Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: February 7, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 26)]

[Notices]

[Page 5797-5798]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr07fe02-36]

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests.

SUMMARY: The Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the

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Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507 (j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by January 11, 2002. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 8, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Lauren Wittenberg, Desk Officer: Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or should be electronically mailed to the internet address Lauren-- Wittenberg@omb.eop.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g., new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. ED invites public comment.

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 respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Dated: January 31, 2002. John D. Tressler, Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Type of Review: Reinstatement.

Title: Application for New Grants--State Program Improvement Grants for Children with Disabilities.

Abstract: This information collection is necessary to make awards authorized by the Individuals with Disabilties Education Act, Part D, Subpart 1--State Program Improvement Grants. Eligible grantees are State Departments of Education in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico or an outlying area (Virgin Islands, Guam, American Somoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). This program was newly authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-17). The purpose of this program is to assist State educational agencies, and their partners in reforming and improving their systems for providing educational, early intervention, and transitional services, including their systems for professional development, technical assistance, and dissemination of knowledge about best practices, to improve results for children with disabilities. Appropriations for the first awards under this program become available for obligation on June 15, 2002.

Additional Information: The State Improvement program funds have significant potential in making a positive difference in the education of children with disabilities. Since the inception of this program in FY 1998, grant applications have been invited through a ``Zippy Application Package'' (ZAP), a mechanism developed by the Department to provide applicants, through a Federal Register notice, both the closing date notice and the application package.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: 30. Burden Hours: 2,700.

Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request should be addressed to Vivian Reese, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4050, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651, vivian.reese@ed.gov, or should be electronically mailed to the internet address OCIO--RIMG@ed.gov, or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.

Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements, contact Sheila Carey at (202) 708-6287 or via her internet address Sheila.Carey@ed.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

[FR Doc. 02-2893Filed2-6-02; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P