52348 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 171 / Tuesday, September 5, 2006 / Notices 

—Determine the nature and inventory of 

organic carbon compounds; 

—Inventory the chemical building 

blocks of life (carbon, hydrogen, 

nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and 

sulfur); 

—Identify features that may represent 

the effects of biological processes; 

—Investigate the chemical, isotopic, and 

mineralogical composition of Martian 

surface and near-surface geological 

materials; 

—Interpret the processes that have 

formed and modified rocks and 

regolith; 

—assess long-timescale (i.e., 4-billionyear) atmospheric evolution 

processes; and 

—Determine the present state, 

distribution, and cycling of water and 

carbon dioxide. 

The proposed MSL mission would 

utilize a rover with advanced 

instrumentation to acquire significant 

detailed information regarding the 

habitability of Mars from a scientifically 

promising location. The mission would 

also fulfill NASA’s strategic technology 

goals of increasing the mass of science 

payloads delivered to the surface of 

Mars, expanding access to higher and 

lower latitudes, increasing precision 

landing capability, and increasing 

traverse capability (mobility) to 

distances on the order of several 

kilometers. 

Mobility is essential because evidence 

for past or present life on Mars will very 

likely not be so abundant or widespread 

that it will be available in the immediate 

vicinity of the selected landing site. 

Without the mobility necessary to 

conduct in situ exploration, it may not 

be possible to uniquely characterize a 

target location. 

The Proposed Action (Alternative 1) 

consists of continuing preparations for 

and implementing the MSL mission to 

Mars. The proposed MSL rover would 

utilize a MMRTG as its primary source 

of electrical power to operate and 

conduct science on the surface of Mars. 

Under Alternative 2, NASA would 

discontinue preparations for the 

Proposed Action (Alternative 1) and 

implement an alternative MSL mission 

to Mars. The alternative MSL rover 

would utilize solar energy as its primary 

source of electrical power to operate and 

conduct science on the surface of Mars. 

With either the Proposed Action 

(Alternative 1) or Alternative 2, the MSL 

spacecraft would be launched on board 

an expendable launch vehicle from 

CCAFS, Florida during the September–

November 2009 time period. Under the 

No Action Alternative, NASA would 

discontinue preparations for the MSL 

mission, and the spacecraft would not 

be launched. With either the Proposed 

Action (Alternative 1) or Alternative 2, 

the potentially affected environment for 

a normal launch includes the area at 

and in the vicinity of the launch site, 

CCAFS in Florida. The environmental 

impacts of a normal launch of the 

mission for either alternative would be 

associated principally with the exhaust 

emissions from the expendable launch 

vehicle. These effects would include: (1) 

Short-term impacts on air quality within 

the exhaust cloud and near the launch 

pad, and (2) the potential for acidic 

deposition on the vegetation and surface 

water bodies at and near the launch 

complex. 

Potential launch accidents could 

result in the release of some of the 

radioactive material on board the 

spacecraft. The MMRTG planned for use 

on the rover for the Proposed Action 

(Alternative 1) would use plutonium 

dioxide, with a radioisotope inventory 

of approximately 58,700 curies, to 

provide electrical power. For either 

alternative, two of the science 

instruments on the rover would use 

small quantities of radioactive material, 

totaling approximately two curies, for 

instrument calibration or science 

experiments. 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 

in cooperation with NASA, has 

performed a risk assessment of potential 

accidents for the MSL mission. This 

assessment used a methodology refined 

through applications to the Galileo, 

Ulysses, Cassini, Mars Exploration 

Rover, and New Horizons missions. 

DOE’s risk assessment for the proposed 

MSL mission indicates that in the event 

of a launch accident the expected 

impacts of released radioactive material 

at and in the vicinity of the launch area, 

and on a global basis, would be small. 

Alternative 2 would not involve any 

MMRTG-associated radiological risks 

since an MMRTG would not be used for 

this mission alternative. 

