Notices. Notice

5,295 words·~24 min read·/register/2006/01/25/06-675

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BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0006; FRL-7757-6] Notice of Filing of a Pesticide Petition for the Extension of an Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance for the Residues of the Plant-Incorporated Protectant Modified Cry3A Protein and the Genetic Material for Its Production in Corn AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition proposing the extension of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for the residues of the plant-incorporated protectant modified Cry3A protein (mCry3A) and the genetic material necessary for its production in corn.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 24, 2006. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0006, and pesticide petition number

(PP)4G6808 by one of the following methods: • *http://www.regulations.gov/* . Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *E-mail* : *opp.docket@epa.gov* . • *Mail* : Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. • *Hand Delivery* : Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0006. The docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the docket facility is

(703)305-5805. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. *Instructions* : Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0006. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available on-line at *http://www.regulations.gov/* , including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov website is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be captured automatically and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at *http://www.epa.gov/epahome/docket.htm/* . *Docket* : All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulation.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA. The docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the docket facility is

(703)305-5805. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Mendelsohn, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, (7511C), Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001;

(703)308-8715; e-mail: *mendelsohn.mike@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to: • Crop production (NAICS code 111). • Animal production (NAICS code 112). • Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311). • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532). This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether this action might apply to certain entities. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? 1. *Submitting CBI* . Do not submit this information to EPA through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. *Tips for preparing your comments* . When submitting comments, remember to: • Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying information (subject heading, **Federal Register** date and page number). • Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR)part or section number. • Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. • Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used. • If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced. • Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives. • Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. • Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. II. What Action is the Agency Taking? EPA is printing a summary of a pesticide petition received under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a, proposing the establishment or amendment of regulations in 40 CFR part 180 for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various food commodities. EPA has determined that this pesticide petition contains data or information regarding the elements set forth in FFDCA section 408(d)(2); however, EPA has not fully evaluated the sufficiency of the submitted data at this time or whether the data support granting of the pesticide petition. Additional data may be needed before EPA rules on this pesticide petition. Pursuant to 40 CFR 180.7(f), a summary of the petition included in this notice, prepared by the petitioner along with a description of the analytical method available for the detection and measurement of the pesticide chemical residues is available on EPA's Electronic Docket at *http://www.regulations.gov/* . To locate this information on the home page of EPA's Electronic Docket, select “Quick Search” and type the OPP docket ID number. Once the search has located the docket, clicking on the “Docket ID” will bring up a list of all documents in the docket for the pesticide including the petition summary. New Exemption from Tolerance *PP 4G6808* . Syngenta Seeds, Inc., P.O. Box 12257, 3054 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2257, proposes to extend an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the plant-incorporated protectant, modified Cry3A protein (mCry3A) and the genetic material necessary for its production in corn, 40 CFR 174.456. Because this petition is a request for an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance without numerical limitations, no analytical method is required. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Agricultural commodities, Feed additives, Food additives, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: January 17, 2006. Janet L. Andersen, Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. E6-916 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0007; FRL-7757-7] Experimental Use Permit; Receipt of a Request to Amend and Extend the Application for 67979-EUP-4 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of a request to amend the application for 67979-EUP-4 from Syngenta Seeds, Inc. requesting an amendment to this experimental use permit

(EUP)for the plant-incorporated protectant Event MIR604 modified Cry3A corn and a breeding stack of Event Bt11 Cry1Ab corn x Event MIR604 modified Cry3A corn. The Agency has determined that the application may be of regional and national significance. Therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency is soliciting comments on this application. DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0007, must be received on or before February 24, 2006. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0007, pesticide petition number

(PP)4G6808 and experimental use permit 67979-EUP-4 by one of the following methods: • *http://www.regulations.gov/* . Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *E-mail* : *opp.docket@epa.gov* . • *Mail* : Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. • *Hand Delivery* : Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0007. The docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the docket facility is

