[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42675-42676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6514]


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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, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 71 FR 20141, and two comments were received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal 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 oft he 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 National Science 
Foundation, 725-17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and 
to Suzanne 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hines at (703) 292-7556 or 
send 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.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Comment: On April 19, 2006, we published in the Federal Register 
(71 FR 20141) a 60-day notice of our intent to request renewal of this 
information collection authority from OMB. In that notice, we solicited 
public comments for 60 days. Two comments were received from the public 
notice. The first comment came from Dr. Michael A. Gibson, The 
University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN on 24 April 2006. Dr. 
Gibson requested for his university to partake in the survey, as they 
have a paleontological collection from past NSF support.
    Response: NSF noted this request and confirmed that the University 
of Tennessee at Martin was included on our list of eligible 
institutions.
    Comment: The second comment came from Ellen Paul, The 
Ornithological Council, Chevy Chase, MD on 6 June 2006. Ms. Paul 
requested a copy of the survey to address the anticipated burden. On 8 
June 2006, the NSF sent Ms. Paul an electronic copy of the IWGSC 
Scientific Collections survey. On 16 June 2006, NSF received comments 
regarding the survey from Ms. Paul.
    Response: We responded to her concerns, noting that we had received 
and incorporated input from the scientific community through 
correspondence during NSF panel meetings (which are populated from 
scientists representing a plethora of institutions) and scientific 
professional society conferences during the creation

[[Page 42676]]

of the survey, and that the issues regarding ambiguity in language used 
in the survey are addressed in the ``FAQ'' section of the website. 
After extensive phone and email correspondences, it was determined Ms. 
Paul's concerns originated from distress about a new National Park 
Service policy regarding scientific collections. As that program is 
unrelated to our survey collection and her concerns of unclearly 
defined terms used in the survey are addressed in the FAQ section of 
the survey instrument, the NSF is moving forward with the clearance 
request.
    Title of Collection: ``Scientific Collections Survey.''
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection for three years
    Proposed Project: The Office of Science and Technology Policy 
(OSTP) has requested an assessment of information regarding all object-
based scientific collections maintained or financially supported by the 
Federal government or used in research supported by the Federal 
government, and ancillary materials directly related to them. The 
Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections (IWGSC), 
established in September 2005 by the Committee on Science of the 
National Science and Technology Council, is working with the IDA 
Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) to collect the 
information through an online survey. As part of the IWGSC, the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) has agreed to survey institutions 
with object-based scientific collections that receive support from the 
NSF or that are used by researchers that receive support form the NSF.
    Estimate of Burden: The Foundation estimates that, on average, 40 
minutes per respondent will be required to complete the survey, for a 
total of 400 hours for all respondents. Respondents from the 
approximately 730 institutions that receive NSF support for object-
based collections, or whose object-based collections are used by 
researchers that receive NSF support, will complete this survey once.
    Respondents: Not-for-profits.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 730.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5353 hours.

    Dated: July 24, 2006.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 06-6514 Filed 7-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M