[Federal Register: June 21, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 118)]
[Notices]
[Page 35655-35656]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn05-70]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Final Extension of Project Period and Waiver for the
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers
AGENCY: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final extension of project period and waiver for the
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers (SCIMS).
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SUMMARY: The Secretary waives the requirements in Education Department
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), in 34 CFR 75.250 and
75.261(c)(2), respectively, that generally prohibit project periods
exceeding five years and project period extensions involving the
obligation of additional Federal funds. This extension of project
period and waiver enables the current SCIMS (a total of 16), which
provide assistance to establish innovative projects for the delivery,
demonstration, and evaluation of comprehensive medical, vocational, and
other rehabilitation services to meet the wide range of needs of
individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), to receive an additional 12-
month Federal funding period ranging from September 1, 2005, until
December 1, 2006, a period exceeding the original project period of
five years.
DATES: Effective Date: This priority is effective June 21, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6030, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or by e-mail:
donna.nangle@ed.gov
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
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: On April 25, 2005, we published a notice in
the Federal Register (70 FR 21188) proposing an extension of project
period and waiver in order to--
(1) Enable the Secretary to provide additional funds to the
currently funded centers for an additional 12-month period ranging from
September 1, 2005, until December 1, 2006; and
(2) Request comments on the proposed extension and waiver.
There are no substantive differences between the notice of proposed
extension of project period and waiver and this notice of final
extension of project period and waiver.
Public Comment
In the notice of proposed extension of project period and waiver,
we invited comments. One party submitted a comment agreeing with the
proposal to extend the grant period of the current grantees. We did not
receive any comments opposing the proposed extension of project period
and waiver. Generally, we do not address technical and other minor
changes, as well as suggested changes the law does not authorize us to
make.
Waiver of Delayed Effective Date
The Administrative Procedure Act requires that a substantive rule
shall be published at least 30 days before its effective date, except
as otherwise provided for good cause (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3)). During the
30-day public comment period on the notice of proposed extension of
project period and waiver, one party submitted a comment in support of
the proposed extension and waiver. There were no objections received on
the proposed extension and waiver, and therefore, no substantive
changes have been made. In addition, given the fact that the additional
period of funding is only for a 12-month period, and in order to make
[[Page 35656]]
timely continuation grants to the 16 entities affected, the Secretary
has determined that a delayed effective date is unnecessary and
contrary to the public interest.
Background
NIDRR supports the goals of the President's New Freedom Initiative
(NFI) and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Long-Range Plan (Plan), which are designed to help improve
rehabilitation research and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Note: The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the following
site: http://www.whitehouse.gov /infocus/ newfreedom.
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(a)(1) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended, through NIDRR, the Department provides funding for projects
to improve research and outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The
Conference Report accompanying the 2005 Appropriations Act noted that
NIDRR received additional funding for the SCIMS program and stated that
the conferees intended that the additional funds should be used to
support investments that could facilitate multi-center research on
therapies, interventions, and the use of technology. NIDRR is
conducting background work to inform the competition and plans to defer
new awards, formerly scheduled for 2005, until 2006 in order to use the
background information to guide development of competition priorities,
allow applicants sufficient time to prepare proposals, and place all
SCIMS grants on the same funding schedule.
The grants for 16 SCIMS at University of Alabama/Birmingham, Santa
Clara Valley Medical Center, Los Amigos Research and Education
Institute, Inc., Craig Hospital, University of Miami, Shepherd Center,
Inc., Boston University Medical Center Hospital, University of
Michigan, University of Missouri/Columbia, Kessler Medical
Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, Mount Sinai School
of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, University of
Pittsburgh, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, Virginia
Commonwealth University, and the University of Washington are scheduled
to expire on various dates between August 31, 2005, and November 30,
2005. It would be contrary to the public interest, however, to have a
lapse in these SCI research activities before the new awards are made
in FY 2006.
To avoid a lapse in research and related activities, the Secretary
will fund each of these projects for an additional 12 months.
Accordingly, the Secretary waives the requirements in 34 CFR 75.250 and
75.261(c)(2), which prohibit project periods exceeding five years and
extensions of project periods that involve the obligation of additional
Federal funds.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that the final extension of the project
period and waiver would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. The only entities that would be
affected are the 16 SCIMS.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This final extension of project period and waiver does not contain
any information collection requirements.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is not subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view 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
.
Dated: June 15, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-12223 Filed 6-20-05; 8:45 am]
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