[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 27226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7074]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of State 
Research and Development

ACTION: Notice.

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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 on 
proposed and/or continued 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 July 10, 2006.

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 or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to James R. Berry, Jr., U.S. Census Bureau, 
Governments Division, Washington, DC 20233-6800 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to conduct a new survey to measure 
research and development supported and performed by state governments 
in the United States. This survey will be a joint effort between the 
Census Bureau and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
    The NSF Act of 1950 includes a statutory charge to ``provide a 
central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis 
of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide a source 
of information for policy formulation by other agencies in the Federal 
Government.'' Under the aegis of this legislative mandate, NSF and its 
predecessors have sponsored surveys of research and development since 
1953, including the Survey of Industrial Research and Development. This 
new survey will expand the scope of research and development 
collections to include state governments, for which there are no 
established collection efforts.
    Items on the survey form will include research and development 
expenditures according to the source of funding, by performer of the 
work (internal and external to state agencies), and by character (i.e., 
basic, applied, or developmental). Final results produced by NSF will 
contain state and national estimates useful to a variety of data users 
interested in research and development performance including: the 
National Science Board; the Office of Management and Budget; the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy and other science policy makers; 
institutional researchers; and private organizations.

II. Method of Collection

    All data will be collected electronically via an Internet Web form. 
The approximately 1,000 state government agencies surveyed will be 
assisted during the collection period by central state coordinators. 
This methodology of employing central contacts is used successfully in 
other government finance surveys conducted by the Census Bureau.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: SRD-1.
    Type of Review: Regular submission
    Affected Public: State government agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,000.
    Estimated Total Cost: $19,000.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Sections 8(b), 161, 
and 182. Title 15 United States Code, Section 1525.

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 included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection. These comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 5, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-7074 Filed 5-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P