Request for Comments on the Intent To Discontinue Part 2 of the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities on Computing and Networking Capacity, 35577 [2014-14589]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 120 / Monday, June 23, 2014 / Notices • When prompted, enter the following numeric pass code: 5907707348; • When connected to the call, please immediately ‘‘MUTE’’ your telephone. Members of the public are asked to keep their telephones muted to eliminate background noises. To avoid disrupting the meeting, please refrain from placing the call on hold if doing so will trigger recorded music or other sound. From time to time, the Chair may solicit comments from the public. STATUS OF MEETING: Open. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 1. Approval of agenda. 2. Discussion with Management regarding recommendation for LSC’s fiscal year 2016 budget request. 3. Public comment. 4. Consider and act on other business. 5. Consider and act on adjournment of meeting. CONTACT PERSON FOR INFORMATION: Katherine Ward, Executive Assistant to the Vice President & General Counsel, at (202) 295–1500. 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[FR Doc. 2014–14667 Filed 6–19–14; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 7050–01–P emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Request for Comments on the Intent To Discontinue Part 2 of the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities on Computing and Networking Capacity National Science Foundation. Request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:33 Jun 20, 2014 Jkt 232001 This notice announces the intent of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) to discontinue data collection for Part 2 of the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities (Facilities Survey) (OMB Clearance Number 3145–0101) on computing and networking capacity at academic institutions. This notice is in response to an effort by NCSES to assess the value of these data. DATES: Send your written comments by August 15, 2014. ADDRESSES: Send your written comments to Mr. John R. Gawalt, Director, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 965, Arlington, VA 22230. Send email comments to jgawalt@nsf.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John R. Gawalt, Director, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation at (703) 292–7776 or email at jgawalt@ nsf.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Data on the academic research infrastructure are collected biennially through the NSF’s congressionally mandated Facilities Survey. The survey originated in 1986 in response to Congress’s concern about the state of research facilities at the nation’s colleges and universities. Part 1 of the Facilities Survey collects data on the amount, condition, construction, repair, renovation, and funding of research facilities. This section, focusing largely on research space, will continue. Recognizing the growing use of networking and computing capacity (cyberinfrastructure) in conducting research, a new set of questions on these topics was added to the FY 2003 Facilities Survey and revised for the FY 2005, FY 2007, FY 2009, FY 2011 and FY 2013 surveys. NCSES has continually reviewed the Part 2 questionnaire in an attempt to stay current with the rapidly changing developments in academic R&D cyberinfrastructure. Despite these efforts, NCSES believes that the survey provides little utility to policymakers, researchers and other data users. Field experts and review panels have noted several critical shortcomings of Part 2 collections. Rapid advances in research cyberinfrastructure make identifying current and valuable metrics difficult. This challenge is compounded by the length of the data collection and publication cycle, which typically requires 16 months after the end of the relevant fiscal year. The continual need to update metrics combined with time SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35577 required for production and publication reduces the relevancy of the data. In addition, to facilitate data collection and ease survey response burden, respondents to the Facilities Survey are asked to report only on centrallyadministered cyberinfrastructure capacity. More than 20 of the top 100 academic research institutions (based on research expenditures) cannot report data on their high-performance computing because these resources are not centrally-administered. Another 15 or more institutions in the top 100 report exceptionally low totals for the same reason. Because so many of the top research universities are unable to adequately report their total computing and networking capacity, the utility of these data are severely undermined. These institution-specific differences limit the ability to present national totals and trends as well as the ability to compare many leading institutions. The NCSES is interested in all comments, especially from government policy makers, academic institution respondents, and academic researchers that specify concerns related to the discontinuation of Part 2 of the Facilities Survey. June 17, 2014. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2014–14589 Filed 6–20–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket ID NRC–2014–0147] AP1000 Standard Technical Specifications Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Generic technical specification travelers; request for comment. AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is soliciting public comment on its generic technical specification travelers (GTSTs) for the development of standard technical specifications (STS) for the AP1000 certified reactor design based on the AP1000 generic technical specifications (GTS). Each GTST documents the safety basis for proposed improvements to one or more GTS sections that will result in corresponding sections in the AP1000 STS, which will be the subject of a NUREG (similar to NUREG–1431, STS for Westinghouse Plants). The purpose of the GTSTs is to provide an orderly method of soliciting and processing SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 35577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14589]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Request for Comments on the Intent To Discontinue Part 2 of the 
Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities on Computing and 
Networking Capacity

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the intent of the National Center for 
Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) at the National Science 
Foundation (NSF) to discontinue data collection for Part 2 of the 
Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities (Facilities 
Survey) (OMB Clearance Number 3145-0101) on computing and networking 
capacity at academic institutions. This notice is in response to an 
effort by NCSES to assess the value of these data.

DATES: Send your written comments by August 15, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send your written comments to Mr. John R. Gawalt, Director, 
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 965, Arlington, VA 22230. 
Send email comments to jgawalt@nsf.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John R. Gawalt, Director, National 
Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science 
Foundation at (703) 292-7776 or email at jgawalt@nsf.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Data on the academic research infrastructure 
are collected biennially through the NSF's congressionally mandated 
Facilities Survey. The survey originated in 1986 in response to 
Congress's concern about the state of research facilities at the 
nation's colleges and universities. Part 1 of the Facilities Survey 
collects data on the amount, condition, construction, repair, 
renovation, and funding of research facilities. This section, focusing 
largely on research space, will continue. Recognizing the growing use 
of networking and computing capacity (cyberinfrastructure) in 
conducting research, a new set of questions on these topics was added 
to the FY 2003 Facilities Survey and revised for the FY 2005, FY 2007, 
FY 2009, FY 2011 and FY 2013 surveys.
    NCSES has continually reviewed the Part 2 questionnaire in an 
attempt to stay current with the rapidly changing developments in 
academic R&D cyberinfrastructure. Despite these efforts, NCSES believes 
that the survey provides little utility to policymakers, researchers 
and other data users. Field experts and review panels have noted 
several critical shortcomings of Part 2 collections. Rapid advances in 
research cyberinfrastructure make identifying current and valuable 
metrics difficult. This challenge is compounded by the length of the 
data collection and publication cycle, which typically requires 16 
months after the end of the relevant fiscal year. The continual need to 
update metrics combined with time required for production and 
publication reduces the relevancy of the data. In addition, to 
facilitate data collection and ease survey response burden, respondents 
to the Facilities Survey are asked to report only on centrally-
administered cyberinfrastructure capacity. More than 20 of the top 100 
academic research institutions (based on research expenditures) cannot 
report data on their high-performance computing because these resources 
are not centrally-administered. Another 15 or more institutions in the 
top 100 report exceptionally low totals for the same reason. Because so 
many of the top research universities are unable to adequately report 
their total computing and networking capacity, the utility of these 
data are severely undermined. These institution-specific differences 
limit the ability to present national totals and trends as well as the 
ability to compare many leading institutions.
    The NCSES is interested in all comments, especially from government 
policy makers, academic institution respondents, and academic 
researchers that specify concerns related to the discontinuation of 
Part 2 of the Facilities Survey.

    June 17, 2014.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2014-14589 Filed 6-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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