82 FR 25595 - Notice of Request for Approval of Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of Advocacy and Outreach

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 105 (June 2, 2017)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Office of Advocacy and Outreach's (OAO) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct data collection for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Scholars Program.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 105 (Friday, June 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25595-25596]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11389]


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 105 / Friday, June 2, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 25595]]



 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of Advocacy and Outreach


Notice of Request for Approval of Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of Advocacy and Outreach, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Office of Advocacy and Outreach's (OAO) intent to 
request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 
conduct data collection for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Scholars Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 1, 2017 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: The Office of Advocacy and Outreach invites interested 
persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments may be submitted by 
one of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site (http://www.regulations.gov) provides the ability to type short comments 
directly into the comment field on this Web page or attach a file for 
lengthier comments. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments. Send mail, including CD-ROMs, etc., to: Jacqueline 
Padron, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Advocacy and 
Outreach, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Whitten Building Room 520-A, 
Mailstop 0601, Washington, DC 20250.
    Hand or courier submittals should be delivered to: Office of 
Advocacy and Outreach, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Whitten Building 
Room 520-A, Mailstop 0601, Washington, DC 20250.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include Office of Advocacy and Outreach, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture. Comments received in response to this docket will be made 
available for public inspection and posted without change, including 
any personal information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, 
please contact the Office of Advocacy and Outreach, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Whitten Building Room 520-A, Mailstop 0601, Washington, DC 
20250, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Padron, Program Director, 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program (HSINP), USDA OAO, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 520-A, Mailstop 0601, Washington, DC 
20250, email: [email protected], Telephone: (202) 720-6506, Fax: 
(202) 720-7704.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: USDA/HSI Scholars Program.
    OMB Number: 0503-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from approval date.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The purpose of the USDA/HSI Scholars Program is to 
strengthen the long-term partnership between USDA and the Hispanic-
Serving Institutions; to increase the number of students studying and 
graduating in food, agriculture, natural resources, and other related 
fields of study; to develop a pool of scientists and professionals to 
fill jobs in the food, agricultural, or natural resources system; and 
to create a talent pipeline for USDA.
    The USDA/HSI Scholars Program is a joint human capital initiative 
between USDA and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Through the program, 
the USDA offers scholarships to high school and college students who 
are seeking a bachelor's degree in the fields of agriculture, food, or 
natural resource sciences, and related disciplines at Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions. In order for graduating high school students and current 
freshmen and sophomores to be considered for the scholarship, a 
completed application is required. The first section of the high school 
application requests the applicant to include biographical information 
(e.g., name, address, etc.); educational background information (e.g., 
grade point average, name of university(ies) interested in attending, 
and desired major); and extracurricular activities. The second section 
of the application is completed by the student's guidance counselor and 
requests information pertaining to the student's academic status and 
grade point average. The last section of the application, which is to 
be completed by a teacher, provides information that assesses the 
applicant's interests, character, and potential. In addition to the 
application form, the college submission requires two letters of 
recommendation--one from a Department Head, Dean or University Vice 
President, and another from a College Professor. There are no sections 
included in the application that these individuals will need to 
complete.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average one to two hours per response.
    Respondents: High School students, freshman and sophomore college 
students, teachers, principals, guidance counselors, and school 
administrators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600 (200 applications).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 700 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments may be sent to Jacqueline Padron, Program Director, 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program, USDA Office of Advocacy 
and Outreach, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 520-A, Mail Stop 0601, 
Washington, DC 20250, or via email at: [email protected]. All 
comments received will be available for public inspection during 
regular business hours at the same address.

[[Page 25596]]

    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB's approval.
    All comments will become a matter of public record.

    Signed this 23rd day of May 2017.
Christian Obineme,
Associate Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach.
[FR Doc. 2017-11389 Filed 6-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3412-89-P