83 FR 16905 - Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Renew an Information Collection

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 74 (April 17, 2018)

Page Range		16905-16905
FR Document		2018-07983

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general public or other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed continuing information collection. NSF will publish periodic summaries of the proposed projects.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 16905]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07983]



[[Page 16905]]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Renew an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general public or 
other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed continuing 
information collection. NSF will publish periodic summaries of the 
proposed projects.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by June 18, 
2018, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send email to 
splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 
days a year (including federal holidays).

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 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 
Engineering Research Centers (ERCs).
    OMB Number: 3145-0220.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2018.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection.

Abstract

    Proposed Project: The Engineering Research Centers (ERC) program 
supports an integrated, interdisciplinary research environment to 
advance fundamental engineering knowledge and engineered systems; 
educate a globally competitive and diverse engineering workforce from 
K-12 on; and join academe and industry in partnership to achieve these 
goals. ERCs conduct world-class research through partnerships of 
academic institutions, national laboratories, industrial organizations, 
and/or other public/private entities. New knowledge thus created is 
meaningfully linked to society.
    ERCs conduct world-class research with an engineered systems 
perspective that integrates materials, devices, processes, components, 
control algorithms and/or other enabling elements to perform a well-
defined function. These systems provide a unique academic research and 
education experience that involves integrative complexity and 
technological realization. The complexity of the systems perspective 
includes the factors associated with its use in industry, society/
environment, or the human body.
    ERCs enable and foster excellent education, integrate research and 
education, speed knowledge/technology transfer through partnerships 
between academe and industry, and prepare a more competitive future 
workforce. ERCs capitalize on diversity through participation in center 
activities and demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups 
underrepresented in science and engineering.
    Centers are 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. To support this review and 
the management of a Center, ERCs also are required to submit management 
and performance indicators annually to NSF via a data collection 
website that is managed by a technical assistance contractor. These 
indicators are both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for 
example, the characteristics of center personnel and students; sources 
of cash and in-kind support; expenditures by operational component; 
characteristics of industrial and/or other sector participation; 
research activities; education activities; knowledge transfer 
activities; patents, licenses; publications; degrees granted to 
students involved in Center activities; descriptions of significant 
advances and other outcomes of the ERC effort. Such reporting 
requirements will be included in the cooperative agreement which is 
binding between the academic institution and the NSF.
    Each Center's annual report will address the following categories 
of activities: (1) Vision and impact, (2) strategic plan, (3) research 
program, (4) innovation ecosystem and industrial collaboration, (5) 
education, (6) infrastructure (leadership, management, facilities, 
diversity) and (7) budget issues.
    For each of the categories the report will describe overall 
objectives for the year, progress toward center goals, problems the 
Center has encountered in making progress towards goals and how they 
were overcome, plans for the future and anticipated research and other 
barriers to overcome in the following year, and specific outputs and 
outcomes.
    Use of the Information: The data collected will be used for NSF 
internal reports, historical data, performance review by peer site 
visit teams, program level studies and evaluations, and for securing 
future funding for continued ERC program maintenance and growth.
    Estimate of Burden: 150 hours per center for 17 centers for a total 
of 2,550 hours.
    Respondents: Academic institutions.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 17 
ERCs.

    Dated: April 12, 2018.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-07983 Filed 4-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 74 / Tuesday, April 17, 2018 / Notices 16905

