Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; “Pro Bono Survey”, 23328-23329 [2020-08893]

Download as PDF 23328 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 81 / Monday, April 27, 2020 / Notices first come, first serve basis. To join the conference, submit inquiries to Ms. Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@ bis.doc.gov no later than May 6, 2020. A limited number of seats will be available during the public session of the meeting. Reservations are not accepted. To the extent time permits, members of the public may present oral statements to the Committee. The public may submit written statements at any time before or after the meeting. However, to facilitate distribution of public presentation materials to Committee members, the Committee suggests that presenters forward the public presentation materials prior to the meeting to Ms. Springer via email. For more information, call Yvette Springer at (202) 482–2813. Yvette Springer, Committee Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–08835 Filed 4–24–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–JT–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Consistency Appeal by WesternGeco of South Carolina Objection National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice—closure of administrative appeal decision record. AGENCY: This announcement provides notice that the decision record has closed for an administrative appeal filed by WesternGeco (Appellant) under the Coastal Zone Management Act requesting that the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) override an objection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean. DATES: The decision record for WesternGeco’s Federal Consistency Appeal of South Carolina’s objection closed on April 27, 2020. ADDRESSES: NOAA has provided access to publicly available materials and related documents comprising the appeal record on the following website: https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-HQ-2019-0118. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this Notice, contact lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Apr 24, 2020 Jkt 250001 Jonelle Dilley, NOAA Office of General Counsel, Oceans and Coasts Section, 1305 East-West Highway, Room 6111, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 713– 7383, jonelle.dilley@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 20, 2019, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) received a ‘‘Notice of Appeal’’ filed by WesternGeco pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq., and implementing regulations found at 15 CFR part 930, subpart H. The ‘‘Notice of Appeal’’ is taken from an objection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean. This matter constitutes an appeal of an ‘‘energy project’’ within the meaning of the CZMA regulations, see 15 CFR 930.123(c). Under the CZMA, the Secretary may override South Carolina’s objection on grounds that the project is consistent with the objectives or purposes of the CZMA, or is necessary in the interest of national security. To make the determination that the proposed activity is ‘‘consistent with the objectives or purposes of the CZMA,’’ the Department must find that: (1) The proposed activity furthers the national interest as articulated in sections 302 or 303 of the CZMA, in a significant or substantial manner; (2) the national interest furthered by the proposed activity outweighs the activity’s adverse coastal effects, when those effects are considered separately or cumulatively; and (3) no reasonable alternative is available that would permit the proposed activity to be conducted in a manner consistent with the enforceable policies of the applicable coastal management program. 15 CFR 930.121. To make the determination that the proposed activity is ‘‘necessary in the interest of national security,’’ the Secretary must find that a national defense or other national security interest would be significantly impaired if the proposed activity is not permitted to go forward as proposed. 15 CFR 930.122. The Secretary must close the decision record in a federal consistency appeal 160 days after the Notice of Appeal is published in the Federal Register. 15 CFR 930.130(a)(1). However, the CZMA authorizes the Secretary to stay closing the decision record for up to 60 days when the Secretary determines it necessary to receive, on an expedited basis, any supplemental information specifically requested by the Secretary PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 to complete a consistency review or any clarifying information submitted by a party to the proceeding related to information in the consolidated record compiled by the lead Federal permitting agency. 15 CFR 930.130(a)(2) and (3). In order to solicit supplemental and clarifying information from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management pertaining to the withholding of certain information as proprietary, the Secretary stayed the closure of the decision record on two occasions for a total of 28 days. 85 FR 17538 (March 30, 2020); 85 FR 20475 (April 13, 2020). Consistent with the above schedule, the decision record for WesternGeco’s Federal consistency appeal of South Carolina’s objection closed on April 27, 2020. No further information or briefs will be considered in deciding this appeal. Public Availability of Appeal Documents NOAA has provided access to publicly available materials and related documents comprising the appeal record on the following website: https:// www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-HQ-2019-0118. (Authority: 15 CFR 930.130(a)(2), (3)) Adam Dilts, Chief, Oceans and Coasts Section, NOAA Office of General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2020–08849 Filed 4–24–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; ‘‘Pro Bono Survey’’ The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for a collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce. Title: Pro Bono Survey. OMB Control Number: 0651–0082. Form Number(s): • Pro Bono Survey, PTO Form 450. • Client Intake Form, PTO Form 451. