83_FR_37020 83 FR 36873 - Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently Approved Information Collection

83 FR 36873 - Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 147 (July 31, 2018)

Page Range36873-36874
FR Document2018-16326

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice announces the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) intention to request approval for an extension of the currently approved information collection for the NIFA proposal review process.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36873-36874]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16326]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 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, this notice 
announces the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) 
intention to request approval for an extension of the currently 
approved information collection for the NIFA proposal review process.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by October 1, 
2018, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice and requests for 
copies of the information collection may be submitted by any of the 
following methods: Email: rmartin.usda.gov; Fax: 202-720-0857; Mail: 
Office of Information Technology (OIT), NIFA, USDA, STOP 2216, 1400 
Independence

[[Page 36874]]

Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2216.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Martin, eGovernment Program 
Leader; Phone Number: 202-445-5388; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: NIFA Proposal Review Process.
    OMB Number: 0524-0041.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: 10/31/2018.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection for three years.
    Abstract: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is 
responsible for performing a review of proposals submitted to NIFA 
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 NIFA are of high quality, and are consistent with the 
goals and requirements of the funding program.
    Proposals submitted to NIFA 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 electronically submitted (ad-hoc) reviews in the Peer 
Review System.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected from the 
evaluations is used to support NIFA grant programs. NIFA uses the 
results of the proposal evaluation to determine whether a proposal 
should be declined or recommended for award. When NIFA 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.
    Given the highly technical nature of many of these proposals, the 
quality of the peer review greatly depends on the appropriate matching 
of the subject matter of the proposal with the technical expertise of 
the potential reviewer. In order to obtain this information, an 
electronic questionnaire is used to collect information about potential 
panel and ad-hoc reviewers. If the reviewer is already in our database, 
the questionnaire asks potential reviewers to update their basic 
biographical information including address, contact information, 
professional expertise, and their availability to review for NIFA in 
the future. If the reviewer is new, they are prompted to complete the 
questionnaire. This information has been invaluable in the NIFA review 
process, which has been recognized by the grantee and grantor community 
for its quality.
    The applications and associated materials made available to 
reviewers, as well as the discussions that take place during panel 
review meetings are strictly confidential and are not to be disclosed 
to or discussed with anyone who has not been officially designated to 
participate in the review process. While each panelist certifies at the 
time of preparing a review they do not have a conflict-of-interest with 
a particular application and will maintain its confidentiality in the 
Peer Review System, a certification of their intent at the time of the 
panel review proceedings is collected to emphasize and reinforce 
confidentiality not only of applications and reviews but also panel 
discussions. On the Conflict-of-Interest and Confidentiality 
Certification Form, the panelist affirms they understand the conflict-
of-interest guidelines and will not be involved in the review of the 
application(s) where a conflict exists. The panelist also affirms their 
intent to maintain the confidentiality of the panel process and not 
disclose to another individual any information related to the peer 
review or use any information for personal benefit.
    Estimate of Burden: NIFA estimates that anywhere from one hour to 
twenty hours may be required to review a proposal. It is estimated that 
approximately five hours are required to review an average proposal. 
Each proposal receives an average of four reviews, accounting for an 
annual burden of 20 hours. NIFA estimates it receives 4,600 competitive 
applications each year. The total annual burden on reviewers is 92,000 
hours. NIFA estimates that the potential reviewer questionnaire takes 
an estimated 10 minutes to complete. The database consists of 
approximately 50,000 reviewers. The total annual burden of 
questionnaire is 8,330 hours. NIFA estimates that the potential 
Conflict-of-Interest and Confidentiality Certification Form takes an 
estimated 10 minutes to complete. The agency has approximately 1,000 
panelists each year. The total annual burden of the certification form 
is 167 hours. The total annual burden of the component of the entire 
review process is 100,497 hours.
    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's 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.

