First FR notice, FY 2019 and FY 2021 Science and Engineering Research Facilities

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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 52 / Monday, March 18, 2019 / Notices

institutions reporting at least $1 million
in R&D expenditures, 8 hours for the
approximately 300 institutions reporting
less than $1 million, and 11 hours for
the 42 organizations completing the
FFRDC survey. The total calculated
burden across all forms is 37,962 hours.
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.
Dated: March 13, 2019.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2019–04980 Filed 3–15–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Comment Request; Survey
of Science and Engineering Research
Facilities
National Science Foundation.
Notice.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

SUMMARY: The National Science
Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans
to reinstate this collection. In
accordance with the requirements 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
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) clearance of this collection for no
longer than 3 years.
DATES: Written comments on this notice
must be received by May 17, 2019 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, Suite
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314;

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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).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Collection: Survey of Science
and Engineering Research Facilities.
OMB Control Number: 3145–0101.
Expiration Date of Current Approval:
August 31, 2018.
Type of Request: Intent to seek
approval to reinstate an information
collection for three years.
Abstract: Established within NSF by
the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 § 505,
codified in the NSF Act of 1950, as
amended, NCSES—one of 13 principal
federal statistical agencies—serves as a
central Federal clearinghouse for the
collection, interpretation, analysis, and
dissemination of objective data on
science, engineering, technology, and
research and development for use by
practitioners, researchers, policymakers,
and the public.
The Survey of Science and
Engineering Research Facilities is a
Congressionally mandated (Pub. L. 99–
159), biennial survey that has been
conducted since 1986. The survey
collects data on the amount, condition,
and costs of the physical facilities used
to conduct science and engineering
research. It was expected by Congress
that this survey would provide the data
necessary to describe the status and
needs of science and engineering
research facilities and to formulate
appropriate solutions to documented
needs. During the FY 2015 and FY 2017
survey cycles, data were collected from
a population of approximately 575
research-performing colleges. Data are
collected through a Web-based interface,
although institutions have the option of
printing and completing a PDF that can
be sent by mail.
Use of the Information: The proposed
project will continue the biennial
survey for two cycles: FY 2019 and FY
2021. The Survey of Science and
Engineering Research Facilities will
provide continuity of statistics on the
status of scientific and engineering
research facilities and capabilities.
Statistics on the square footage of R&D
space available, the condition of R&D
space, and the costs for new
construction, repairs, and renovation of
R&D space at higher education
institutions by S&E field are produced
from the survey. The sources of funding
for new construction and repair and

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renovation projects are also published.
The information can be used by Federal
policy makers, planners, and budget
analysts in making policy decisions, as
well as by institutional academic
officials, the scientific/engineering
establishment, and state agencies and
legislatures that fund universities.
Data are published in NCSES’s
biennial publication series Survey of
Science and Engineering Research
Facilities, available on the web at http://
www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvyfacilities/.
Expected Respondents: The Facilities
Survey is a census of institutions that
performed at least $1 million in
separately accounted for science and
engineering research and development
in the previous fiscal year.
In the most recent FY 2017 Facilities
Survey, a census of 575 academic
institutions was conducted. The
sampling frame used for the survey was
the FY 2016 Higher Education Research
and Development Survey conducted by
the National Center for Science and
Engineering Statistics.
Estimate of Burden: The Facilities
Survey will be sent to approximately
600 academic institutions for the FY
2019 and FY 2021 data collection
cycles. Response to this voluntary
survey is typically 97 percent each
cycle. The average burden estimate is 19
hours per academic institution based on
completion time estimates provided by
all survey participants in the FY 2013
survey. This would result in an
estimated burden of 11,400 hours per
cycle.
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.
Dated: March 13, 2019.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2019–04976 Filed 3–15–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P

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