[Federal Register: August 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 150)]
[Notices]
[Page 45205-45206]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04au08-23]
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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.
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[[Page 45205]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Notice of Intent To Revise a Currently Approved Information
Collection
AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320,
this notice announces the intent of the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) to request approval for
revision of the currently approved information collection for the
CSREES application review process.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by October 8,
2008, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, by any of the following methods:
Mail: Information Collection Officer, CSREES, USDA, STOP 2216, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2216; Hand Delivery/
Courier: 800 9th Street, SW., Waterfront Centre, Room 4217, Washington,
DC 20024; Fax: 202-720-0857; or e-mail: jhitchcock@csrees.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Hitchcock,
jhitchcock@csrees.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: CSREES Application Review Process.
OMB Number: 0524-0041.
Expiration Date of Current Approval: 01/31/2009.
Type of Request: Intent to seek approval for the revision of a
currently approved information collection for three years.
Abstract: CSREES is responsible for performing a review of
applications submitted to CSREES competitive award programs in
accordance with section 103(a) of the Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Education Reform Act of 1998, 7 U.S.C. 7613(a). Reviews are
undertaken to ensure that projects supported by CSREES are of high
quality and are consistent with the goals and requirements of the
funding program.
Applications submitted to CSREES undergo a programmatic evaluation
to determine worthiness of Federal support. The evaluations consist of
a peer panel review and may also entail an assessment by Federal
employees and ad hoc reviews.
Need and Use of the Information: The CSREES Application Review
Process is accomplished through the use of the CSREES Peer Review
System (PRS), a Web-based system which allows reviewers and potential
reviewers to update personal information and to complete and submit
reviews electronically to CSREES.
Given the highly technical nature of many of these applications,
the quality of the peer review greatly depends on the appropriate
matching of the subject matter of an application with the technical
expertise of a potential reviewer.
Information about potential panel and ad hoc reviewers is collected
via an electronic questionnaire. New reviewers are prompted via an e-
mail message to complete the questionnaire. The information from the
completed questionnaire is loaded into a CSREES database system. The
questionnaire collects basic biographical information including
address, contact information, and professional expertise. If a
reviewer's information is already included in the database, then the
questionnaire serves as a request for the potential reviewer to update
her/his information. Information in the database system is then used to
match applications with the most appropriate (potential) reviewers.
When a reviewer is selected by CSREES and the reviewer agrees to
perform a review, the application and associated materials are then
made available to her/him. With respect to the application, a reviewer
must assure s/he: (1) Will comply with the CSREES Confidentiality
Guidelines and (2) does not have a conflict of interest. Upon
completion of a review, the reviewer completes various worksheets in
PRS evaluating an application against established criterion providing
comments as necessary. If appropriate, a peer panel is convened to
review and discuss proposals and make funding recommendations.
Information collected from the reviews and/or peer panel is used to
determine whether an application is to be recommended for award. When
CSREES has rendered a decision, copies of reviews (excluding the names
of the reviewers) and summaries of review panel deliberations, if any,
are provided to the submitting Project Director.
The CSREES review process is recognized by the grantee and grantor
community for its quality.
Estimate of Burden: CSREES estimates that six hours are required to
review an application on average. Applications receive an average of
four written reviews. CSREES estimates that the potential reviewer
questionnaire takes 10 minutes to complete. This estimate was based on
feedback from a small sample of reviewers that participated in the
completion of the reviewer questionnaire and the completion and
submission of application reviews for the CSREES.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
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 estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (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. All responses to
this notice will be summarized and included in the request to OMB for
approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.
[[Page 45206]]
Done at Washington, DC, this 17th day of July, 2008.
Gale Buchanan,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. E8-17648 Filed 8-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P