    Done in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2018.
Thomas Shanower,
Acting Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2018-16326 Filed 7-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Notices 36873 interstate movement of regulated FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thence with the lands of Joseph articles from the quarantined area. This Kevin Heikkila, Acting Director of Dalia, one (1) line; action is necessary to prevent the spread Lands and Realty Management, by 1. S 29°24′20″ E, 1962.76 feet to of the PCN via potatoes, soil, and other phone at 202–205–2818. Individuals Corner 6 of USA Tract U–1601, a host material to non-infested areas of who use telecommunication devices for standard Forest Service Monument the United States. the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal situated in the Virginia and North Need and Use of the Information: Information Relay Service (FIRS) at Carolina State Line, common to the APHIS will collect information using 1–800–877–8339 twenty-four hours a lands of Dalia; certificates, limited permits, compliance day, every day of the year, including Thence with the North Carolina State agreements, self-certification, appeal of holidays. Line, N 86°49′30″ W, 4183.72 feet to withdrawn certificate or limited permit, Corner 1 of USA Tract U–1601, the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The appeal of withdrawn compliance POINT OF BEGINNING, containing Divided Mountain Project, legally agreement, and labeling to prevent the 112.304 acres more or less, with the described below, will provide spread of PCN and to ensure that bearings, distances and acres here additional road access into Cherokee regulated articles can be moved safely described being as shown on the plat of National Forest and additional access to from the quarantined area without survey titled ‘‘PROPERTY OF LOWELL Pond Mountain State Game Lands. State spreading PCN. If APHIS did not collect K. HENSLEY AND BERNICE HENSLEY game lands allow for recreational this information, the spread of PCN in TO BE CONVEYED TO THE opportunities such as hiking, fishing, the United States could result in a loss CONSERVATION FUND’’ as drawn by hunting, and cross country skiing. of United States potatoes and other Addison Surveyors recorded in Deed Acquisition of the Divided Mountain commodities from domestic and/or Book 599, page 591 Grayson County, Tract will provide opportunities to foreign markets. Virginia Circuit Court Clerk Office. extend these activities into the National Description of Respondents: Farms; Forest while conserving high-elevation End of Description Business or other for-profit. Number of Respondents: 123. open space, mitigating wildfire risks, Frequency of Responses: Reporting: protecting streams and water quality, Dated: July 13, 2018. On occasion. and protecting the nearby Rogers Ridge Gregory C. Smith, Total Burden Hours: 445. Scenic Area viewshed. Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National All that tract or parcel of land lying Forest System, U.S. Forest Service. Ruth Brown, and being situated in the Wilson [FR Doc. 2018–16290 Filed 7–30–18; 8:45 am] Departmental Information Collection Magisterial District of Grayson County, BILLING CODE 3411–15–P Clearance Officer. Virginia, being described as Tax Map [FR Doc. 2018–16180 Filed 7–30–18; 8:45 am] No. 60–A–1A, being the same tract BILLING CODE 3410–34–P conveyed to The Conservation Fund by DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Warranty Deed signed September 16, 2016, and recorded on September 23, National Institute of Food and DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 2016, in Deed Book 599, Pages 589–591 Agriculture Grayson County, Virginia Circuit Court Forest Service Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently Clerk Office; this Tract is identified as the portion of United States of America Approved Information Collection Establishment of Divided Mountain Purchase Unit, Grayson County, Tract U–1601 situated in Virginia. AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Virginia Bounded on the West by the Tennessee Agriculture, USDA. State Line (USA Tract U–1601), on the AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. North by Robert Russell, on the East by ACTION: Notice and request for ACTION: Notice. Joseph Dalia, and on the South by the comments. North Carolina State Line; SUMMARY: In accordance with the SUMMARY: On September 26, 2017 the Bearings are oriented to Tennessee Under Secretary of Natural Resources Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and State Plane grid north, Office of Management and Budget and the Environment created the Beginning on Corner 1 of USA Tract Divided Mountain Unit. This purchase (OMB) regulations, this notice U–1601, the common corner to the unit comprises 112.3 acres within announces the National Institute of States of Tennessee, Virginia and North Grayson County, Virginia. A legal Food and Agriculture (NIFA) intention Carolina, which is also Corner 1 of USA description of lands within the purchase to request approval for an extension of Tract U–137, being monumented by a unit appears at the end of this notice. the currently approved information brass disk in a large rock; APPLICABLE DATE: The Forest Service collection for the NIFA proposal review Thence with the Tennessee State Line established this purchase unit on process. (USA Tract U–1601), one (1) line; September 26, 2017. 1. N 48°16′35″ E, 2766.22 feet to DATES: Written comments on this notice ADDRESSES: A copy of the map showing Corner 4 of USA Tract U–1601, a must be received by October 1, 2018, to the purchase unit is on file and standard Forest Service Monument be assured of consideration. Comments available for public inspection in the situated in the Tennessee and Virginia received after that date will be Office of the Director, Lands Staff, First State Line common to the lands of considered to the extent practicable. Floor-Southeast, Sidney R. Yates Russell; ADDRESSES: Written comments daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Building, Forest Service, USDA, Thence with the lands of Robert concerning this notice and requests for 201 14th Street SW, Washington, DC Russell, one (1) line; copies of the information collection may 20250, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. 1. S 72°28′26″ E, 1204.95 feet to be submitted by any of the following and 4:30 p.m. on business days. Those Corner 5 of USA Tract U–1601, a methods: Email: rmartin.usda.gov; Fax: wishing to inspect the map are standard Forest Service Monument 202–720–0857; Mail: Office of encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205– common to the lands of Russell and Information Technology (OIT), NIFA, 1248 to facilitate entry into the building. Dalia; USDA, STOP 2216, 1400 Independence VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 Jul 30, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM 31JYN1

