Departmental Offices; Submission for OMB Review, Comment Request

The Department of the Treasury, on behalf of itself and the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on a new proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The BEP has requested and received approval for a generic clearance to conduct conference studies and focus groups. This generic clearance has allowed the BEP to collect information from attendees of conferences and gatherings for persons who are blind and visually impaired about which tactile features most effectively provide meaningful access to denominate United States paper currency. BEP is now considering a series of scientific studies that will help gauge the acuity with which blind and visually impaired persons can denominate United States paper currency using various tactile features currently being evaluated. BEP has previously conducted an approved acuity study under OMB control number 1520-0010. Given the results of the first study and the information collected pursuant to the generic clearance, BEP now requests a second stand-alone clearance for a series of more focused scientific studies.