[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4984-4985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2024]


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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: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
this proposed information collection. This is the second notice for 
public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register at 68 
FR 64372 and no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed 
submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance 
simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.

DATES: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured 
of having their full effect if received by OMB within thirty days.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of NSF'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; or (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 
Statistical Data Collection 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 Blvd., Rm. 295, Arlington, VA 22230, or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 
(703) 292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer, at (703) 292-7556, or e-mail to [email protected]. 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Data Collection on Public Understanding of 
Science and Technology (OMB) Control No. 3145-new).
    Use of the Information. For over twenty years, the National Science 
Foundation (NSF) has conducted a series of surveys to collect 
information about public attitudes toward and understanding of science 
and technology. NSF plans to collect data on a limited number of key 
questions to maintain the continuity of its time series data and alert 
policy officials to significant changes, if any, in historic levels of 
public understanding and/or support for science and technology.
    The primary immediate use of the date will be in Science and 
Engineering Indicators-2006, a biannual statistical report from the 
National Science Board to the President and Congress on the state of 
science and engineering in the United States. The report includes a 
chapter on public understanding of and attitudes toward science and 
technology. Science and Engineering Indicators is used extensively by 
officials and researchers in government, education, industry, and 
professional and nonprofit associations both in the United States and 
abroad.
    Expected Respondents. The survey will be conducted by telephone. 
Approximately 2000 adults will be contacted and asked a series of 
questions designed to measure their understanding of scientific 
concepts and their attitudes toward science and technology.
    Burden on the Public. The estimated respondent burden is 500 hours. 
NSF will add questions averaging 15 minutes of survey time to 2000 
interviews to be conducted as part of the University of Michigan Survey 
of Consumer Attitudes. This computes to 500 public burden hours in 
2004.


[[Page 4985]]


    Dated: January 27, 2004.
Teresa R. Pierce,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 04-2024 Filed 1-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M