36874 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Notices Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250– process, which has been recognized by and clarity of the information to be 2216. the grantee and grantor community for collected; and (d) ways to minimize the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: its quality. burden of the collection of information The applications and associated on those who are to respond, including Robert Martin, eGovernment Program materials made available to reviewers, through the use of appropriate Leader; Phone Number: 202–445–5388; as well as the discussions that take automated, electronic, mechanical, or Email: rmartin@nifa.usda.gov. place during panel review meetings are other technological collection SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: strictly confidential and are not to be techniques or other forms of information Title: NIFA Proposal Review Process. disclosed to or discussed with anyone technology. OMB Number: 0524–0041. who has not been officially designated All responses to this notice will be Expiration Date of Current Approval: to participate in the review process. summarized and included in the request 10/31/2018. While each panelist certifies at the time to OMB for approval. All comments will Type of Request: Extension of a of preparing a review they do not have become a matter of public record. currently approved information a conflict-of-interest with a particular collection for three years. Done in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2018. application and will maintain its Thomas Shanower, Abstract: The National Institute of confidentiality in the Peer Review Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is System, a certification of their intent at Acting Director, National Institute of Food responsible for performing a review of and Agriculture. the time of the panel review proposals submitted to NIFA proceedings is collected to emphasize [FR Doc. 2018–16326 Filed 7–30–18; 8:45 am] competitive award programs in and reinforce confidentiality not only of BILLING CODE 3410–22–P accordance with section 103(a) of the applications and reviews but also panel Agricultural Research, Extension, and discussions. On the Conflict-of-Interest Education Reform Act of 1998, 7 U.S.C. and Confidentiality Certification Form, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 7613(a). Reviews are undertaken to the panelist affirms they understand the ensure that projects supported by NIFA Bureau of the Census conflict-of-interest guidelines and will are of high quality, and are consistent not be involved in the review of the with the goals and requirements of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee application(s) where a conflict exists. Public Meeting funding program. The panelist also affirms their intent to Proposals submitted to NIFA undergo maintain the confidentiality of the panel AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, a programmatic evaluation to determine process and not disclose to another Department of Commerce. worthiness of Federal support. The individual any information related to ACTION: Notice of public meeting. evaluations consist of a peer panel the peer review or use any information review and may also entail an for personal benefit. SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census assessment by Federal employees and Estimate of Burden: NIFA estimates (Census Bureau) is giving notice of a electronically submitted (ad-hoc) that anywhere from one hour to twenty meeting of the Census Scientific reviews in the Peer Review System. hours may be required to review a Advisory Committee (CSAC). The Need and Use of the Information: The proposal. It is estimated that Committee will address policy, information collected from the approximately five hours are required to research, and technical issues relating to evaluations is used to support NIFA review an average proposal. Each a full range of Census Bureau programs grant programs. NIFA uses the results of proposal receives an average of four and activities, including the proposal evaluation to determine reviews, accounting for an annual communications, decennial, whether a proposal should be declined burden of 20 hours. NIFA estimates it demographic, economic, field or recommended for award. When NIFA receives 4,600 competitive applications operations, geographic, information has rendered a decision, copies of each year. The total annual burden on technology, and statistics. The CSAC reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers is 92,000 hours. NIFA will meet in a plenary session on reviewers, and summaries of review estimates that the potential reviewer September 13–14, 2018. Last minute panel deliberations, if any, are provided questionnaire takes an estimated 10 changes to the schedule are possible, to the submitting Project Director. minutes to complete. The database which could prevent giving advance Given the highly technical nature of consists of approximately 50,000 public notice of schedule adjustments. many of these proposals, the quality of reviewers. The total annual burden of Please visit the Census Advisory the peer review greatly depends on the questionnaire is 8,330 hours. NIFA Committees website for the most current appropriate matching of the subject estimates that the potential Conflict-of- meeting agenda at: http:// matter of the proposal with the Interest and Confidentiality Certification www.census.gov/cac/. The meeting will technical expertise of the potential Form takes an estimated 10 minutes to be available via webcast at: https:// reviewer. In order to obtain this complete. The agency has www.census.gov/newsroom/census- information, an electronic questionnaire approximately 1,000 panelists each live.html. Topics of discussion will is used to collect information about year. The total annual burden of the include: potential panel and ad-hoc reviewers. If certification form is 167 hours. The total • 2020 Census Program Update the reviewer is already in our database, annual burden of the component of the • 2018 End-to-End Test Update the questionnaire asks potential entire review process is 100,497 hours. • Administrative Records Update reviewers to update their basic Comments are invited on: (a) Whether • Efforts to Modernize Disclosure biographical information including the proposed collection of information Limitation Update daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES address, contact information, is necessary for the proper performance DATES: September 13–14, 2018. On professional expertise, and their of the functions of the Agency, Thursday, September 13, the meeting availability to review for NIFA in the including whether the information will will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at future. If the reviewer is new, they are have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of approximately 5:00 p.m. On Friday, prompted to complete the the Agency’s estimate of the burden of September 14, the meeting will begin at questionnaire. This information has the proposed collection of information; 8:30 a.m. and end at approximately 2:00 been invaluable in the NIFA review (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility p.m. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 Jul 30, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM 31JYN1


Document Created: 2018-11-06 10:29:05
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 10:29:05
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice and request for comments.
DatesWritten comments on this notice must be received by October 1, 2018, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
ContactRobert Martin, eGovernment Program Leader; Phone Number: 202-445-5388; Email: [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 36873 
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