[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42056-42057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16848]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) is inviting the general public or other Federal agencies to 
comment on this proposed continuing information collection. The NSF 
will publish periodic summaries of the proposed projects.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
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; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by September 
16, 2014 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that 
date will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to the 
address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 1265, 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: 
    Title of Collection: 2015 National Survey of College Graduates.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0141.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2015.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection for three years.
    1. Abstract. The National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) has 
been conducted biennially since the 1970s. The 2015 NSCG sample will be 
selected from the 2013 American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2013 
NSCG. By selecting sample from these two sources, the 2015 NSCG will 
provide coverage of the college graduate population residing in the 
United States. The purpose of this longitudinal survey is to collect 
data that will be used to provide national estimates on the science and 
engineering workforce and changes in their employment, education, and 
demographic characteristics.
    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

[[Page 42057]]

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 2015 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 
135,000 individuals will be contacted in 2015. NSF expects the response 
rate to be 70 to 80 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 30 minutes to complete 
the survey. NSF estimates that the total annual burden will be no more 
than 54,000 hours (=135,000 respondents x 80% response x 30 minutes) 
during the 2015 survey cycle.

    Dated: July 14, 2014.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2014-16848 Filed 7-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P