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information collection. Number of Respondents: 1,048 respondents. The USPTO estimates that 22 regional hub administrators will report metrics once per quarter. The reminder of the 1,026 estimated E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM 27APN1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 81 / Monday, April 27, 2020 / Notices respondents will be completed by applicants to the Pro Bono regional programs. Average Hours per Response: The USPTO estimates that it takes the regional hub administrators approximately 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete the pro bono survey, including time needed to gather the necessary information, enter it into the information collection instrument, and submit it. The USPTO estimates that it will take approximately 1 minute for applicants to complete the Client Intake Form. Burden Hours: 193 hours. Hourly Cost Burden: $13,676. Annual (non-hour) Cost: $0. Needs and Uses: The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), Public Law 112–29 § 32 (2011) directs the USPTO to work with and support intellectual property law associations across the country in the establishment of pro bono programs (also referred to as ‘‘hubs’’) designed to assist financially under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses. To support this, the USPTO has worked with and supported various non-profit organizations to establish a series of autonomous regional hubs that endeavor to match low-income inventors with volunteer patent practitioners across the United States. The regional hubs comprise law school intellectual property clinics, bar associations, innovation/entrepreneurial organizations, and arts-focused lawyer referral services that are strategically located to provide access to patent pro bono services across all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act (SUCCESS Act), Public Law 115–273 (2018) directs the agency to provide recommendations on how to increase the number of women, minorities, and veterans who apply for and obtain patents. To support the purposes described above, the Pro Bono Survey will continue to collect information regarding the activity of the regional hubs. The USPTO has worked with the Pro Bono Advisory Council (PBAC) to determine what information is necessary to determine the effectiveness of each regional pro bono hub’s operations. The PBAC is a wellestablished group of patent practitioners and thought leaders in intellectual property who have committed to provide support and guidance to patent pro bono hubs across the country. The data previously gathered, and which continues to be gathered, provides the USPTO with valuable information, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Apr 24, 2020 Jkt 250001 including the number of inventor inquiries, referral sources, number of pro bono applicants successfully matched with patent practitioners, and types of patent filings. The USPTO, PBAC, and the regional hubs, are responsible for the quarterly collection of this information. The information, at its highest level, will allow the PBAC and the USPTO to determine whether the regional hubs are matching qualified low-income inventors with volunteer patent practitioners and help estimate the total economic benefit derived by low-income inventors in the form of donated legal services. This information also helps the USPTO determine which regional hubs are effectively serving low-income inventors and which hubs need additional support. The USPTO is proposing to revise the existing information collection to gather additional information regarding gender, ethnicity, race, and veteran status. Each regional hub will be voluntarily requesting demographic information from those seeking assistance that will be self-identified by the applicant. This requested standardized demographic information will be a voluntary part of the overall application materials that each independent inventor fills out when seeking pro bono assistance. This voluntary information will be kept confidential by the regional hubs and only aggregate information is shared with the USPTO. This aggregate information will also be used to help determine the extent to which women, minorities, and veterans engage the Patent Pro Bono Program. Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; individuals and households. Frequency: The Pro Bono Survey is completed quarterly; the Client Intake Form is completed on occasion. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits. Once submitted, the request will be publically available in electronic format through reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of Commerce information collections currently under review by OMB. Further information can be obtained by: • Email: InformationCollection@ uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0082 information request’’ in the subject line of the message. • Mail: Kimberly Hardy, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313– 1450. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 23329 information collection should be sent on or before May 27, 2020 to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function to view Department of Commerce information collections currently under review by OMB. Kimberly Hardy, Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2020–08893 Filed 4–24–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTO–C–2020–0017] National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Evaluation Committee Charter Renewal United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Chief Financial Officer/ Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Administration, with the concurrence of the General Services Administration, renewed the Charter for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Evaluation Committee on February 12, 2020. DATES: The Charter for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Evaluation Committee was renewed on February 12, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Palafoutas, Program Manager, National Medal of Technology and Innovation Program, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone (571) 272–9821 or by electronic mail at nmti@ uspto.gov. Information is also available at https://www.uspto.gov/about/nmti/ index.jsp. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chief Financial Officer/Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Administration, with the concurrence of the General Services Administration, renewed the Charter for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Evaluation Committee (NMTI Committee) on February 12, 2020. The NMTI Committee was established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and provides advice to the Secretary of Commerce regarding recommendations of nominees for the National Medal of Technology and SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM 27APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 81 (Monday, April 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23328-23329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08893]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; ``Pro Bono Survey''