NASA will hold public comment 

meetings during which the public is 

invited to participate in an open 

exchange of information and submission 

of comments on the DEIS. Each public 

meeting will begin with an opportunity 

for informal discussions with project 

personnel, followed by a brief NASA 

presentation on the MSL mission, and 

conclude with the submission of formal 

comments, both written and oral. These 

meetings will be held on: 

—September 27, 2006, from 1 p.m.–4 

p.m. and 6 p.m.–9 p.m. at the Florida 

Solar Energy Center; H. George 

Carrison Auditorium; 1679 Clearlake 

Road, Cocoa, Florida 32922; 

—October 10, 2006, from 1 p.m.–4 p.m. 

at the Hyatt Regency Washington on 

Capitol Hill; Congressional Room A; 

400 New Jersey Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20001. 

Further information on the public 

meetings can be obtained by contacting 

Mark R. Dahl at the address or 

telephone number indicated herein, or 

by visiting the MSL DEIS Web site at: 

http://spacescience.nasa.gov/admin/ 

pubs/msl/index.htm. Advanced 

registration for attending any of the 

meetings is not required. 

The FEIS may be examined at the 

following NASA locations by contacting 

the pertinent Freedom of Information 

Office: 

(a) NASA, Ames Research Center, 

Moffett Field, CA 94035 (650–604–

3273); 

(b) NASA, Dryden Flight Research 

Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (661–276–

2704); 

(c) NASA, Glenn Research Center at 

Lewis Field, Cleveland, OH 44135 (216–

433–2813); 

(d) NASA, Goddard Space Flight 

Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301–286–

4721); 

(e) NASA, Johnson Space Center, 

Houston, TX 77058 (281–483–8612); 

(f) NASA, Kennedy Space Center, FL 

32899 (321–867–9280); 

(g) NASA, Langley Research Center, 

Hampton, VA 23681 (757–864–2497); 

(h) NASA, Marshall Space Flight 

Center, Huntsville, AL 35812 (256–544–

1837); and 

(i) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 

39529 (228–688–2118). 

Any person, organization, or 

governmental body or agency interested 

in receiving a copy of NASA’s Record of 

Decision after it is rendered should so 

indicate by mail or electronic mail to 

Mr. Dahl at the addresses provided 

above. 

Written public input and comments 

on alternatives and environmental 

issues and concerns associated with the 

proposed Mars Science Laboratory 

mission are hereby requested. 

Olga M. Dominguez, 

Assistant Administrator for Infrastructure 

and Administration. 

[FR Doc. E6–14649 Filed 9–1–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7510–13–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To 

Establish an Information Collection 

AGENCY: National Science Foundation. 

ACTION: Notice and Request for 

Comments. 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 171 / Tuesday, September 5, 2006 / Notices 52349 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

for opportunity for public comment on 

proposed data collection projects, the 

National Science Foundation (NSF) will 

publish periodic summaries of proposed 

projects. 

Comments are invited on (a) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of the functions of the agency, including 

whether the information shall 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 the collection of information 

on respondents, including through the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of information 

technology. 

DATES: Written comments on this notice 

must be received by November 6, 2006 

to be assured of consideration. 

Comments received after that date will 

be considered to the extent practicable. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR

COMMENTS: Contact Suzanne Plimpton, 

Acting Reports Clearance Officer, 

National Science Foundation, 4201 

Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, 

Virginia 22230; telephone 703–292–

7556; or send e-mail to 

splimpto@nsf.gov. 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. to 8 p.m., 

Eastern time, Monday through Friday. 

You also may obtain a copy of the date 

collection instrument and instructions 

from Ms. Hines. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title of Collection: Model Institutions 

for Excellence Graduates’ Survey. 

OMB Approval Number: 3145–NEW. 

Expiration Date of Approval: Not 

Applicable. 

Type of Request: Intent to seek 

approval to establish an information 

collection for three years. 

