81 FR 91960 - Notice of Intent to Seek Approval To Establish an Information Collection

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 243 (December 19, 2016)

Page Range		91960-91960
FR Document		2016-30448

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this collection for no longer than three years.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 243 (Monday, December 19, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 243 (Monday, December 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 91960]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30448]



[[Page 91960]]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent to Seek Approval To Establish an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the 
requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing 
opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and 
considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting 
that OMB approve clearance of this collection for no longer than three 
years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by February 17, 
2017 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or 
send email to [email protected]. 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. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. You also may obtain a copy 
of the data collection instrument and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Comments: 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 on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for National 
User Facilities managed by the NSF Division of Materials Research.
    OMB Number: 3145-0234.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2017.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection.
    Overview of this Information Collection:
    The NSF Division of Materials Research (DMR) supports a number of 
National User Facilities that provide specialized capabilities and 
instrumentation to the scientific community on a competitive proposal 
basis. In addition to the user program, these facilities support in-
house research, development of new instrumentation or techniques, 
education, and knowledge transfer.
    The facilities integrate research and education for students and 
post-docs involved in experiments, and support extensive K-12 outreach 
to foster an interest in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics 
(STEM) and STEM careers. Facilities capitalize on diversity through 
participation in center activities and demonstrate leadership in the 
involvement of groups underrepresented in science and engineering.
    National User Facilities will be required to submit annual reports 
on progress and plans, which will be used as a basis for performance 
review and determining the level of continued funding. User facilities 
will be required to develop a set of management and performance 
indicators for submission annually to NSF via the Research Performance 
Project Reporting (RPPR) module in Research.gov. These indicators are 
both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, lists 
of successful proposal and users, the characteristics of facility 
personnel and students; sources of financial support and in-kind 
support; expenditures by operational component; research activities; 
education activities; knowledge transfer activities; patents, licenses; 
publications; degrees granted to students supported through the 
facility or users of the facility; descriptions of significant advances 
and other outcomes of this investment. Such reporting requirements are 
included in the cooperative agreement which is binding between the 
academic institution and the NSF.
    Each facility's annual report will address the following categories 
of activities: (1) Research, (2) education and training, (3) knowledge 
transfer, (4) partnerships, (5) diversity, (6) management, and (7) 
budget issues.
    For each of the categories the report will describe overall 
objectives and metrics for the reporting period, challenges or problems 
the facility has encountered in making progress towards goals, 
anticipated problems in the following year, and specific outputs and 
outcomes.
    Facilities are required to file a final report through the RPPR. 
Final reports contain similar information and metrics as annual 
reports, but are retrospective and focus on the period that was not 
addressed in previous annual reports.
    Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to continue 
funding of the DMR National User Facilities, and to evaluate the 
progress of the program.
    Estimate of Burden: 200 hours per facility for three National User 
Facilities for a total of 600 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One (1) from each of the 
DMR user facilities.

    Dated: December 14, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-30448 Filed 12-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

