[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 52 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11717-11718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5984]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination
Application
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part
of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden,
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this
opportunity to comment on this new information collection, as required
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 18, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``0651-0060
collection comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: 571-273-0112, marked to the attention of Susan K.
Fawcett.
Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the
Chief Information Officer, Customer Information Services Group, Public
Information Services Division, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O.
Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to the attention of Jennifer Lo, Program Manager,
United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria,
VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-7640; or by e-mail at
[email protected] with ``Paperwork'' in the subject line.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The National Medal of Technology is the highest honor awarded by
the President of the United States to America's leading innovators.
Established by an Act of Congress in 1980, the Medal of Technology was
first awarded in 1985. The Medal is given annually to individuals,
teams, and/or companies/divisions for their outstanding contributions
to the Nation's economic, environmental and social well-being through
the development and commercialization of technology products, processes
and concepts, technological innovation, and development of the Nation's
technological manpower.
The purpose of the National Medal of Technology is to recognize
those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness,
standard of living, and quality of life through technological
innovation, and to recognize those who have made substantial
contributions to strengthening the Nation's technological workforce. By
highlighting the national importance of technological innovation, the
Medal also seeks to inspire future generations of Americans to prepare
for and pursue technical careers to keep America at the forefront of
global technology and economic leadership.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination
Evaluation Committee, a distinguished, independent committee appointed
by the Secretary of Commerce, reviews and evaluates the merit of all
candidates nominated through an open, competitive solicitation process.
The committee makes its recommendations for Medal candidates to the
Secretary of Commerce, who in turn makes recommendations to the
President for final selection. The National Medal of Technology and
Innovation Laureates are announced by the White House and the
Department of Commerce once the Medalists are notified of their
selection.
The public uses the National Medal of Technology and Innovation
Nomination Application to recognize through nomination an individual's
or company's extraordinary leadership and innovation in technological
achievement. The application must be accompanied by six letters of
recommendation or support from individuals who have firsthand knowledge
of the cited achievement(s).
II. Method of Collection
The nomination application and instructions can be downloaded from
the USPTO Web site. Nomination files should be submitted by electronic
mail. Alternatively, letters of recommendation may be sent by
electronic mail, fax or overnight delivery.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0651-0060.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Primarily business or other for-profit
organizations; not-for-profit institutions; individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 26 responses per year.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take
approximately 40 hours to gather the necessary information, prepare the
nomination form, write the recommendations, and submit the request for
the nomination to the USPTO. This collection contains one form.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 1,040 hours per
year.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $36,067. The USPTO
is calculating an estimated respondent hourly rate through an estimate
of earnings obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational
Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 edition. The USPTO estimates that half of the
submissions will be filed by public relations specialists and half by
research engineers. The USPTO estimates that it will cost public
relations specialists $23.68 per hour and research engineers $45.68 per
hour, for an average hourly rate of $34.68. Considering these factors,
the USPTO estimates $36,067 per year for labor costs associated with
respondents.
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Estimated Estimated
Item Estimated time annual annual burden
for response responses hours
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National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Form..... 40 hours 26 1,040
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Total....................................................... .............. 26 1,040
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[END TABLE]
[[Page 11718]]
Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There
are no capital start-up, operation, maintenance or recordkeeping costs
associated with this information collection, and there are no filing
fees.
Although it is possible for the public to submit the nominations
through regular or express mail, to date no submissions have been
received in this manner. The majority of recent submissions have been
through electronic mail. The USPTO, therefore, is not calculating an
estimate of postage costs associated with this information collection.
IV. Request for Comments
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 shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) 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 respondents, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or
included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: March 12, 2009.
Susan K. Fawcett,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer,
Customer Information Services Group, Public Information Services
Division.
[FR Doc. E9-5984 Filed 3-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P