Proposed Project: The Division of 

Human Resource Development (EHR/ 

HRD) of the National Science 

Foundation (NSF) has requested impact 

information on the Model Institutions 

for Excellence (MIE) Program. Jointly 

funded by NSF and the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration 

(NASA), the MIE Program funded eight 

minority-service undergraduate 

institutions to promote under 

represented minority participation in 

the fields of science, technology, 

engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

Now NSF seeks follow-up information 

on program graduates to determine 

whether or not they have continued 

their education in STEM graduate 

programs and/or STEM employment, 

and how the MIE program influence 

their decisions with respect to graduate 

school and employment. NSF proposed 

a one-time on-line survey of the 931 

MIE students who received bachelor’s 

degrees in a STEM field from one of the 

MIE colleges between 2002 through 

2005. 

Estimate of Burden: The Foundation 

estimates that, on average, 30 minutes 

per respondent will be required to 

complete the survey, for a total of 465.5 

hours for all respondents. Respondents 

from the eight institutions that received 

NSF MIE support will complete this 

survey once. 

Respondents: STEM graduates from 

MIE programs. 

Estimated Number of Responses: 931. 

Estimates Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 465.5 hours. 

Dated: August 29, 2006. 

Suzanne Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. 06–7388 Filed 9–1–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–M 

PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY 

CORPORATION 

Request for Extension of Approval of 

a Collection of Information Under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act; Comment 

Request; Customer Satisfaction 

Surveys and Focus Groups 

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty 

Corporation. 

ACTION: Notice of request for extension 

of OMB approval. 

SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty 

Corporation is requesting that the Office 

of Management and Budget extend its 

approval of a collection of information 

under the Paperwork Reduction Act. 

The purpose of the information 

collection, which will be conducted 

through focus groups and surveys over 

a three-year period, is to help the PBGC 

assess the efficiency and effectiveness 

with which it serves its customers and 

to design actions to address identified 

problems. 

DATES: Comments should be submitted 

by October 5, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to 

the Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs of the Office of Management and 

Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for Pension 

Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 

Washinton, DC 20503. Copies of the 

request for extension (including the 

collection of information) may be 

obtained without charge by writing to 

the Disclosure Division of the Office of 

the General Counsel of PBGC at 1200 K 

Street, NW., 11th Floor, Washington, DC 

20005–4026, or by visiting or calling 

(202–326–4040) the Disclosure Division 

during normal business hours. (TTY and 

TDD users may call the Federal relay 

service toll-free at 1–800–877–8339 and 

ask to be connected to 202–326–4040.) 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Thomas H. Gabriel, Attorney, 

Legislative and Regulatory Department, 

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 

1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 

20005–4026, 202–326–4024. (TTY and 

TDD users may call the Federal relay 

service toll-free at 1–800–877–8339 and 

ask to be connected to 202–326–4024.) 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An agency 

may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, a 

collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB contorl 

number. 

The PBGC is requesting that OMB 

extend its approval, for a three-year 

period, of a generic collection of 

information consisting of customer 

satisfaction focus groups and surveys 

(OMB No. 1212–0053; expires October 

31, 2006). The information collection 

will further the goals of Executive Order 

12862, Setting Customer Service 

Standards, which states the Federal 

Government must seek to provide ‘‘the 

highest quality of service delivered to 

customers by private organizations 

providing a comparable or analogous 

service.’’

The PBGC uses customer satisfaction 

focus groups and surveys to find out 

about the needs and expectations of its 

customers and assess how well it is 

meeting those needs and expectations. 

By keeping these avenues of 

communication open, the PBGC can 

continually improve service to its 

customers, including plan participants 

and beneficiaries, plan sponsors and 

their affiliates, plan administrators, 

pension practitioners, and others 

involved in the establishment, operation 

and termination of plans covered by the 

PBGC’s insurance program. Because the 

areas of concern to the PBGC and its 

customers vary and may quickly change, 

it is important that the PBGC have the 

ability to evaluate customer concerns 

quickly by developing new vehicles for 

gathering information under this generic 

approval. The focus groups and surveys 

will provide important information on 

customer attitudes about the delivery 

and quality of agency services and will 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES