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[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 126 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40143-40144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16512]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Agency Information Collection activities: Comment Request; 
Notice.

TITLE: Generic Survey Clearance of the Science Resources Studies Survey 
Improvement Projects and Quick Response Studies.

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on this new information collection.

COMMENT DUE DATE: Written comments should be received by August 28, 
2000 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 295, Arlington, VA 
22230, or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton, the NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer, phone (703) 306-1125, or send e-mail to 
[email protected]. You may also obtain a copy of the data collection 
plans and instruments from Ms. Suzanne Plimpton, NSF Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 295, 
Arlington, VA 22230, phone (703) 306-1125. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract

    Generic Survey Clearance of the Science Resources Studies Survey 
Improvement Projects and Quick Response Studies. The National Science 
Foundation's (NSF) Division of Science Resources Studies (SRS) needs to 
collect timely data on constant changes in the science and technology 
sector and to provide the information to policy makers in Congress and 
throughout the Government. SRS will sponsor quick response surveys and 
workshops on science and technology subjects, perform cognitive testing 
to improve survey methodology and questionnaires, and pretest questions 
for future large-scale surveys.

Expected Respondents

    The respondents will be from industry, academia, nonprofit 
organizations, members of the public, and Federal agencies. Data and 
information collection will be by mail, Internet, World Wide Web, 
telephone, visits, and/or workshops. As the table below shows, as many 
as 355 institutions will be contacted. No institution will be contacted 
more than twice in one year. Members of the public may be contacted for 
a survey of public attitudes toward science.
    The information from the respondents is needed to provide policy 
makers with updates of the economic, financial, employment, and 
education situation in the science and technology sector of industry, 
academia, and nonprofit organizations. The information will also help 
NSF improve its current data collection instruments and processes.
    To minimize burden on small entities and to make sure that a high 
proportion of the science and technology universe is captured, most 
respondent selection will be designed with probability proportional to 
size. It is possible that during the 3 years of the survey clearance, 
NSF will study an issue that focuses on small entities, such as start-
up high-technology companies. In this case, every effort will be made 
to use technology to limit the burden on respondents from small 
entities.
    Information being collected is not considered to be sensitive. In 
general, assurance of data confidentiality will not be provided to 
respondents to the Generic Survey Clearance of the Science Resources 
Studies Survey Improvement Projects and Quick Response Studies. 
Instead, respondents have the option of requesting that any and all 
data they submit be kept confidential.

Use of the Information

    The purpose of these studies is to collect information on the 
science and technology sector to respond to questions from policy 
makers and to improve the current NSF science and technology surveys. 
NSF will publish a separate report on the findings and also

[[Page 40144]]

include them in other NSF compilations such as National Patterns of R&D 
Resources and Science and Engineering Indicators. In most cases the 
data and information will be made available on the World Wide Web. The 
results of surveys and studies will help policy makers in decisions on 
research and development funding, regulations, and reporting 
guidelines.

Burden on the Public

    NSF estimates that a total reporting and recordkeeping burden of 
5,860 hours will result from the collection of information. The 
calculation is:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Number of
                 Survey Name                   Respondents      Hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cognitive testing-Survey of Scientific &                50           100
 Engineering Research Facilities............
Cognitive testing-Survey of R&D Funding &               30            60
 Performance by Nonprofit Organizations.....
Quick Response Survey for understanding                 50           300
 change in R&D in the industrial sector.....
Workshops on surveys & economic issues......            25           600
Additional surveys not specified............           200         4,800
                                             ---------------------------
    Total...................................           355         5,860
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Request for Comments

    We invite comments specifically 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 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 collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    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.

    Dated: June 26, 2000.
Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-16512 Filed 6-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M
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