Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form, 3141-3142 [2021-00571]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2021 / Notices funding for inland and coastal Navigation; status of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF), Board annual report for 2020, and the inland waterways Capital Investment Strategy activities; updates of future IWTF projects currently in Preconstruction, Engineering and Design (PED) phase for Three Rivers, Arkansas, Mississippi River-Illinois Waterway Navigation and Environmental Sustainability Program (NESP) and Upper Ohio River Navigation; status of the ongoing construction activities for the Monongahela River Locks and Dams 2, 3, and 4 Project, the Chickamauga Lock Project and the Kentucky Lock Project; and updates for Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock and Bayou Sorrel Lock. Availability of Materials for the Meeting. A copy of the agenda or any updates to the agenda for the February 9, 2021 virtual meeting will be available. The final version will be available at the virtual meeting. All materials will be posted to the website after the meeting. Public Accessibility to the Meeting: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended, and 41 CFR 102–3.140 through 102–3.1 65, and subject to the availability of space, this virtual meeting is open to the public. Registration of members of the public who wish to participate in the virtual meeting will begin at 8:15 a.m. on the day of the meeting. Participation is on a first-to-arrive basis. Any interested person may participate in the meeting, file written comments or statements with the committee, or make verbal comments during the virtual public meeting, at the times, and in the manner, permitted by the committee, as set forth below. Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring any special accommodations related to the virtual public meeting or seeking additional information about the procedures, should contact Mr. Pointon, the committee DFO, or Mr. Riley, an ADFO, at the email addresses or telephone numbers listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Written Comments or Statements: Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and 102–3.140 and section 10(a)(3) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the public or interested organizations may submit written comments or statements to the Board about its mission and/or the topics to be addressed in this virtual public meeting. Written comments or statements should be submitted to Mr. Pointon, the committee DFO, or Mr. Riley, a committee ADFO, via electronic VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:43 Jan 13, 2021 Jkt 253001 mail, the preferred mode of submission, at the addresses listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section in the following formats: Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word. The comment or statement must include the author’s name, title, affiliation, address, and daytime telephone number. Written comments or statements being submitted in response to the agenda set forth in this notice must be received by the committee DFO or ADFO at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting so that they may be made available to the Board for its consideration prior to the meeting. Written comments or statements received after this date may not be provided to the Board until its next meeting. Please note that because the Board operates under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, all written comments will be treated as public documents and will be made available for public inspection. Verbal Comments: Members of the public will be permitted to make verbal comments during the virtual public meeting only at the time and in the manner allowed herein. If a member of the public is interested in making a verbal comment at the open virtual meeting, that individual must submit a request, with a brief statement of the subject matter to be addressed by the comment, at least three business (3) days in advance to the committee DFO or ADFO, via electronic mail, the preferred mode of submission, at the addresses listed in the FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. The committee DFO and ADFO will log each request to make a comment, in the order received, and determine whether the subject matter of each comment is relevant to the Board’s mission and/or the topics to be addressed in this public meeting. A 15-minute period near the end of the meeting will be available for verbal public comments. Members of the public who have requested to make a verbal comment and whose comments have been deemed relevant under the process described above, will be allotted no more than three (3) minutes during this period, and will be invited to speak in the order in which their requests were received by the DFO and ADFO. Thomas P. Smith, Chief, Operations and Regulatory Division, Directorate of Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. [FR Doc. 2021–00736 Filed 1–13–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3141 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No.: ED–2021–SCC–0006] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form Department of Education (ED), Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct an emergency review of a new information collection. DATES: The Department is requesting emergency processing and OMB approval for this information collection by January 13, 2021; and therefore, the regular clearance process is hereby being initiated to provide the public with the opportunity to comment under the full comment period. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 15, 2021. ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use https://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED– 2021–SCC–0006. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, ED will temporarily accept comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W208D, Washington, DC 20202–4537. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Karen Epps, 202–453–6337. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM 14JAN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 3142 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2021 / Notices Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department’s information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form. OMB Control Number: 1840–NEW. Type of Review: A new information collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 5,138. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 5,138. Abstract: Under the CARES Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), the Department has made over 12,000 awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support emergency financial aid to students and institutional costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. This form will be used by institutions that have improperly drawn down funds from their award accounts to provide the Department with information regarding funds being returned to correct these improper payments. Additional Information: An emergency clearance approval for the use of the system is described below due to the following conditions: Under the current unprecedented national health emergency, Congress and the President have come together to offer relief to those individuals and industries affected by the COVID–19 VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:43 Jan 13, 2021 Jkt 253001 virus under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act. Under the CARES Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) has made over 12,000 awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support emergency financial aid to students and institutional costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. In the course of monitoring these grant awards, the Department has determined that over 700 IHEs have improperly drawn down funds from their award accounts, totaling over $202 million in funds that must now be returned. Furthermore, during the time that these funds have been drawn down, grantees are earning additional interest in excess of the $500 annual cap prescribed by 2 CFR 200.305(b) of the Uniform Guidance. The Department is concerned that this excess interest, without an expeditious inventory and response by our grantees, may be difficult to account. Therefore, in order to process the return of these funds more efficiently and prevent any further earnings beyond the interest cap, we are requesting emergency approval of a short form that will allow the grantee to provide the Department with information regarding the funds being returned. Dated: January 8, 2021. Kate Mullan, PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer. [FR Doc. 2021–00571 Filed 1–13–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program, Assistance Listing Numbers 84.021A and 84.021B. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840–0792. DATES: Applications Available: January 14, 2021. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 15, 2021. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Pre-Application Webinar information: The Department will hold a preapplication meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the Group Projects Abroad website at www2.ed.gov/ programs/iegpsgpa/. Additionally, for prospective applicants unfamiliar with grantmaking at the Department, please consult our funding basics resources at https://www2.ed.gov/ documents/funding-101/funding-101basics.pdf. ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768) and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-201902-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cory Neal, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 258–12, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453–6137. Email: GPA@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877– 8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Fulbright-Hays GPA Program is to promote, improve, and develop the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States. The program provides opportunities for faculty, teachers, and undergraduate and graduate students to conduct individual and group projects overseas. Projects may include either (1) shortterm seminars, curriculum development, group research or study, or (2) long-term advanced intensive language programs. This competition invites applicants to submit an application to request support for either a Fulbright-Hays GPA shortterm project (GPA short-term projects 84.021A) or a Fulbright-Hays GPA longterm project (GPA long-term projects 84.021B). Applicants must clearly indicate on the SF 424, the Application for Federal Assistance cover sheet, whether they are applying for a GPA short-term project (84.021A) or a GPA long-term project (84.021B). Additional submission requirements are included in the application package. There are three types of GPA shortterm projects: (1) Short-term seminar E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM 14JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3141-3142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00571]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2021-SCC-0006]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Higher 
Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information 
Form

