[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 50820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20618]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
August 17, 2015.
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.
Comments regarding this information collection received by
September 21, 2015 will be considered. Written comments should be
addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New
Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502.
Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to:
[email protected] 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-
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.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Title: NIFA Proposal Review Process.
OMB Control Number: 0524-0041.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), administers
competitive, peer-reviewed research, education and extension programs.
The reviews are undertaken to ensure that projects supported by NIFA
are of a high-quality and are consistent with the goals and
requirements of the funding program. These programs are authorized
pursuant to the authorities contained in the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7
U.S.C. 3101), the Smith-Lever Act, and other legislative authorities.
Need and Use of the Information: The collected information from the
evaluations is used to support NIFA grant programs. NIFA uses the
results of each proposal to determine whether a proposal should be
declined or recommended for award. In order to obtain this information,
an electronic questionnaire is used to collect information about
potential panel and ad-hoc reviewers. If this information is not
collected, it would be difficult for a review panel and NIFA staff to
determine which projects warrant funding, or identify appropriate
qualified reviewers. In addition, Federal grants staff and auditors
could not assess the quality or integrity of the review, and the writer
of the application would not benefit from any feedback on why the
application was funded or not.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit; Individuals or households; Federal Government;
State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 50,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 100,497.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-20618 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
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