Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: November 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 227)]

[Notices]

[Page 65174-65175]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr25no98-51]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

1999 Survey of Reference Materials

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment of proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 25, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Alim A. Fatah, Ph.D., National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Building 225, Room A323, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

  1. Abstract

In 1999, the Department of Justice-supported by NIST's Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) will undertake a scientific study to determine the status, current need for, and use of standard reference materials (SRM) and standard reference collections (SRC) within the Nation's crime laboratories. The new study will build upon a 1977 study entitled ``Standard Reference Collections of Forensic Science Materials: Status and

[[Page 65175]]

Needs. Since the report was issued, a number of SRMs have been developed and new technologies have placed evidentiary material under the scrutiny of district attorneys, defense teams, and the general public. The nations crime laboratories will be survey by mail and asked to identify the reference materials needed by the different disciplines or organizational sections within the laboratory ie. trace analysis, firearms, DNA, latent fingerprints etc. In addition, crime laboratories will be asked about their current reference collections source of these collections.

  1. Method of Collection

    Forensic science (crime) laboratories will be asked to complete and return a self-administered mail questionnaire.

  2. Data

    OMB Number: None.

    Form Number: None.

    Type of Review: Regular submission.

    Affected Public: Federal, state forensic science laboratories.

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 330.

    Estimated Time Per Response: Approximately 2 hours.

    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital expenditures are required).

  3. Request for 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 (including hours and cost) 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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: November 20, 1998. Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

    [FR Doc. 98-31557Filed11-24-98; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3510-13-P

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