AGENCY: Department of Education (ED), Office of Postsecondary Education 
(OPE).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 
requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct an 
emergency review of a new information collection.

DATES: The Department is requesting emergency processing and OMB 
approval for this information collection by January 13, 2021; and 
therefore, the regular clearance process is hereby being initiated to 
provide the public with the opportunity to comment under the full 
comment period. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or 
before March 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use https://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2021-SCC-0006. 
Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal 
mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov 
site is not available to the public for any reason, ED will temporarily 
accept comments at [email protected]. Please include the docket ID 
number and the title of the information collection request when 
requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments 
submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period 
will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments 
submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the 
Director of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and 
Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, 
LBJ, Room 6W208D, Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Karen Epps, 202-453-6337.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in 
accordance with the Paperwork

[[Page 3142]]

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the 
general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on 
proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This 
helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection 
requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps 
the public understand the Department's information collection 
requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED 
is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request 
(ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is 
especially interested in public comment addressing the following 
issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the 
Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely 
manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the 
Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden 
of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of 
information technology. Please note that written comments received in 
response to this notice will be considered public records.
    Title of Collection: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) 
Improper Payments Information Form.
    OMB Control Number: 1840-NEW.
    Type of Review: A new information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector; State, Local, and 
Tribal Governments.Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 5,138.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 5,138.
    Abstract: Under the CARES Act's Higher Education Emergency Relief 
Fund (HEERF), the Department has made over 12,000 awards to 
institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support emergency financial 
aid to students and institutional costs associated with significant 
changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. This 
form will be used by institutions that have improperly drawn down funds 
from their award accounts to provide the Department with information 
regarding funds being returned to correct these improper payments.
    Additional Information: An emergency clearance approval for the use 
of the system is described below due to the following conditions: Under 
the current unprecedented national health emergency, Congress and the 
President have come together to offer relief to those individuals and 
industries affected by the COVID-19 virus under the Coronavirus Aid, 
Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act. Under the CARES 
Act's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), the U.S. 
Department of Education (the Department) has made over 12,000 awards to 
institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support emergency financial 
aid to students and institutional costs associated with significant 
changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. In the 
course of monitoring these grant awards, the Department has determined 
that over 700 IHEs have improperly drawn down funds from their award 
accounts, totaling over $202 million in funds that must now be 
returned. Furthermore, during the time that these funds have been drawn 
down, grantees are earning additional interest in excess of the $500 
annual cap prescribed by 2 CFR 200.305(b) of the Uniform Guidance. The 
Department is concerned that this excess interest, without an 
expeditious inventory and response by our grantees, may be difficult to 
account. Therefore, in order to process the return of these funds more 
efficiently and prevent any further earnings beyond the interest cap, 
we are requesting emergency approval of a short form that will allow 
the grantee to provide the Department with information regarding the 
funds being returned.

    Dated: January 8, 2021.
Kate Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-00571 Filed 1-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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