[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65174-65175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31557]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


1999 Survey of Reference Materials

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, 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 of 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, 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 January 25, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Alim A. Fatah, Ph.D., National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST), Building 225, Room A323, Gaithersburg, 
MD 20899.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Abstract

    In 1999, the Department of Justice-supported by NIST's Office of 
Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) will undertake a scientific study to 
determine the status, current need for, and use of standard reference 
materials (SRM) and standard reference collections (SRC) within the 
Nation's crime laboratories. The new study will build upon a 1977 study 
entitled ``Standard Reference Collections of Forensic Science 
Materials: Status and

[[Page 65175]]

Needs. Since the report was issued, a number of SRMs have been 
developed and new technologies have placed evidentiary material under 
the scrutiny of district attorneys, defense teams, and the general 
public. The nations crime laboratories will be survey by mail and asked 
to identify the reference materials needed by the different disciplines 
or organizational sections within the laboratory ie. trace analysis, 
firearms, DNA, latent fingerprints etc. In addition, crime laboratories 
will be asked about their current reference collections source of these 
collections.

II. Method of Collection

    Forensic science (crime) laboratories will be asked to complete and 
return a self-administered mail questionnaire.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Federal, state forensic science laboratories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 330.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Approximately 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital expenditures 
are required).

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 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: November 20, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-31557 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P