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION supports an integrated, interdisciplinary binding between the academic
research environment to advance institution and the NSF.
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To fundamental engineering knowledge Each Center’s annual report will
Renew an Information Collection and engineered systems; educate a address the following categories of
globally competitive and diverse activities: (1) Vision and impact, (2)
National Science Foundation.
AGENCY:
engineering workforce from K–12 on; strategic plan, (3) research program, (4)
Notice and request for
ACTION: and join academe and industry in innovation ecosystem and industrial
comments. partnership to achieve these goals. ERCs collaboration, (5) education, (6)
SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork conduct world-class research through infrastructure (leadership, management,
Reduction Act of 1995, and as part of its partnerships of academic institutions, facilities, diversity) and (7) budget
continuing effort to reduce paperwork national laboratories, industrial issues.
and respondent burden, the National organizations, and/or other public/ For each of the categories the report
Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting private entities. New knowledge thus will describe overall objectives for the
the general public or other Federal created is meaningfully linked to year, progress toward center goals,
agencies to comment on this proposed society. problems the Center has encountered in
ERCs conduct world-class research making progress towards goals and how
continuing information collection. NSF
with an engineered systems perspective they were overcome, plans for the future
will publish periodic summaries of the
that integrates materials, devices, and anticipated research and other
proposed projects.
processes, components, control barriers to overcome in the following
DATES: Written comments on this notice algorithms and/or other enabling year, and specific outputs and
must be received by June 18, 2018, to be elements to perform a well-defined outcomes.
assured consideration. Comments function. These systems provide a Use of the Information: The data
received after that date will be unique academic research and collected will be used for NSF internal
considered to the extent practicable. education experience that involves reports, historical data, performance
Send comments to address below. integrative complexity and review by peer site visit teams, program
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: technological realization. The level studies and evaluations, and for
Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance complexity of the systems perspective securing future funding for continued
Officer, National Science Foundation, includes the factors associated with its ERC program maintenance and growth.
2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, use in industry, society/environment, or Estimate of Burden: 150 hours per
Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292– the human body. center for 17 centers for a total of 2,550
7556; or send email to splimpto@ ERCs enable and foster excellent hours.
nsf.gov. Individuals who use a education, integrate research and Respondents: Academic institutions.
telecommunications device for the deaf education, speed knowledge/technology Estimated Number of Responses per
(TDD) may call the Federal Information transfer through partnerships between Report: One from each of the 17 ERCs.
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– academe and industry, and prepare a Dated: April 12, 2018.
8339, which is accessible 24 hours a more competitive future workforce. Suzanne H. Plimpton,
day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year ERCs capitalize on diversity through
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
(including federal holidays). participation in center activities and Foundation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: demonstrate leadership in the
[FR Doc. 2018–07983 Filed 4–16–18; 8:45 am]
Comments: Comments are invited on: involvement of groups
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
(a) Whether the proposed collection of underrepresented in science and
information is necessary for the proper engineering.
performance of the functions of the Centers are required to submit annual
Foundation, including whether the reports on progress and plans, which NUCLEAR REGULATORY
information will have practical utility; will be used as a basis for performance COMMISSION
(b) the accuracy of the Foundation’s review and determining the level of
continued funding. To support this Advisory Committee on Reactor
estimate of the burden of the proposed Safeguards (ACRS); Meeting of the
collection of information; (c) ways to review and the management of a Center,
ERCs also are required to submit ACRS Subcommittee on Reliability and
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity Probabilistic Risk Assessment; Notice
of the information to be collected; and management and performance
indicators annually to NSF via a data of Meeting
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who collection website that is managed by a The ACRS Subcommittee on
are to respond, including through the technical assistance contractor. These Reliability and Probabilistic Risk
use of automated collection techniques indicators are both quantitative and Assessment will hold a meeting on May
or other forms of information descriptive and may include, for 2, 2018 at 11545 Rockville Pike, Room
technology. example, the characteristics of center T–2B1, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting personnel and students; sources of cash The meeting will be open to public
Requirements for the Engineering and in-kind support; expenditures by attendance with the exception of
Research Centers (ERCs). operational component; characteristics portions that will be closed to protect
OMB Number: 3145–0220. of industrial and/or other sector information that is proprietary pursuant
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, participation; research activities; to 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4). The agenda for
2018. education activities; knowledge transfer the subject meeting shall be as follows:
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Type of Request: Intent to seek activities; patents, licenses;
publications; degrees granted to Wednesday, May 2, 2018—8:30 a.m.
approval to renew an information
students involved in Center activities; Until 5:00 p.m.
collection.
descriptions of significant advances and The Subcommittee will hear
Abstract other outcomes of the ERC effort. Such presentations by and hold discussions
Proposed Project: The Engineering reporting requirements will be included with the NRC staff and other interested
Research Centers (ERC) program in the cooperative agreement which is persons on the progress of the Level 3

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Document Created: 2018-04-17 02:52:06
Document Modified: 2018-04-17 02:52:06

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 June 18, 2018, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date
Contact		Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; 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, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including federal holidays).
FR Citation		83 FR 16905