Proposal Review, Notice of Meetings, 66200-66201 [06-9182]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 218 / Monday, November 13, 2006 / Notices
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fulfill this responsibility by initiating
and supporting merit-selected research
and education projects in all the
scientific and engineering disciplines.
NSF receives more than 40,000
proposals annually for new projects,
and makes approximately 10,500 new
awards.
Support is made primarily through
grants, contracts, and other agreements
awarded to more than 2,800 colleges,
universities, academic consortia,
nonprofit institutions, and small
businesses. The awards are based
mainly on evaluations of proposal merit
submitted to the Foundation (proposal
review is currently cleared under OMB
Control No. 3145–0060).
The Foundation has a continuing
commitment to monitor the operations
of its information collection to identify
and address excessive reporting burdens
as well as to identify any real or
apparent inequities based on gender,
race, ethnicity, or disability of the
proposed principal investigator(s)/
project director(s) or the co-principal
investigator(s)/co-project director(s).
Proposal Evaluation Process
The Foundation relies heavily on the
advice and assistance of external
advisory committees, ad-hoc proposal
reviewers, and to other experts to ensure
that the Foundation is able to reach fair
and knowledgeable judgments. These
scientists and educators come from
colleges and universities, nonprofit
research and education organizations,
industry, and other Government
agencies.
In making its decisions on proposals
the counsel of these merit reviewers has
proven invaluable to the Foundation
both in the identification of meritorious
projects and in providing sound basis
for project restructuring.
Review of proposals may involve
large panel sessions, small groups, or
use of a mail-review system. Proposals
are reviewed carefully by scientists or
engineers who are expert in the
particular field represented by the
proposal. About 54% are reviewed
exclusively by panels of reviewers who
gather, usually in Arlington, VA, to
discuss their advice as well as to deliver
it. About 33% are reviewed first by mail
reviewers expert in the particular field,
then by panels, usually of persons with
more diverse expertise, who help the
NSF decide among proposals from
multiple fields or sub-fields. Finally,
about 9% are reviewed exclusively by
mail.
Use of the Information
The information collected is used to
support grant programs of the
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Foundation. The information collected
on the proposal evaluation forms is used
by the Foundation to determine the
following criteria when awarding or
declining proposals submitted to the
Agency: (1) What is the intellectual
merit of the proposed activity? (2) What
are the broader impacts of the proposed
activity?
The information collected on reviewer
background questionnaire (NSF 428A) is
used by managers to maintain an
automated database of reviewers for the
many disciplines represented by the
proposals submitted to the Foundation.
Information collected on gender, race,
and ethnicity is used in meeting NSF
needs for data to permit response to
Congressional and other queries into
equity issues. These data also are used
in the design, implementation, and
monitoring of NSF efforts to increase the
participation of various groups in
science, engineering, and education.
Confidentiality
When a decision has been made
(whether an award or a declination),
verbatim copies of reviews, excluding
the names of the reviewers, and
summaries of review panel
deliberations, if any, are provided to the
PI. A proposer also may request and
obtain any other releasable material in
NSF’s file on their proposal. Everything
in the file except information that
directly identifies either reviewers or
other pending or declined proposals is
usually releasable to the proposer.
While a listing of panelists’ names is
released annually, the names of
individual reviewers, associated with
individual proposals, are not released to
anyone.
Because the Foundation is committed
to monitoring and identifying any real
or apparent inequities based on gender,
race, ethnicity, or disability of the
proposed principal investigator(s)/
project director(s) or the co-principal
investigator(s)/co-project director(s), the
Foundation also collects information
regarding race, ethnicity, disability, and
gender. This information also is
protected by the Privacy Act.
Burden on the Public: For the Grant
Proposal Guide, NSF estimates that an
average of 120 hours is expended for
each proposal submitted. An estimated
45,000 proposals are expected during
the course of one year for a total of
5,400,000 public burden hours
annually.
For the proposal review process, NSF
estimates that anywhere from one hour
to twenty hours may be required to
review a proposal. It is estimated that
approximately five hours are required to
review an average proposal. Each
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proposal receives an average of 6
reviews, with a minimum requirement
of three reviews for an estimated total of
1,350,000 hours. The estimated burden
for the Reviewer Background
Information (NSF 428A) is estimated at
5 minutes per respondent with up to
10,000 potential new reviewers for a
total of 83 hours. The estimated total is
1,350,083 for the reviewer process and
the reviewer background information.