(703)305-5805. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. *Instructions* : Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0007. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available on-line at *http://www.regulations.gov/* , including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(703)305-5805. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Mendelsohn, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511C), Office of Pesticide Programs, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(703)308-8715; e-mail address: *mendelsohn.mike@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to: • Crop production (NAICS code 111). • Animal production (NAICS code 112). • Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311). • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532). This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether this action might apply to certain entities. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? 1. *Submitting CBI* . Do not submit this information to EPA through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. *Tips for preparing your comments* . When submitting comments, remember to: • Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying information (subject heading, **Federal Register** date and page number). • Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR)part or section number. • Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. • Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used. • If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced. • Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives. • Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. • Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. II. What Action is the Agency Taking? Following the review of the Syngenta Seed, Inc.'s application and any comments and data received in response to this notice, EPA will decide whether to issue or deny the EUP request for this EUP program, and if issued, the conditions under which it is to be conducted. Any issuance of an EUP will be announced in the **Federal Register** . III. Background The 67979-EUP-4 extension amendment is for 4,955 acres of Event MIR604 modified Cry3A corn, Event Bt11 Cry1Ab corn, and a breeding stack of Event Bt11 Cry1Ab corn x Event MIR604 modified Cry3A corn. Proposed shipment/use dates are February 28, 2006 thru October 15, 2007. Five trial protocols will be conducted, including: 1. Breeding and observation, 2. Efficacy evaluation, 3. Agronomic observation, 4. Inbred and hybrid production, and 5. Regulatory studies. States and Commonwealth involved include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Experimental use permits. Dated: January 17, 2006. Janet L. Andersen, Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. E6-914 Filed 1-24-06; 8: 45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8024-8] Adequacy of Illinois Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Program AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Final Determination of Adequacy. SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA)Region 5 is approving a modification to Illinois' approved municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF) permit program. The modification allows the State to issue research, development and demonstration (RD&D) permits to owners and operators of MSWLF units in accordance with its state law and regulations. DATES: This final determination is effective January 25, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Twickler, Waste Management Branch (Mail code DW-8J), U.S. EPA Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, telephone

(312)886-6184, *twickler.donna@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Background On March 22, 2004, U.S. EPA issued a final rule amending the municipal solid waste landfill criteria in 40 CFR part 258 to allow for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) permits (69 FR 13242). This rule allows for variances from specified criteria for a limited period of time, to be implemented through state-issued RD&D permits. RD&D permits are only available in states with approved MSWLF permit programs which have been modified to incorporate RD&D permit authority. While States are not required to seek approval for this new provision, those States that are interested in providing RD&D permits to owners and operators of MSWLFs must seek approval from U.S. EPA before issuing such permits. Approval procedures for new provisions of 40 CFR Part 258 are outlined in 40 CFR 239.12. Illinois MSWLF permit program was approved on January 3, 1994 (59 FR 86). On September 21, 2005, Illinois applied for approval of its RD&D permit provisions. Illinois submitted its rules under R05-1 for review. On November 23, 2005, EPA published a Notice of proposed determination of adequacy of Illinois RD&D permit requirements (70 FR 70841). The notice provided a public comment period that ended on December 23, 2005. No comments were received during the comment period. Today's final action determines that Illinois RD&D permit provisions as defined under Illinois rule R05-1 are adequate to ensure compliance with the Federal criteria as defined at 40 CFR 258.4. Authority: This action is issued under the authority of section 2002, 4005 and 4010(c) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6912, 6945 and 6949(a). Dated: January 13, 2006. Bharat Mathur, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5. [FR Doc. E6-925 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review to the Office of Management and Budget January 17, 2006. *Summary:* The Federal Communications Commission, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act

(PRA)of 1995, Public Law 104-13, and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act

(PRA)that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and

(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. *Dates:* Written Paperwork Reduction Act

(PRA)comments should be submitted on or before February 24, 2006. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible. *Addresses:* Direct all Paperwork Reduction Act

(PRA)comments to Leslie F. Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A804, 445 12th Street, SW., DC 20554 or via the Internet to *Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov* or Kristy L. LaLonde, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Room 10236 NEOB, Washington, DC 20503,

(202)395-3087 or via the Internet at *Kristy_L._LaLonde@omb.eop.gov.* If you would like to obtain or view a copy of this revised information collection, you may do so by visiting the FCC PRA Web page at: *http://www.fcc.gov/omd/pra* . *For Further Information Contact:* For additional information or copies of the information collection(s), contact Leslie F. Smith at

(202)418-0217 or via the Internet at *Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov.* *Supplementary Information:* *OMB Control Number:* 3060-0636. *Title:* Equipment Authorization—Declaration of Compliance, Section 2.1075. *Form Number:* N/A. *Type of Review:* Extension of a currently approved collection. *Respondents:* Business or other for-profit entities. *Number of Respondents:* 4,000. *Estimated Time per Response:* 18 hours (avg.). *Frequency of Response:* Recordkeeping; One-time reporting requirement; Third party disclosure. *Total Annual Burden:* 76,000 hours. *Total Annual Cost:* $12,000,000. *Privacy Impact Assessment:* No. *Needs and Uses:* The equipment authorization procedure requires that equipment manufacturers or equipment suppliers test a product to ensure compliance with technical standards for limiting radio frequency emissions and include a declaration of compliance

