[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6134-6135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03243]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Generic Clearance for 
Community Resilience Data Collections

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the internet at 
[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Jennifer Helgeson, Economist, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 
8603, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1710, telephone 301-975-6133, or via email 
to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Through acts such as the National Construction Safety Team Act 
(NCSTA) and the NIST Organic Act, among others, as well as the 
President's Climate Action Plan (2013), NIST conducts research and 
develops guidance and other related tools to promote and enhance the 
safety and well-being of people in the face of a hazard event. With 
this in mind, NIST proposes to conduct a number of data collection 
efforts within the topic areas of disaster and failure studies and 
community resilience and sustainability, including studies of specific 
disaster events (e.g., wildfire, urban fire, structure collapse, 
hurricane, earthquake, tornado, and flood events), assessments of 
community resilience and sustainability, and evaluations of the 
usability and utility of NIST guidance or other products.
    These data collection efforts may be either qualitative or 
quantitative in

[[Page 6135]]

nature or may consist of mixed methods. Additionally, data may be 
collected via a variety of means, including but not limited to 
electronic or social media, direct or indirect observation (i.e., in 
person, video and audio collections), interviews, questionnaires, and 
focus groups. NIST will limit its inquiries to data collections that 
solicit strictly voluntary opinions or responses. The results of the 
data collected will be used to decrease negative impacts of disasters 
on society, and, in turn, increase community resilience within the U.S. 
communities. Steps will be taken to ensure anonymity of respondents in 
each activity covered by this request.
    This notice pertains to both a revision and an extension of a 
previously approved submission. The NIST Engineering Laboratory 
utilizes this clearance to conduct research in support of topic areas 
of disaster and failure studies, community resilience (including 
studies of specific disaster events such as wildfire, urban fire, 
structure collapse, hurricane, earthquake, tornado, and flood events).
    This type of research is directly related to a range of disasters 
which are unpredictable in their number during a given year. 
Additionally, some disasters may require multiple studies resulting in 
multiple collections. Therefore, in preparation of the upcoming 
disaster season, NIST is requesting to increase the ICR Annual Response 
allotment from 15,000 to 20,000 Responses; and the ICR Annual Hours 
allotment from 12,000 to 15,000. NIST assures that no changes will be 
made to any the individual information collection requests that have 
been approved for use.

II. Method of Collection

    NIST will collect this information by electronic means when 
possible, as well as by mail, fax, telephone, technical discussions, 
and in-person interviews. NIST may also utilize observational 
techniques to collect this information.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0693-0078.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; first responders; 
businesses or other for-profit organizations; not-for-profit 
institutions; State, local or tribal government; Federal government; 
Standards-making bodies; Universities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: Varied, dependent upon the data 
collection method used. The possible response time to complete a 
questionnaire may be 15 minutes or 2 hours to participate in an 
interview.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    NIST invites comments on: (a) Whether the proposed 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 the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-03243 Filed 2-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P