[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 55 (Thursday, March 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13468-13469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5259]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Research Data Archive Use Tracking

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; Request for Comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the new information collection, Research Data Archive 
Use Tracking.

[[Page 13469]]


DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 21, 2007 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Dave 
Rugg; Forest Service, USDA; 1992 Folwell Avenue; St. Paul, MN 55108.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (651) 649-5285 or 
by e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Forest Service--
Northern Research Station, 1992 Folwell, Avenue, St. Paul, MN, during 
normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (651) 
649-5000 or (651) 649-5173 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Rugg, Forest Service, Northern 
Research Station, 651-649-5173. Individuals who use TDD may call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every 
day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Research Data Archive Use Tracking.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: The Forest Service Research and Development (FS R&D) 
group is planning to create a data archive to store and disseminate 
data collected in the course of its scientific research. Preparing data 
sets for the archive requires significant effort from researchers. The 
Forest Service has an obligation to encourage ethical use of archived 
FS R&D data sets and needs to know how others are using the archived 
data sets. This information assists FS R&D personnel in evaluating the 
research program. Information about the use of the products of a 
scientist's research is of significant importance in scientist 
performance evaluations.
    When a member of the public requests a copy of a data set, FS R&D 
will collect the following information: Name; affiliation; contact 
information (including e-mail address); Statement of Intended Use; and 
Data Use Agreement. The Data Use Agreement and associated information 
collection closely follow the data access structure used by the 
National Science Foundation's Long Term Ecological Research network. FS 
R&D managers believe that this structure provides a sound balance 
between meeting obligations to its scientific staff and ease-of-access 
by the research community. The Statement of Intended Use will not 
determine access to a particular data set.
    A form at the archive web site will collect the information. Forest 
Service archive staff will review the individual Data Use Agreements 
prior to approving release of the data set to the requestor. This 
review is solely to ensure that submitted information is complete and 
correct.
    The data set author will use the Data Use Agreements to describe 
the impact of research accomplishments prior to performance appraisals.
    The collection of Data Use Agreements will be evaluated by the data 
archiving program to identify opportunities for improving the archive's 
function and offerings; the FS R&D communications office will use the 
agreements to assist in assessing the effectiveness of FS R&D research 
and technology transfer.
    The proposed FS R&D data archive is a new activity and 
participation is voluntary. This information collection is a critical 
component in the campaign to encourage Forest Service scientists to 
deposit their research data in the archive system. Sharing research 
data is very useful to the broader research community and sharing of 
well-documented FS R&D data sets via the archive will be impossible 
without this information collection.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 10-15 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Scientists, particularly in fields studying 
natural resources; resource specialists in nonprofits and other 
government agencies.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 25.
    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: March 16, 2007.
Ann M. Bartuska,
Deputy Chief for Research and Development.
 [FR Doc. E7-5259 Filed 3-21-07; 8:45 am]
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