Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 91961-91962 [2016-30395]

Download as PDF sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / Notices invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation’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 those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation program OMB Number: 3145–0233. Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2017. Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information collection system. Abstract: Proposed Project: The Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program recommends, prioritizes, and funds interdisciplinary initiatives at the emerging frontier of engineering research and education. These investments represent transformative opportunities, potentially leading to: new research areas for NSF, ENG, and other agencies; new industries or capabilities that result in a leadership position for the country; and/or significant progress on a recognized national need or grand challenge. Established in 2007, EFRI supports cutting-edge research that is difficult to fund through other NSF programs, such as single-investigator grants or large research centers. EFRI seeks high-risk opportunities with the potential for a large payoff where researchers are encouraged to stretch beyond their ongoing activities. Based on input from workshops, advisory committees, technical meetings, professional societies, research proposals, and suggestions from the research community the EFRI program identifies those emerging opportunities and manages a formal process for funding their research. The emerging ideas tackled by EFRI are ‘‘frontier’’ because they not only push the understood limits of engineering but actually overlap multiple fields. The EFRI funding process inspires investigators with different expertise to work together on one emerging concept. EFRI awards require multidisciplinary teams of at least one Principal Investigator and two CoPrincipal Investigators. The anticipated VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:55 Dec 16, 2016 Jkt 241001 duration of all awards is 4-years. The anticipated funding level for each project team may receive support of up to a total of $2,000,000 spread over four years, pending the availability of funds. In that sense EFRI awards are above the average single-investigator award amounts. EFRI-funded projects could include research opportunities and mentoring for educators, scholars, and university students, as well as outreach programs that help stir the imagination of K–12 students, often with a focus on groups underrepresented in science and engineering. We are seeking to collect additional information from the grantees about the outcomes of their research that goes above and beyond the standard reporting requirements used by the NSF and spans over a period of 5 years after the award. This data collection effort will enable program officers to longitudinally monitor outputs and outcomes given the unique goals and purpose of the program. This is very important to enable appropriate and accurate evidence-based management of the program and to determine whether or not the specific goals of the program are being met. Grantees will be required to submit this information on an annual basis to support performance review and the management of EFRI grants by EFRI officers. EFRI grantees will be required to submit these indicators to NSF via a data collection Web site that will be embedded in NSF’s IT infrastructure. These indicators are both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, the characteristics of project personnel and students; sources of complementary cash and in-kind support to the EFRI project; characteristics of industrial and/or other sector participation; research activities; education activities; knowledge transfer activities; patents, licenses; publications; descriptions of significant advances and other outcomes of the EFRI effort. Such reporting requirements will be included in the cooperative agreement which is binding between the academic institution and the NSF. Each submission will address the following major categories of activities: (1) Knowledge transfer across disciplines, (2) innovation of ideas in areas of greater opportunity, (3) potential for translational research, (4) project results advance the frontier/ creation of new fields of study, (5) innovative research methods or discoveries are introduced to the classroom, and (6) fostering participation of underrepresented groups in science. For each of the PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 91961 categories, the report will enumerate specific outputs and outcomes. Use of the Information: The data collected will be used for NSF internal reports, historical data, and performance review by peer site visit teams, program level studies and evaluations, and for securing future funding for continued EFRI program maintenance and growth. Estimate of Burden: Approximately 10 hours per grant for approximately 80 grants per year for a total of 800 hours per year. Respondents: Principal Investigators who lead the EFRI grants. Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One report collected for each of the approximately 80 grantees every year. Dated: December 14, 2016. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2016–30447 Filed 12–16–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request National Science Foundation. Submission for OMB review; comment request. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the following information collection requirement to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 49689, and one comment was received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. The full submission may be found at: https:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Comments: Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the NSF’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, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 91962 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / Notices use of appropriate automated or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725 7th Street NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send email to splimpto@nsf.gov. DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703–292–7556. NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments: As required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), comments on the information collection activities as part of this study were solicited through publication of a 60-Day Notice in the Federal Register on July 28, 2016, at 81 FR 49689. We received one comment, to which we here respond. Commenter: The comment requested NSF consider the use of administrative records, specifically the National Student Clearinghouse, to obtain information on education background in lieu of asking this information from respondents on the National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG). Response: NSF informed the commenter that, at the request of NSF, the Census Bureau’s Center for Administrative Records Research and Application is conducting research to compare administrative records data with the NSCG respondent-provided data. This research will inform survey content discussions for future NSCG cycles and will provide insight on the necessity of certain NSCG questionnaire items including the education background items. After consideration of this comment, we are moving forward with our submission to OMB. Title of Collection: 2015 National Survey of College Graduates. OMB Approval Number: 3145–0141. Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information collection for three years. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:55 Dec 16, 2016 Jkt 241001 Abstract: The National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) has been conducted biennially since the 1970s. The 2017 NSCG sample will be selected from the 2015 American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2015 NSCG. By selecting sample from these two sources, the 2017 NSCG will provide coverage of the college graduate population residing in the United States. The purpose of this longitudinal survey is to collect data that will be used to provide national estimates on the science and engineering workforce and changes in their employment, education, and demographic characteristics. The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently amended, includes a statutory charge to ‘‘. . . provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal Government.’’ The NSCG is designed to comply with these mandates by providing information on the supply and utilization of the nation’s scientists and engineers. The U.S. Census Bureau, as in the past, will conduct the NSCG for NSF. The survey data collection will begin in March 2017 using web and mail questionnaires. Nonrespondents to the web or mail questionnaire will be followed up by computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The individual’s response to the survey is voluntary. The survey will be conducted in conformance with Census Bureau statistical quality standards and, as such, the NSCG data will be afforded protection under the applicable Census Bureau confidentiality statues. Use of the Information: NSF uses the information from the NSCG to prepare congressionally mandated reports such as Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and Science and Engineering Indicators. A public release file of collected data, designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will be made available to researchers on the Internet. Expected Respondents: A statistical sample of approximately 123,500 persons will be contacted in 2017. This 123,500 sample is a 5,500 case increase over the sample size listed in the first notice for public comment in the Federal Register at 81 FR 49689. The larger sample size is needed to account for the increased size of the collegeeducated population as well as lower response rates in recent years. NSF estimates the 2017 NSCG response rate to be 70 to 80 percent. PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Estimate of Burden: The amount of time to complete the questionnaire may vary depending on an individual’s circumstances; however, on average it will take approximately 30 minutes to complete the survey. NSF estimates that the total annual burden will be no more than 49,400 hours (=123,500 respondents × 80% response × 30 minutes) during the 2017 survey cycle. Dated: December 9, 2016. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2016–30395 Filed 12–16–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. CP2014–85; CP2017–70; MC2017–45 and CP2017–71; MC2017–46 and CP2017–72; MC2017–47 and CP2017– 73; MC2017–48 and CP2017–74] New Postal Products Postal Regulatory Commission. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Commission is noticing recent Postal Service filings for the Commission’s consideration concerning negotiated service agreements. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps. DATES: Comments are due: December 21, 2016 (Comment due date applies to Docket No. CP2014–85; Docket No. CP2017–70; Docket Nos. MC2017–45 and CP2017–71; Docket Nos. MC2017– 46 and CP2017–72); and December 22, 2016 (Comment due date applies to Docket Nos. MC2017–47 and CP2017– 73; Docket Nos. MC2017–48 and CP2017–74). ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission’s Filing Online system at https:// www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing alternatives. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202–789–6820. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Docketed Proceeding(s) I. Introduction The Commission gives notice that the Postal Service filed request(s) for the Commission to consider matters related E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 243 (Monday, December 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91961-91962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30395]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register at 81 FR 49689, and one comment was received. NSF is 
forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of 
this second notice. The full submission may be found at: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Comments: Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the NSF'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, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the