The estimated aggregated total for
both the Grant Proposal Guide and the
proposal review process is 6,750,083
hours.
Dated: November 7, 2006.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation.
[FR Doc. E6–19104 Filed 11–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Proposal Review, Notice of Meetings
In accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, as amended), the National Science
Foundation (NSF) announces its intent
to hold proposal review meetings
throughout the year. The purpose of
these meetings is to provide advice and
recommendations concerning proposals
submitted to the NSF for financial
support. The agenda for each of these
meetings is to review and evaluate
proposals as part of the selection
process for awards. The review and
evaluation may also include assessment
of the progress of awarded proposals.
The majority of these meetings will take
place at NSF, 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, Virginia 22230.
These meetings will be closed to the
public. The proposals being reviewed
include information of a proprietary or
confidential nature, including technical
information; financial data, such as
salaries; and personal information
concerning individuals associated with
the proposals. These matters are exempt
under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), (4) and (6) of the
Government in the Sunshine Act. NSF
will continue to review the agenda and
merits of each meeting for overall
compliance of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act.
These closed proposal review
meetings will not be announced on an
individual basis in the Federal Register.
NSF intends to publish a notice similar
to this on a quarterly basis. For an
advance listing of the closed proposal
review meetings that include the names
of the proposal review panel and the
time, date, place, and any information
on changes, corrections, or
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 218 / Monday, November 13, 2006 / Notices
cancellations, please visit the NSF Web
site: https://www.nsf.gov. This
information may also be requested by
telephoning, 703/292–8182.
Dated: November 7, 2006.
Susanne Bolton,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 06–9182 Filed 11–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–M
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Advisory Committee for International
Science and Engineering; Notice of
Meeting
In accordance with Federal Advisory
Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, as
amended), the National Science
Foundation announces the following
meeting:
Name: Advisory Committee for
International Science and Engineering
(25104).
Date/Time: December 4, 2006; 8:30 a.m. to
5 p.m.
Place: National Science Foundation, 4201
Wilson Boulevard, Room 1235, Arlington,
VA.
Type of Meeting: Open.
Contact Person: Eduardo Feller, National
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard,
(suite 935), Arlington, VA 22230 (703) 292–
8100.
If you are attending the meeting and need
access to the NSF, please contact the
individual listed above so your name may be
added to the building access list.
Purpose of Meeting: To provide advice on
the programs of the Office of International
Science and Engineering.
Agenda: Presentation of new Committee
Members.
Update on work of the Office.
Briefings on Current International
Initiatives.
Discussion of International Program
Initiatives.
Dated: November 7, 2006.
Susanne Bolton,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 06–9181 Filed 11–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–M
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
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[Docket Nos. 50–373 and 50–374]
Exelon Generation Company, LLC;
Notice of Denial of Amendment to
Facility Operating License and
Opportunity for Hearing
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC or the Commission)
has denied a request by Exelon
Generation Company, LLC (the licensee)
for an amendment to Facility Operating
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Licenses NPF–11 and NPF–12, issued to
the licensee for operation of the Lasalle
County Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2,
located in LaSalle County, Illinois.
Notice of Consideration of Issuance of
this amendment was published in the
Federal Register on March 28, 2006 (71
FR 15483).
The purpose of the licensee’s
amendment request was to revise the
technical specifications (TS) to change
Surveillance Requirement (SR) 3.7.3.1
which verifies the cooling water
temperature supplied to the plant from
the core standby cooling system (CSCS)
pond (i.e., ultimate heat sink (UHS)) is
≤ 100 °F. Currently, if the temperature
of the cooling water supplied to the
plant from the CSCS pond is > 100 °F,
the UHS must be declared inoperable in
accordance with TS 3.7.3. The license
amendment request proposed to
increase the temperature limit of the
cooling water supplied to the plant from
the CSCS pond to ≤ 101.5 °F by
reducing the temperature measurement
uncertainty by replacing the existing
thermocouples with higher precision
temperature measuring equipment.
