Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of the Need for the Improvement of Infrared Reflectance Measurements and Standards

Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 5 (Monday, January 9, 2012)

Federal Register Volume 77, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2012)

Notices

Pages 1060-1061

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2012-115

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of the Need for the Improvement of Infrared Reflectance Measurements and Standards

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 9, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at jjessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Leonard Hanssen (Tel. (301) 975-2344, email: hanssen@nist.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Abstract

   This is a request for a new information collection.

   The Sensor Science Division (SSD) of the Physical Measurement Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is responsible for providing standards for the characterization of the optical properties of materials for the United States. This serves the needs of a wide range of industries as well as government and academic laboratories. An increasingly important part of the optical spectrum is the infrared spectral range from 1 microm to 20 microm. Over the past two decades, the SSD has been working to establish physical standards, measurement methods and measurement services in the infrared. As part of this ongoing effort, and in response to many inquiries and requests in recent years, NIST plans to survey members of the infrared optical properties measurement community. The purpose of the survey is to assess their needs for standard reference materials, calibration services, workshops, courses, and other means for improvement of the quality of their measurement data and traceability to national standards.

2. Method of Collection

   The survey will be will be sent as an email attachment to the participants; and the completed survey will be returned to NIST via email.

3. Data

   OMB Control Number: None.

   Form Number: None.

   Type of Review: Regular submission (new information collection).

   Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; not-

   for-profit institutions.

   Estimated Number of Respondents: 120.

   Page 1061

   Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.

   Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 60.

   Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

4. 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: January 4, 2012.

   Gwellnar Banks,

   Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

   FR Doc. 2012-115 Filed 1-6-12; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 3510-13-P