From: Subject: FR Doc E7-17040 Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 23:09:59 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-17040.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-17040 
[Federal Register: August 29, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 167)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 49695-49696]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29au07-24]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

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Information Collection; Federal and Non-Federal Financial=20
Assistance Instruments

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the=20
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and=20
organizations on the new information collection, Federal and Non-
Federal Financial Assistance Instruments.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 29,=20
2007 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date=20
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to=20
Director, Acquisition Management, Forest Service, U.S. Department of=20
Agriculture, Attention: Chris Coppenbarger, 1400 Independence Ave.,=20
SW., Mailstop 1138, Washington, DC 20250-1138.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 703-605-5100 or by=20
e-mail to: ccoppenbarger@fs.fed.us.
    The public may inspect comments received at Forest Service, U.S.=20
Department of Agriculture, 1621 N. Kent Street, RPE 707, Arlington, VA=20
during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to=20
703-605-4719 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Coppenbarger, Acquisition=20
Management, 703-605-4719. Individuals who use TDD may call the Federal=20
Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the=20
year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistance Instruments.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: In order to carry out specific Forest Service activities,=20
Congress created several authorities to assist the Agency in carrying=20
out its mission. The Forest Service issues Federal Financial Assistance=20
(FFA) awards (i.e., grants and cooperative agreements), as authorized=20
by the Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act (FGCAA), as well=20
as agreements expressly exempted from FGCAA. In addition, Congress=20
created specific authorizations for acts outside the scope of the=20
FGCAA; as well as appropriations language conveying authority for the=20
Forest Service to enter into relationships that are outside the scope=20
of the FGCAA. The Forest Service implements these authorizations using=20
instruments such as collection agreements; FGCAA exempted agreements;=20
memorandums of understanding; and other agreements (which contain=20
mutual benefits for participating parties). These instruments fall=20
outside the scope of the Federal Acquisition Regulations and often=20
require financial plans and statements of work. To create, develop, and=20
administer these funded and non-funded agreements, Forest Service=20
employees collect information from cooperating parties from the pre-
award to the closeout stage via telephone calls, e-mails, postal mail,=20
and person-to-person meetings. Respondents usually have multiple=20
options for responding, including forms, non-forms, electronically,=20
face-to-face, over the telephone, and over the Internet. The scope of=20
information collected varies, but typically includes project type,=20
project scope, financial plan, statement of work, and cooperator=20
contact/business information.
    The information is collected from non-profit and for-profit=20
institutions; institutions of higher education; state, local, and=20
Native American tribal governments; individuals; foreign governments;=20
and organizations.
    Without the collected information, the Forest Service would not be=20
able to create, develop, and administer these funded and non-funded=20
agreements. The Agency would be unable to develop/monitor projects,=20
make or receive payments, or identify financial and accounting errors.
    The following forms are associated with this information=20
collection:
    FS-1500-NEW1: Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW2: Cooperative Law Enforcement Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW3: Cooperative Forest Road Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW4: Challenge Cost Share Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW5: Collection Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW6: Cost-Reimbursable Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW7: Cooperative Research and Development Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW8: Joint Venture Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW9: Memorandum of Understanding.
    FS-1500-NEW10: Participating Agreement.
    FS-1500-NEW11: FSH 1509.11, Chapter 60--Other Agreements.
    FS-1500-NEW12: Cooperative Law Enforcement Annual Operating &=20
Financial Plan.
    FS-1500-NEW13: Collection Agreement Financial Plan.
    FS-1500-NEW14: Modification Form.
    FS-1500-NEW15: Agreement Cover Page.
    SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance.
    AD-1047: Certification Regarding Department Suspension.
    AD-1048: Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,=20
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions.
    AD-1049: Certificate Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements=20
Alternative 1.
    AD-1050: Certificate Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements=20
Alternative 2.
    AD-1052: Certificate Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements--
State and State Agencies.
    SF-269: Financial Status Report (Long Form).
    SF-269a: Financial Status Report.
    SF-270: Request for Advance or Reimbursement.
    SF-272: Federal Cash Transaction Report.
    SF-272a: Federal Cash Transaction Report (continuation).
    SF-424a: Budget Information Non-Construction Programs.

[[Page 49696]]

    SF-424b: Assurance--Non-Construction Programs.
    SF-25a: Payment Bonds.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: .25 to 4 hours annually per response.
    Type of Respondents: Non-profit and for-profit institutions;=20
institutions of higher education; state, local, and Native American=20
tribal governments; individuals; foreign governments; and=20
organizations.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 14,489.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1-4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 30,855 hours.
    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information=20
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the=20
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have=20
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency's=20
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the=20
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance=20
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;=20
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on=20
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or=20
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information=20
technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names=20
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record.=20
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of=20
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: August 22, 2007.
Hank Kashdan,
Deputy Chief, Business Operations.
 [FR Doc. E7-17040 Filed 8-28-07; 8:45 am]

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