Should the UHS indicated temperature
exceed 101.5 °F, Required Action B.1
would be entered and both units would
be placed in Mode 3 within 12 hours
and Mode 4 within 36 hours.
The NRC staff has concluded that the
licensee’s request cannot be granted.
The licensee was notified of the
Commission’s denial of the proposed
change by telephone on November 2,
2006.
By 30 days from the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, the licensee may demand a
hearing with respect to the denial
described above. Any person whose
interest may be affected by this
proceeding may file a written petition
for leave to intervene pursuant to the
requirements of 10 CFR 2.309.
A request for a hearing or a petition
for leave to intervene must be filed by:
(1) First class mail addressed to the
Office of the Secretary of the
Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
0001, Attention: Rulemaking and
Adjudications Staff; (2) courier, express
mail, and expedited delivery services:
Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth Floor,
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, Attention:
Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; (3)
E-mail addressed to the Office of the
Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission,
HEARINGDOCKET@NRC.GOV; or (4)
facsimile transmission addressed to the
Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington,
PO 00000
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66201
DC 20555–0001, Attention: Rulemakings
and Adjudications Staff at (301) 415–
1101, verification number is (301) 415–
1966. A copy of the request for hearing
and petition for leave to intervene
should also be sent to the Office of the
General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington,
DC 20555–0001, and it is requested that
copies be transmitted either by means of
facsimile transmission to (301) 415–
3725 or by e-mail to
OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov . A copy of the
request for hearing and petition for
leave to intervene should also be sent to
Mr. Bradley J. Fewell, Assistant General
Counsel, Exelon Generation Company,
LLC, 200 Exelon Way, Kennett Square,
PA 19348, attorney for the licensee. For
further details with respect to this
action, see (1) the application for
amendment dated March 13, 2006, as
supplemented by letters dated July 13
and August 4, 2006, and (2) the
Commission’s letter to the licensee
dated November 3, 2006.
Documents may be examined, and/or
copied for a fee, at the NRC’s Public
Document Room (PDR), located at One
White Flint North, Public File Area O1
F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor),
Rockville, Maryland, and will be
accessible electronically through the
Agencywide Documents Access and
Management System’s (ADAMS) Public
Electronic Reading Room link at the
NRC Web site https://www.nrc.gov/
reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who
do not have access to ADAMS or who
encounter problems in accessing
documents located in ADAMS should
contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by
telephone at 1–800–397–4209, (301)
415–4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day
of November 2006.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Catherine Haney,
Director, Division of Operating Reactor
Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. E6–19097 Filed 11–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 030–29319; License No. 42–
26838–01; EA–06–021]
In the Matter of H&G Inspection
Company, Inc., Houston, TX;
Confirmatory Order (Effective
Immediately)
I
H&G Inspection Company, Inc. (H&G),
is the holder of Materials License No.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 218 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66200-66201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9182]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Proposal Review, Notice of Meetings
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-
463, as amended), the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces its
intent to hold proposal review meetings throughout the year. The
purpose of these meetings is to provide advice and recommendations
concerning proposals submitted to the NSF for financial support. The
agenda for each of these meetings is to review and evaluate proposals
as part of the selection process for awards. The review and evaluation
may also include assessment of the progress of awarded proposals. The
majority of these meetings will take place at NSF, 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, Virginia 22230.
These meetings will be closed to the public. The proposals being
reviewed include information of a proprietary or confidential nature,
including technical information; financial data, such as salaries; and
personal information concerning individuals associated with the
proposals. These matters are exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), (4) and (6)
of the Government in the Sunshine Act. NSF will continue to review the
agenda and merits of each meeting for overall compliance of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act.
These closed proposal review meetings will not be announced on an
individual basis in the Federal Register. NSF intends to publish a
notice similar to this on a quarterly basis. For an advance listing of
the closed proposal review meetings that include the names of the
proposal review panel and the time, date, place, and any information on
changes, corrections, or
[[Page 66201]]
cancellations, please visit the NSF Web site: https://www.nsf.gov. This
information may also be requested by telephoning, 703/292-8182.
Dated: November 7, 2006.
Susanne Bolton,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-9182 Filed 11-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M