[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 90 (Monday, May 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25881-25882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10503]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; BEES Please

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to comment on the continuing and 
proposed 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 July 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to the attention of Barbara C. Lippiatt, Economist, 
NIST, (301) 975-6133. In addition, written comments may be sent via e-
mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Over the last ten years, the Building and Fire Research Laboratory 
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has 
developed and automated an approach for measuring the life-cycle 
environmental and economic performance of building products. Known as 
BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability), the tool 
reduces complex, science-based technical content (e.g., over 400 
material and energy flows from raw material extraction through product 
disposal) to decision-enabling results and delivers them in a visually 
intuitive graphical format. BEES Please is a voluntary program to 
collect data from product manufacturers so that the environmental 
performance of their products may be evaluated scientifically using 
BEES.
    NIST will publish in BEES an aggregated version of the data 
collected from manufacturers that protects data confidentiality, 
subject to manufacturer's review and approval. BEES measures 
environmental performance using the environmental life-cycle assessment 
approach specified in the ISO 14040 series of standards. All stages in 
the life of a product are analyzed: Raw material acquisition, 
manufacture, transportation, installation, use, and recycling and waste 
management. Economic performance is measured using the ASTM standard 
life-cycle cost method, which covers the costs of initial investment, 
replacement, operation, maintenance and repair, and disposal.

II. Method of Collection

    Data on materials use, energy consumption, waste, and environmental 
releases will be collected using an electronic, MS Excel-based 
questionnaire. An electronic, MS Word-based User Manual accompanies the 
questionnaire to help in its completion.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0693-0036.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.

[[Page 25882]]

    Estimated Time Per Response: 62.5 hours
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 1,875.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $0.

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 will 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, e.g., 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 also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 4, 2004.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-10503 Filed 5-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-CN-P