[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 58414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23258]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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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 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is the second notice for public comment; 
the first was published in the Federal Register at 77 FR 32700, 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: Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the NSF's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated 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 7th 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].

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-
292-7556. 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: 2013 National Survey of College Graduates.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0141.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to reinstate an 
information collection for three years.
    1. Abstract. The National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) has 
been conducted biennially since the 1970s. The 2013 NSCG sample will be 
selected from the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS), the 2010 NSCG, 
and the 2010 National Survey of Recent College Graduates (NSRCG). The 
purpose of this longitudinal panel survey is to provide national 
estimates on the science and engineering workforce and changes in their 
employment, education and demographic characteristics. The NSCG is one 
of the components of the Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data 
System (SESTAT), which produces national estimates of the size and 
characteristics of the nation's science and engineering population. The 
2013 NSCG will provide necessary input into the SESTAT.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to ``* * * provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The NSCG is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the supply and utilization of the nation's 
scientists and engineers.
    The NSF uses the information from the NSCG to prepare 
congressionally mandated reports such as Women, Minorities and Persons 
with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and Science and 
Engineering Indicators. A public release file of collected data, 
designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will be made available 
to researchers on the Internet.
    The U.S. Census Bureau, as in the past, will conduct the NSCG for 
NSF. The survey data collection will begin in February 2013 using web 
and mail questionnaires. Nonrespondents to the web or mail 
questionnaire will be followed up by computer-assisted telephone 
interviewing. The survey will be collected in conformance with the 
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 
2002, and the individual's response to the survey is voluntary. NSF 
will ensure that all information collected will be kept strictly 
confidential and will be used only for statistical purposes.
    2. Expected Respondents. A statistical sample of approximately 
144,000 persons will be contacted in 2013. NSF estimates the response 
rate to be 80 to 90 percent.
    3. Estimate of Burden. The amount of time to complete the 
questionnaire may vary depending on an individual's circumstances; 
however, on average it will take approximately 25 minutes. NSF 
estimates that the total burden for the 2013 NSCG will be no more than 
50,542 hours.

    Dated: September 17, 2012.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2012-23258 Filed 9-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P