(DoC)with the standards in the literature furnished with the equipment. This statement of conformity and supporting technical data would be made available to the FCC by the responsible party, at the request of the FCC. Further, the FCC will permit personal computers to be authorized based on tests and approval of their individual components, without further testing of the completed assembly. Testing and documentation of compliance aids in controlling potential interference to radio communications. The data may be used for investigating complaints of harmful interference; to determine that the equipment marketed complies with the applicable FCC Rules; and to insure that the operation of the equipment is consistent with the initially documented test results. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-910 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION Notice of Agreements Filed The Commission hereby gives notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on an agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within ten days of the date this notice appears in the **Federal Register** . Copies of agreements are available through the Commission's Office of Agreements (202-523-5793 or *tradeanalysis@fmc.gov).* *Agreement No.:* 011932. *Title:* HSDG/CCNI Vessel Sharing Agreement. *Parties:* Hamburg-Sud; Compania Chilena de Navegacion Interoceanica S.A. *Filing Party:* Wayne R. Rohde, Esq.; Sher & Blackwell LLP; 1850 M Street, NW.; Suite 900; Washington, DC 20036. *Synopsis:* The agreement authorizes the parties to share vessel space between the U.S. East Coast and Caribbean and the West Coast of South America. *Agreement No.:* 011933. *Title:* Eastern Car Liners, Ltd./Industrial Maritime Carriers, LLC Space Charter Agreement. *Parties:* Eastern Car Liners, Ltd. and Industrial Maritime Carriers, LLC. *Filing Party:* Stephen M. Uthoff, Esq.; Coniglio & Uthoff; 60 Elm Avenue; Long Beach, CA 90802-4910. *Synopsis:* The agreement permits ECL to charter space on IMC's vessels operating between the U.S. Gulf coast and Central and South America. *Agreement No.:* 011934. *Title:* Transpacific Space Charter (North China) Agreement. *Parties:* CMA CGM, S.A. and COSCO Container Lines Company, Ltd. *Filing Party:* Paul M. Keane, Esq.; Cichanowicz, Callan, Keane, Vengrow & Textor, LLP; 61 Broadway, Suite 3000; New York, NY 10006-2802. *Synopsis:* The agreement permits CMA to charter space on COSCO's vessels operating between ports in China and the Port of Long Beach, CA. Dated: January 20, 2006. By order of the Federal Maritime Commission. Bryant L. VanBrakle, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-917 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6730-01-P FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION Ocean Transportation Intermediary License Applicants Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have filed with the Federal Maritime Commission an application for license as a Non-Vessel—Operating Common Carrier and Ocean Freight Forwarder—Ocean Transportation Intermediary pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984 as amended (46 U.S.C. app. 1718 and 46 CFR 515). Persons knowing of any reason why the following applicants should not receive a license are requested to contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573. Non-Vessel—Operating Common Carrier Ocean Transportation Intermediary Applicant Dynamo Xpress, Inc., 10 East Merrick Road, Valley Stream, NY 11580. Officers: Shlomo Greenberg, Vice President (Qualifying Individual), Guy Usi, President. Ocean Freight Forwarder—Ocean Transportation Intermediary Applicant MAC Shipping, Inc., 1375 NW. 97th Avenue Bay #7, Miami, FL 33172. Officers: Katia Ninoska Mendez, Vice President (Qualifying Individual), Marco A. Carranza, President. Dated: January 20, 2006. Bryant L. VanBrakle, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-918 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6730-01-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Proposed Projects *Title:* National Implementation of Head Start, National Reporting System on Child Outcomes. *OMB No.:* 0970-0249. *Description:* The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), within Administration for Children and Families

(ACF)of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting comments on plans to implement the Head Start National Reporting System on Child Outcomes. This implementation has been conducted to collect child-outcomes information that will be used to enhance Head Start program quality and accountability. The Head Start National Reporting System (HSNRS) was designed to meet Presidentially mandated reforms and Congressionally mandated requirements for information on specific child outcomes and to provide Head Start program managers and teachers with useful information to support program-improvement strategies. HSNRS has three major goals. First, HSNRS is intended to provide local Head Start programs with additional information regarding the progress of groups of children by capturing baseline information on how children are doing at the beginning and at the end of the program, in a limited number of areas. Second, HSNRS is intended to capture the same set of information across the nation in a consistent manner. This information can be used to plan for targeted training and technical assistance. Third, the child-outcomes information captured in HSNRS is intended to be used within the current program monitoring effort, which involves an onsite, systematic review of programs. HSNRS can create and compile information that the Head Start Bureau can utilize as part of the process for ensuring the effectiveness of services. These results also will be used to provide for program improvement and accountability of Head Start. The first three rounds of the HSNRS national implementation (2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06 program years) have been successful. In each round of the data collection, over 400,000 assessments were completed, making this the largest assessment of preschool children ever conducted. Also, over 99 percent cooperation was obtained from local Head Start programs and Head Start parents and children. HSNRS data show good internal reliability, both in terms of I__R__T__