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will submit 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the 
following proposal for a collection of information under the provisions 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of 
Commerce.
    Title: Pro Bono Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0651-0082.
    Form Number(s):
     Pro Bono Survey, PTO Form 450.
     Client Intake Form, PTO Form 451.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 1,048 respondents. The USPTO estimates that 
22 regional hub administrators will report metrics once per quarter. 
The reminder of the 1,026 estimated

[[Page 23329]]

respondents will be completed by applicants to the Pro Bono regional 
programs.
    Average Hours per Response: The USPTO estimates that it takes the 
regional hub administrators approximately 120 minutes (2 hours) to 
complete the pro bono survey, including time needed to gather the 
necessary information, enter it into the information collection 
instrument, and submit it. The USPTO estimates that it will take 
approximately 1 minute for applicants to complete the Client Intake 
Form.
    Burden Hours: 193 hours.
    Hourly Cost Burden: $13,676.
    Annual (non-hour) Cost: $0.
    Needs and Uses: The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), Public 
Law 112-29 Sec.  32 (2011) directs the USPTO to work with and support 
intellectual property law associations across the country in the 
establishment of pro bono programs (also referred to as ``hubs'') 
designed to assist financially under-resourced independent inventors 
and small businesses. To support this, the USPTO has worked with and 
supported various non-profit organizations to establish a series of 
autonomous regional hubs that endeavor to match low-income inventors 
with volunteer patent practitioners across the United States. The 
regional hubs comprise law school intellectual property clinics, bar 
associations, innovation/entrepreneurial organizations, and arts-
focused lawyer referral services that are strategically located to 
provide access to patent pro bono services across all fifty states and 
the District of Columbia. Additionally, the Study of Underrepresented 
Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act (SUCCESS Act), 
Public Law 115-273 (2018) directs the agency to provide recommendations 
on how to increase the number of women, minorities, and veterans who 
apply for and obtain patents.
    To support the purposes described above, the Pro Bono Survey will 
continue to collect information regarding the activity of the regional 
hubs. The USPTO has worked with the Pro Bono Advisory Council (PBAC) to 
determine what information is necessary to determine the effectiveness 
of each regional pro bono hub's operations. The PBAC is a well-
established group of patent practitioners and thought leaders in 
intellectual property who have committed to provide support and 
guidance to patent pro bono hubs across the country. The data 
previously gathered, and which continues to be gathered, provides the 
USPTO with valuable information, including the number of inventor 
inquiries, referral sources, number of pro bono applicants successfully 
matched with patent practitioners, and types of patent filings. The 
USPTO, PBAC, and the regional hubs, are responsible for the quarterly 
collection of this information. The information, at its highest level, 
will allow the PBAC and the USPTO to determine whether the regional 
hubs are matching qualified low-income inventors with volunteer patent 
practitioners and help estimate the total economic benefit derived by 
low-income inventors in the form of donated legal services. This 
information also helps the USPTO determine which regional hubs are 
effectively serving low-income inventors and which hubs need additional 
support.
    The USPTO is proposing to revise the existing information 
collection to gather additional information regarding gender, 
ethnicity, race, and veteran status. Each regional hub will be 
voluntarily requesting demographic information from those seeking 
assistance that will be self-identified by the applicant. This 
requested standardized demographic information will be a voluntary part 
of the overall application materials that each independent inventor 
fills out when seeking pro bono assistance. This voluntary information 
will be kept confidential by the regional hubs and only aggregate 
information is shared with the USPTO. This aggregate information will 
also be used to help determine the extent to which women, minorities, 
and veterans engage the Patent Pro Bono Program.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; individuals and 
households.
    Frequency: The Pro Bono Survey is completed quarterly; the Client 
Intake Form is completed on occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Once submitted, the request will be publically available in 
electronic format through reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view 
the Department of Commerce information collections currently under 
review by OMB.
    Further information can be obtained by:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0082 information request'' in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Kimberly Hardy, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent on or before May 27, 2020 to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by 
selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' 
or by using the search function to view Department of Commerce 
information collections currently under review by OMB.

Kimberly Hardy,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2020-08893 Filed 4-24-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
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