[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65174-65175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31557]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
1999 Survey of Reference Materials
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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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 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.
II. Method of Collection
Forensic science (crime) laboratories will be asked to complete and
return a self-administered mail questionnaire.
III. 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).
IV. 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. 98-31557 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
