[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76441-76442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31366]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Emergency Clearance; Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget; Notice

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request approval of this collection. In accordance with the requirement 
of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13), we are providing an opportunity for public comment on this 
action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will 
prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this 
collection for no longer than 3 years.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 
burden or any other aspect of these collections of information 
requirements by January 6, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 295, Arlington, VA 
22230, or by email to [email protected], and Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. Attn: Sharon Mar, NSF 
Desk Officer.
    Comments: Written 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 of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use

[[Page 76442]]

of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; 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.
    NSF has determined that it cannot reasonably comply with the normal 
clearance procedures within 5 CFR part 1320 because normal clearance 
procedures are reasonably likely to prevent or disrupt the collection 
of information. NSF is requesting emergency review from OMB of this 
information collection to assure compliance with the America Competes 
Act, Public Law 100-69, Section 7027, which calls for a study on 
laboratory equipment donations for schools. If granted, the emergency 
approval is only valid for 180 days.
    During this same period, a regular review of this information 
collection will be undertaken. During the regular review period, the 
NSF requests written comments and suggestions from the public and 
affected agencies concerning this information collection. Comments are 
encouraged and will be accepted until February 6, 2012 to be assured of 
consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to 
the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send email 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, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 
365 days a year (including federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Request for Clearance for Study of 
Laboratory Equipment Donations for Schools.
    Title of Collection: Survey of Laboratory Equipment Donations for 
Schools.
    OMB Approval No.: 3145--NEW
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests a three-
year clearance for data collection and research related to laboratory 
equipment donations to schools. The goal of this study is to comply 
with the America Competes Act, Public Law 100-69, Section 7027, which 
calls for a study on laboratory equipment donations for schools. The 
law states: ``Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, [August 9, 2007], the Director [of the National Science 
Foundation] shall transmit a report to Congress examining the extent to 
which institutions of higher education and entities in the private 
sector are donating used laboratory equipment to elementary schools and 
secondary schools. The Director * * * shall survey institutions of 
higher education and entities in the private sector to determine--
    (1) How often, how much, and what type of equipment is donated;
    (2) What criteria or guidelines the institutions and entities are 
using to determine what types of equipment can be donated, what 
condition the equipment should be in, and which schools receive the 
equipment;
    (3) Whether the institutions and entities provide any support to, 
or follow-up with the schools; and
    (4) How appropriate donations can be encouraged.'' Under a grant 
from NSF, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) has designed a 
sample of institutions of higher education (IHEs) drawn from the 
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) using the 2007-
2008 school year. IHEs were selected with Carnegie group (2005) based 
on their total research spending. The assumption is that schools with 
higher research spending are most likely to donate equipment, so the 
sample is weighted to capture IHEs with higher levels of spending.
    In addition to IHEs, large corporations that have demonstrated a 
commitment to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 
education will also be surveyed. This will be a population survey of 
members of Change the Equation, an independent non-profit organization 
that is a component of President Obama's ``Educate to Innovate'' 
initiative. These corporations will represent ``entities in the private 
sector'' that Congress mandated be surveyed.
    Basic analyses will include descriptive statistics on each category 
of information requested by Congress broken out by Carnegie 
classification of IHEs, level of IHE research spending, and industry 
sector and size of private entities. Data will also include summaries 
of feedback provided by respondents on how appropriate donations can be 
encouraged. NSF will use the resulting data and analyses primarily to 
respond to the aforementioned congressional request for information. 
NSF will also share the information with the educational research 
community; professional education associations, especially those 
focused on science, academia; K-12 schools, especially science 
teachers; and the general public.
    Respondents: Individuals, State, Local or Tribal Government, not-
for-profit institutions, and for-profit institutions (i.e., 
corporations). Respondents will be persons representing these entities 
who have been identified as familiar with their organization's disposal 
of surplus laboratory equipment.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 400 (300 IHEs and 100 
corporations).
    Burden on the Public: 400 hours.

    Dated: December 2, 2011.
Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2011-31366 Filed 12-6-11; 8:45 am]
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