same discipline as the research
projects under review, are selected to review research projects. These
experts are notable peers within and external to the ARS. Annually,
about 165 peer reviewers complete these forms. As most plans are
discussed using an online/telephone conference utility travel is not
generally required and, thus, most reviewers do not complete Expense
Report and Invoice Forms.
Frequency of Response:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Form respondents Annual frequency
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Agreement......... 165 1 per respondent
(Total of 165).
Peer Review Forms (Required for 155 2 per panel
all reviewers and they have 2 respondent (Total
review assignments on average.). of 310.).
Reviewer Comment Form (Optional 155 On average, 2 per
where reviewer does not have panel respondent
primary or secondary review (Total of 310).
assignment for a plan).
Expense Report (Only for those 10 1 per respondent
reviewers traveling to the (Total of 10).
review).
Honorarium Form (Only for those 10 1 per respondent
reviewers paid by check). (Total of 10).
Panelist Information Forms........ 165 1 per respondent for
each form (Total of
165).
Recommendations Form (For use only 10 2 per respondent
for panels not meeting online.). (Total of 20).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number
Form (time required to complete) completed Total burden
annually (hr.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Agreement (10 min.).... 165 28
Panelist Information Forms (30 min.)... 155 78
Peer Review Forms (~6 hrs)............. 155 930
Recommendations Form (2 hr)............ 10 20
Reviewer Comment Form (New) (1 hr)..... 310 310
Honorarium Form (3 min.)............... 10 .5
Expense Report (30 min.)............... 10 5
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Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chap.35.
Comments: The Notice is soliciting comments from members of the
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of
information to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection is
necessary for the proper performance of ARS functions, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the
accuracy of the estimated burden from
[[Page 79557]]
proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond,
including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses. 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.
Dated: December 9, 2015.
Simon Y. Liu,
Associate Administrator, ARS.
[FR Doc. 2015-32065 Filed 12-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P
