[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14516-14517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05417]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Generic Clearance for Community Resilience Data Collections

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before May 16, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Nina Argent, NIST, Management Analyst, at [email protected]. Do not 
submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

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 240-672-2575, or via email 
to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Through acts such as the National Construction Safety Team Act 
(NCSTA), the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act (NWIRA) 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 
resilience guidance or other products.
    These data collection efforts may be either qualitative or 
quantitative in 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 protect confidentiality 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 and 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 light of the recent increases in 
the number of severe disaster events and the growing trend of disasters 
occuring outside of their typical season, NIST is requesting to 
increase the ICR Annual Response allotment from 20,000 to 25,000 
Responses; and the ICR Annual Hours allotment from 15,000 to 18,000. 
NIST assures that no changes will be made to any of the individual 
information collection requests that have been approved for use.

[[Page 14517]]

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: Regular submission. Revision.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; first responders; 
weather forecasters; members of the media; water, power, 
transportation, and communications infrastructure operators; 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: 25,000.
    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: 18,000.
    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 that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-05417 Filed 3-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P