[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5853-5854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2996]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register 66 FR 46292, and two comments, showing a 
positive response to NSF's implementation of a web-based job 
recruitment system, were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed 
renewal

[[Page 5854]]

submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance 
simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. Comments 
regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
National Science Foundation, 725-17th Street, NW., Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Comments 
regarding these information collections are best assured of having 
their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. 
Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    Title: Impact of Industry-Engineering Research Center (ERC) 
Interaction and Effectiveness of ERC-Trained Industrially Employed 
Engineers.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0153.

Summary of Collection

    Proposed Project: NSF's Directorate for Engineering established the 
Engineering Research Center (ERC) Program in 1985 to address concerns 
of industry regarding declining U.S. industrial competitiveness. The 
mission of the Program as defined by the National Academy of 
Engineering was to strengthen competitiveness by bringing new 
approaches and goals to academic engineering research and education, 
and by forging vital new links between universities and industry. The 
proposed study repeats one conducted when the Program was 10 years old, 
which studied the outcomes and impacts of ERC involvement upon firms 
involved with first generation centers. The report study would involve 
firms formally participating with the eight second-generation centers, 
which were initiated from FY 1994-96. Data will be collected from the 
representatives to the ERCs of these firms. Data will NOT be used to 
evaluate individual centers, but, rather, to study the Program's on-
going as a whole.
    Use of the Information: The resulting information will be used to 
identify program-wide patterns of outcomes and impacts on organizations 
that are members of ERCs. Results will be used for continuous program 
performance improvement and external reporting, e.g., for the 
Government Performance and Results Act.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Form: One.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 291.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 146 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: One time.

    Dated: February 4, 2002.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-2996 Filed 2-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M