[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71135-71136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20882]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Confidential 
Conflict of Interest Disclosure for Prospective Non-Federal Government 
Peer Reviewers of Government Science Documents

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce.

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 continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 6, 
2007.

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 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 Tom Gleason, (301) 713-2367 x 158, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued government-wide 
guidance to enhance the practice of peer review of government science 
documents. OMB's Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review 
(``Peer Review Bulletin'' or PRB) (available at

[[Page 71136]]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-03.pdf) establishes 
minimum peer review standards for influential scientific information 
that Federal agencies intend to disseminate. The Peer Review Bulletin 
also directs Federal agencies to adopt or adapt the National Academy of 
Sciences (NAS) policy for evaluating conflicts of interest when 
selecting peer reviewers who are not Federal government employees 
(federal employees are subject to Federal ethics requirements). For 
peer review purposes, the term ``conflicts of interest'' means any 
financial or other interest which conflicts with the service of the 
individual because it could: (1) Significantly impair the individual's 
objectivity; or (2) create an unfair competitive advantage for any 
person or organization.
    NOAA has adapted the NAS policy and developed two confidential 
conflict disclosure forms which the agency will use to examine 
prospective reviewers' potential financial conflicts and other 
interests that could impair objectivity or create an unfair advantage. 
One form is for peer reviewers of studies related to government 
regulation and the other form is for all other influential scientific 
information subject to the Peer Review Bulletin. The forms include 
questions about employment as well as investment and property interests 
and research funding. Both forms also require the submission of 
curriculum vitae.
    NOAA is seeking to collect this information from potential peer 
reviewers who are not government employees when conducting a peer 
review pursuant to the PRB. The number of peer reviews conducted 
pursuant to the PRB each year will vary, but for illustrative purposes, 
NOAA currently has thirty-nine peer review plans posted on the 
Department of Commerce Peer Review Agenda, indicating that for a six-
month period in FY 2006, thirty-nine agency reports had recently been 
completed, were presently undergoing, or were planning to begin peer 
review. The information collected in the conflict of interest 
disclosure is essential to NOAA's compliance with the OMB PRB, and 
helps to ensure that government studies are reviewed by independent, 
impartial peer reviewers.

II. Method of Collection

    Forms may be downloaded from the Internet and are fillable and 
signable electronically or manually. They may be submitted, along with 
the Curriculum Vitae, via e-mail or regular mail.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 150.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $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 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/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 5, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-20882 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
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