(IRT)reliability and Cronbach's Coefficient Alpha, at the individual child-level, for both English-language and Spanish-language assessments. IRT estimates of the internal reliability of the program-level, English-language assessment scores were excellent, with most IRT-reliability coefficients greater than .90. Participating local Head Start programs have received HSNRS Program Reports at the aggregated program-level for the fall assessment (baseline) and the spring assessment (fall-spring growth), in each program year. These reports provided local Head Start programs with the progress of their children in all assessed domains, and showed how the reports compared to all other Head Start children (national-level reference tables) as well as children in similar programs (sub-group reference tables). HSNRS will continue to collect child-outcomes information from children who are 4 years-old or older and who will enter Kindergarten next year. As in the previous three years, all eligible Head Start children will be assessed twice a year using a standardized direct child-assessment battery. The assessment battery will include a limited set of early literacy, language, and numeracy skills. Social-emotional development of Head Start children reported by classroom teachers will be collected in HSNRS twice a year using a standardized rating scale developed for HSNRS. The social-emotional development scales will be field-tested in spring 2006 prior to national implementation in fall 2006. Head Start teachers will rate children in their classrooms on the aspects of cooperative classroom behaviors, preschool learning behaviors, and problem behaviors. HSNRS will also collect health and safety information on children and programs, including children's height and weight, immunization status, receipt of dental care, and occurrences of injuries requiring medical attention. *Respondents:* Head Start children and Head Start staff. Annual Burden Estimates Respondents and activities Number of respondents Number of responses per respondent Average burden hours per response Total burden hours Fall Implementation Head Start Children: Participate in Child Assessments 425,000 1 1/4 106,250 Head Start Staff (Assessors): Participate in Training-on-Child Assessments 25,000 1 4 100,000 Head Start Staff (Local NRS Trainers): Participate in Training-on-Child Assessments 1,800 1 4 7,200 Head Start Staff (Assessors): Administer Child Assessments 25,000 17 1/4 106,250 Head Start Teachers: Participate in Training on Social-Emotional Development Ratings 38,500 1 1 38,500 Head Start Teachers: Complete Social-Emotional Development Ratings 38,500 11 1/6 70,583 Head Start Teachers: Complete Child Health Questions 38,500 11 1/12 35,292 Head Start Staff: Complete Health and Safety of Program Questions 1,800 1 1/12 150 Head Start Staff: Enter Information on CBRS 1,800 1 3 5,400 Spring Implementation Head Start Children: Participate in Child Assessments 425,000 1 1/4 106,250 Head Start Staff (Assessors): Participate in Refresher Training-on-Child Assessments 25,000 1 4 100,000 Head Start Staff (Local NRS Trainers): Participate in Training-on-Child Assessments 1,800 1 4 7,200 Head Start Staff (Assessors): Administer Child Assessments 25,000 17 1/4 106,250 Head Start Teachers: Participate in Refresher Training on Social-Emotional Development Ratings 38,500 1 1/4 19,250 Head Start Teachers: Complete Social-Emotional Development Ratings 38,500 11 1/6 70,583 Head Start Teachers: Complete Child Health Questions 38,500 11 1/12 35,292 Head Start Staff: Complete Health and Safety of Program Questions 1,800 1 1/12 150 Head Start Staff: Enter Information on CBRS 1,800 1 3/2 2,700 Total Annual Burden Estimates 917,300 In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection: E-mail: *infocollection@acf.hhs.gov.* The Department specifically requests comments on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

(c)the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication. Dated: January 18, 2006. Robert Sargis, Reports Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 06-675 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45am]

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U.S. Code

10 references not yet in our index

40 CFR 2
40 CFR 180
40 CFR 180.7(f)
40 CFR 174.456
40 CFR 172.11(a)
40 CFR 258
40 CFR 239.12
40 CFR 258.4
Pub. L. 104-13
46 CFR 515

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cites case law

Notices

Notice

U.S.C.§ 346a

U.S.C.§ 6912

Cite40 CFR 2

Cite40 CFR 180

Cite40 CFR 180.7(f)

Cite40 CFR 174.456

Cite40 CFR 172.11(a)

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