91960 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / Notices

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Type of Request: Intent to seek following year, and specific outputs and
approval to renew an information outcomes.
Notice of Intent to Seek Approval To collection. Facilities are required to file a final
Establish an Information Collection Overview of this Information report through the RPPR. Final reports
Collection: contain similar information and metrics
National Science Foundation.
AGENCY:
The NSF Division of Materials as annual reports, but are retrospective
Notice and Request for
ACTION: Research (DMR) supports a number of and focus on the period that was not
Comments. National User Facilities that provide addressed in previous annual reports.
SUMMARY: The National Science specialized capabilities and Use of the Information: NSF will use
Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans instrumentation to the scientific the information to continue funding of
to request clearance of this collection. In community on a competitive proposal the DMR National User Facilities, and to
accordance with the requirement of the basis. In addition to the user program, evaluate the progress of the program.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we these facilities support in-house Estimate of Burden: 200 hours per
are providing opportunity for public research, development of new facility for three National User Facilities
comment on this action. After obtaining instrumentation or techniques, for a total of 600 hours.
education, and knowledge transfer. Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
and considering public comment, NSF
The facilities integrate research and Estimated Number of Responses per
will prepare the submission requesting
education for students and post-docs Report: One (1) from each of the DMR
that OMB approve clearance of this involved in experiments, and support
collection for no longer than three years. user facilities.
extensive K–12 outreach to foster an
DATES: Written comments on this notice interest in Science Technology Dated: December 14, 2016.
must be received by February 17, 2017 Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Suzanne H. Plimpton,
to be assured of consideration. and STEM careers. Facilities capitalize Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Comments received after that date will on diversity through participation in Foundation.
be considered to the extent practicable. center activities and demonstrate [FR Doc. 2016–30448 Filed 12–16–16; 8:45 am]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: leadership in the involvement of groups BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
Contact Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports underrepresented in science and
Clearance Officer, National Science engineering.
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, National User Facilities will be NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Suite 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; required to submit annual reports on
telephone (703) 292–7556; or send email progress and plans, which will be used Notice of Intent To Seek Approval to
to splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who as a basis for performance review and Establish an Information Collection
use a telecommunications device for the determining the level of continued System
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal funding. User facilities will be required National Science Foundation.
AGENCY:
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– to develop a set of management and
performance indicators for submission Notice and request for
ACTION:
800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8
annually to NSF via the Research comments.
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through
Friday. You also may obtain a copy of Performance Project Reporting (RPPR) SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork
the data collection instrument and module in Research.gov. These Reduction Act of 1995, and as part of its
instructions from Ms. Plimpton. indicators are both quantitative and continuing effort to reduce paperwork
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: descriptive and may include, for and respondent burden, the National
Comments: Comments are invited on example, lists of successful proposal Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting
(a) whether the proposed collection of and users, the characteristics of facility the general public or other Federal
information is necessary for the proper personnel and students; sources of agencies to comment on this proposed
performance of the functions of the financial support and in-kind support; continuing information collection.
Agency, including whether the expenditures by operational component;
DATES: Written comments on this notice
information shall have practical utility; research activities; education activities;
must be received by February 17, 2017,
(b) the accuracy of the Agency’s knowledge transfer activities; patents,
to be assured consideration. Comments
estimate of the burden of the proposed licenses; publications; degrees granted
received after that date will be
collection of information; (c) ways to to students supported through the
considered to the extent practicable.
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity facility or users of the facility;
Send comments to address below.
of the information on respondents, descriptions of significant advances and
other outcomes of this investment. Such FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of reporting requirements are included in Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
information technology; and (d) ways to the cooperative agreement which is Officer, National Science Foundation,
minimize the burden of the collection of binding between the academic 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265,
information on those who are to institution and the NSF. Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone
respond, including through the use of Each facility’s annual report will (703) 292–7556; or send email to
appropriate automated, electronic, address the following categories of splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who use
mechanical, or other technological activities: (1) Research, (2) education a telecommunications device for the
collection techniques or other forms of and training, (3) knowledge transfer, (4) deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

information technology. partnerships, (5) diversity, (6)
Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting management, and (7) budget issues. 800–877–8339, which is accessible 24
Requirements for National User For each of the categories the report hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a
Facilities managed by the NSF Division will describe overall objectives and year (including federal holidays).
of Materials Research. metrics for the reporting period, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Number: 3145–0234. challenges or problems the facility has Comments: Pursuant to the Paperwork
Expiration Date of Approval: March encountered in making progress towards Reduction Act, Pub. L. 104–13 (44
31, 2017. goals, anticipated problems in the U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), comments are

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Document Created: 2016-12-17 03:15:37
Document Modified: 2016-12-17 03:15:37

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice and Request for Comments.
Dates		Written comments on this notice must be received by February 17, 2017 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
Contact		Contact Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send email to [email protected] 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. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. You also may obtain a copy of the data collection instrument and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.
FR Citation		81 FR 91960