[Federal Register: September 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 189)]
[Notices]
[Page 56277-56278]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30se03-55]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR); Notice of Extension
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of extension of project period and waiver.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary waives the requirements in Education Department
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), at 34 CFR 75.250 and
75.261(a) and (c)(2), respectively, that generally prohibit project
periods exceeding 5 years and project period extensions involving the
obligation of additional Federal funds to enable six Rehabilitation
Research and Training Centers that conduct research on issues relating
to the employment of individuals with disabilities to receive funding
from October 1, 2003 until April 30, 2004.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This notice is effective September 30, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3412, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202-2645. Telephone: (202) 205-5880 or via Internet: Donna.Nangle@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475.
[[Page 56278]]
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The President's New Freedom Initiative (NFI)
and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Long Range Plan (Plan) establish improving employment outcomes for
individuals with disabilities as a critical need. National data
indicate that employment rates of individuals with disabilities
continue to lag well behind those of individuals without disabilities.
Note: The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the following
site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.html
.
The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
In accordance with the goals of the NFI and the Plan, and as
authorized under section 204(b)(2) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended, through NIDRR, the Department provides funding for
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers to conduct research on the
improvement of employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
In order to foster more efficient use of Federal funds for the
Rehabilitation and Research Training Centers program, the Secretary
intends to refocus the priorities for research on these employment
issues and provide funding for new awards in fiscal year (FY) 2004.
The grants for six Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
focusing on employment issues at Virginia Commonwealth University,
Cornell University, The University of Wisconsin at Stout, The
University of Hawaii, The University of Iowa, and The University of
Massachusetts are scheduled to expire between September 30, 2003 and
December 16, 2003. It would be contrary to the public interest,
however, to have any lapses in these research and training activities
before the refocused priorities can be implemented and new awards
granted for FY 2004.
To avoid any lapse in research and training activities before the
refocused priorities can be implemented, therefore, the Secretary has
decided to fund these projects until April 30, 2004. Accordingly, the
Secretary waives the requirements in 34 CFR 75.250 and 75.261(a) and
(c)(2), which prohibit project periods exceeding 5 years and extensions
of project periods that involve the obligation of additional Federal
funds.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to
comment on proposed regulations. However, the waiver of the
requirements in 34 CFR 75.250 and 75.261 applicable to the maximum
project period and extension of the project period for these grants on
a one-time only basis is procedural and does not establish new
substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), proposed
rulemaking is not required.
In addition, given the fact that the additional period of funding
is only for a limited period of approximately four months from the
expiration of the last grant agreement in December 2003, and the
extensions must begin by September 30, 2003 to avoid any lapse in
funding, the Secretary has determined that proposed rulemaking on this
waiver is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public
interest. Thus, proposed rulemaking also is not required under 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B).
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that the waiver and extension of the
project period and waiver will not have a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This extension and waiver does not contain any information
collection requirements.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may review this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133B,
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).
Dated: September 25, 2003.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-24705 Filed 9-29-03; 8:45 am]
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