[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 198 (Thursday, October 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 63141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25861]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 198 / Thursday, October 14, 2010 / 
Notices  

[[Page 63141]]



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 currently approved information collection, 
Research Data Archive Use Tracking.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before December 13, 
2010 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 USDA 
Forest Service, Dave Rugg, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53726-
2366. Comments also may be submitted via e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Forest Service--Forest 
Products Laboratory, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI, during 
normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 608-
231-9234 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Rugg, Forest Service, Northern 
Research Station, 608-231-9234. Individuals who use telecommunication 
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday 
through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Research Data Archive Use Tracking.
    OMB Number: 0596-0210.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 04/30/2011.
    Type of Request: Extension with no Revision.
    Abstract: The Forest Service Research and Development (FS R&D) 
group has created 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 and 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 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 per respondent.
    Type of Respondents: Scientists, particularly in fields studying 
natural resources; resource specialists in nonprofits and other 
government agencies.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 50 hours.
    Comment Is Invited: 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 submission request 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: October 7, 2010.
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
Acting Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2010-25861 Filed 10-13-10; 8:45 am]
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