[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60604-60605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16532]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Conflict of Interest Disclosure for Non-Federal Government 
Individuals Who Are Candidates To Conduct Peer Reviews Required by the 
OMB Peer Review Bulletin

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 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 September 24, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0567 in the subject line of your 
comments. All comments received are part of the public record and will 
generally be posted on https://www.regulations.gov without change. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Jeffrey Dillen, NOAA OGC, 14th & Constitution Avenue NW, Herbert C. 
Hoover Bldg., Rm. 78032, Washington, DC 20230-0001, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for the extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued government-wide 
guidance to enhance the practice of peer review of government science 
documents. OMB's Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review 
(``Peer Review Bulletin'' or PRB) (available at https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/omb/memoranda_fy2005_m05-03/) establishes 
minimum peer review standards for influential scientific information 
that Federal agencies intend to disseminate.
    The Peer Review Bulletin also directs Federal agencies to adopt or 
adapt the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) policy for evaluating 
conflicts of interest when selecting peer reviewers who are not Federal 
Government employees (Federal employees are subject to Federal ethics 
requirements). For peer review purposes, the term ``conflicts of 
interest'' means any financial or other interest which conflicts with 
the service of the individual because it could: (1) significantly 
impair the individual's objectivity; or (2) create an unfair 
competitive advantage for any person or organization. NOAA has adapted 
the NAS policy and developed two confidential conflict disclosure forms 
which the agency will use to examine prospective reviewers' potential 
financial conflicts and other interests that could impair objectivity 
or create an unfair advantage. One form is for peer reviewers of 
studies related to government regulation and the other form is for all 
other influential scientific information subject to the Peer Review 
Bulletin. In addition, the latter form has been adapted by NOAA's 
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research for potential reviewers of 
scientific laboratories.
    The forms include questions about employment as well as investment 
and property interests and research funding. Both forms also require 
the submission of curriculum vitae. NOAA is seeking to collect this 
information from potential peer reviewers who are not government 
employees when conducting a peer review pursuant to the PRB. The 
information collected in the conflict-of-interest disclosure is 
essential to NOAA's compliance with the OMB PRB, and helps to ensure 
that government studies are reviewed by independent, impartial peer 
reviewers.

II. Method of Collection

    Forms may be downloaded from the internet and are fillable and 
signable electronically or manually. They may be submitted, along with 
the Curriculum Vitae, via email or regular mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0567.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission [extension of a current 
information collection].
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 321.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes each: Conflict of Interest 
Disclosure For General Scientific and Technical Studies and Assistance; 
and Conflict of Interest Disclosure For Studies Related to Government 
Regulation.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 161 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority:

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated

[[Page 60605]]

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 Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-16532 Filed 7-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-P