[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48554-48555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19849]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 76 FR 76441, and no 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. The full submission may be found at: 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 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 of the 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 H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, 
Virginia 22230 or send email to [email protected]. Comments regarding 
this information collection 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: Suzanne H. Plimpton at (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 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: 
    Title of Collection: Survey of Laboratory Equipment Donations for 
Schools.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-NEW.

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: 172.
    Burden on the Public: 86 hours.


[[Page 48555]]


    Dated: August 8, 2012.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2012-19849 Filed 8-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P