FR Doc 04-8706
[Federal Register: April 16, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 74)]
[Notices]
[Page 20604-20605]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap04-47]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR); Notice of Extension
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of extension of project period and waiver for the
National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR)
Project.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary waives the requirements in Education Department
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), at 34 CFR 75.250 and
75.261(a) and (c)(2), respectively, that generally prohibit project
periods exceeding 5 years and project period extensions involving the
obligation of additional Federal funds. This extension of project
period and waiver will enable a Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Project (DRRP) that conducts research on issues relating to the
dissemination and utilization of research results developed through
NIDRR grants and contracts to receive funding from October 1, 2004,
until September 30, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This notice is effective May 17, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3412, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202-2645. Telephone: (202) 205-5880 or via Internet:
donna.nangle@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIDRR supports the goals of the President's
New Freedom Initiative (NFI) and the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Long Range Plan (Plan) to improve
rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Note: The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the following
site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.htm
.
The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
In accordance with the goals of the NFI and the Plan, and as
authorized under section 204(a)(1) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended, through NIDRR, the Department provides funding for projects
to improve services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities. In
order to foster more efficient use of Federal funds for the DRRP
program, the Secretary intends to refocus the priorities for
dissemination and utilization of research results and provide funding
for new awards in fiscal year (FY) 2005.
The grant for the NCDDR currently administered by the Southwest
Educational Development Laboratory, Austin, Texas, is scheduled to
expire September 30, 2004. It would be contrary to the public interest,
however, to have any lapse in the research and related activities
conducted by NCDDR before the refocused priorities can be implemented
and new awards granted for FY 2005.
To avoid any lapse in research and related activities before the
refocused priorities can be implemented, therefore, the Secretary has
decided to fund this project until September 30, 2005. Accordingly, the
Secretary waives the requirements in 34 CFR 75.250 and 75.261(a) and
(c)(2), which prohibit project periods exceeding 5 years and extensions
of project periods that involve the obligation of additional Federal
funds.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to
comment on proposed regulations. However, the waiver of the
requirements in 34 CFR 75.250 and 75.261 applicable to the maximum
project period and extension of the project period for these grants on
a one-time only basis is procedural and does not establish new
substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), proposed
rulemaking is not required.
In addition, given the fact that the additional period of funding
is only for
[[Page 20605]]
a period of 12 months from the expiration of the existing grant
agreement in September 2004, and affects only the potential lapse in
funding for the above-mentioned project, the Secretary has determined
that proposed rulemaking on this waiver is impracticable, unnecessary,
and contrary to the public interest. Thus, proposed rulemaking also is
not required under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B).
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that this extension of the project period
and waiver will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133A, Disability
Rehabilitation Research Project.)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
Dated: April 12, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant, Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-8706 Filed 4-15-04; 8:45 am]
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