[[Page 91962]]

use of appropriate automated or other forms of information technology 
should be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of 
OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725 7th 
Street NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. 
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send email 
to splimpto@nsf.gov.

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-
292-7556. NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Comments: As required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), comments on the 
information collection activities as part of this study were solicited 
through publication of a 60-Day Notice in the Federal Register on July 
28, 2016, at 81 FR 49689. We received one comment, to which we here 
respond.
    Commenter: The comment requested NSF consider the use of 
administrative records, specifically the National Student 
Clearinghouse, to obtain information on education background in lieu of 
asking this information from respondents on the National Survey of 
College Graduates (NSCG).
    Response: NSF informed the commenter that, at the request of NSF, 
the Census Bureau's Center for Administrative Records Research and 
Application is conducting research to compare administrative records 
data with the NSCG respondent-provided data. This research will inform 
survey content discussions for future NSCG cycles and will provide 
insight on the necessity of certain NSCG questionnaire items including 
the education background items.
    After consideration of this comment, we are moving forward with our 
submission to OMB.
    Title of Collection: 2015 National Survey of College Graduates.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0141.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection for three years.
    Abstract: The National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) has been 
conducted biennially since the 1970s. The 2017 NSCG sample will be 
selected from the 2015 American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2015 
NSCG. By selecting sample from these two sources, the 2017 NSCG will 
provide coverage of the college graduate population residing in the 
United States. The purpose of this longitudinal survey is to collect 
data that will be used to provide national estimates on the science and 
engineering workforce and changes in their employment, education, and 
demographic characteristics.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to ``. . . provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The NSCG is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the supply and utilization of the nation's 
scientists and engineers.
    The U.S. Census Bureau, as in the past, will conduct the NSCG for 
NSF. The survey data collection will begin in March 2017 using web and 
mail questionnaires. Nonrespondents to the web or mail questionnaire 
will be followed up by computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The 
individual's response to the survey is voluntary. The survey will be 
conducted in conformance with Census Bureau statistical quality 
standards and, as such, the NSCG data will be afforded protection under 
the applicable Census Bureau confidentiality statues.
    Use of the Information: NSF uses the information from the NSCG to 
prepare congressionally mandated reports such as Women, Minorities and 
Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and Science and 
Engineering Indicators. A public release file of collected data, 
designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will be made available 
to researchers on the Internet.
    Expected Respondents: A statistical sample of approximately 123,500 
persons will be contacted in 2017. This 123,500 sample is a 5,500 case 
increase over the sample size listed in the first notice for public 
comment in the Federal Register at 81 FR 49689. The larger sample size 
is needed to account for the increased size of the college-educated 
population as well as lower response rates in recent years. NSF 
estimates the 2017 NSCG response rate to be 70 to 80 percent.
    Estimate of Burden: The amount of time to complete the 
questionnaire may vary depending on an individual's circumstances; 
however, on average it will take approximately 30 minutes to complete 
the survey. NSF estimates that the total annual burden will be no more 
than 49,400 hours (=123,500 respondents x 80% response x 30 minutes) 
during the 2017 survey cycle.

    Dated: December 9, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-30395 Filed 12-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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