[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 126 (Friday, July 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 38124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13008]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Proposed Agency Information Collection

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a 
proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for 
submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Office of Science reports annually 
in the President's Budget Request the numbers of researchers, post 
docs, graduate students and technicians supported through Research 
Grants and Field Work Proposals (FWPs). However, these data are based 
on forecasts by the principal investigator (i.e., PIs) at the time the 
grants and FWPs were initially funded. These estimates are unreliable 
because they are based on the best guess of the PIs at the time of 
funding. While the PI's initial estimate could be accurate at the time 
of the request, the reliability of the initial estimate decreases as 
the project matures. Further, the forecasts by the PIs are subjective. 
Therefore, it is not possible to quantify the inaccuracies with any 
confidence. To better plan for future investments, the Office of 
Science must better understand the actual impact of its budget on the 
technical manpower supported. A short (approximately 17 minutes) web-
based survey has been developed to collect actual workforce data from a 
small sample of researchers currently supported by the Office of 
Science. The result will be compared to proposal data to estimate the 
average and range of variation and to derive a statistically valid 
methodology for approximating budgetary impacts on the technical 
manpower supported. 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 of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before August 30, 2005. If you anticipate difficulty in 
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below 
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to:

Christine Chalk, Office of Science, SC-1.22, U.S. Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585.

or by fax at 202-586-7203, or by e-mail at 
[email protected]

and to:

Sharon A. Evelin, Director, IM-11, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 
Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874

or by fax, 301-903-9061 or by e-mail at [email protected].


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Christine Chalk at the address listed above in 
ADDRESSES.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This package contains: (1) OMB No. {enter 
``New''{time} ; (2) Package Title: DOE 2005 Technical Manpower Online 
Survey; (3) Type of Review: {New{time} ; (4) Purpose: To improve 
planning efforts by improving the quality of data regarding the numbers 
and types of personnel supported through research grants; (5) 
Respondents: 366; (6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours: approximately 
17 minutes per respondent times 366 respondents is 103.7 hours. 
Statutory Authority: Department of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-
91, as amended) Sec. 209 defines the duty and the responsibilities of 
the Director of Office of Science to include: Advising the Secretary 
with respect to education and training activities required for 
effective short- and long-term basic and applied research activities of 
the Department; and Advising the Secretary with respect to grants and 
other forms of financial assistance required for effective short- and 
long-term basic and applied research activities of the Department.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2005.
Sharon A. Evelin,
Director, Records Management Division, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-13008 Filed 6-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P