2010-28086. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Office of Education Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 January 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Priti Brahma, 301-713-9437 or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The proposed information collection is a reinstatement of a previous collection, with revisions in the requirements: a pre- and post-evaluation by participants, and a new application form.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Education (OEd) collects, evaluates and assesses student data and information for the purpose of selecting successful scholarship candidates, generating internal NOAA reports and articles to demonstrate the success of its program. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is available to graduate students pursuing masters and doctoral degrees in the areas of marine biology, oceanography and maritime archaeology. The OEd requires applicants to the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program to complete an application and to supply references (e.g., from academic professors and advisors) in support of the scholarship application. Scholarship recipients are required to conduct a pre- and post-evaluation of their studies through the scholarship program to gather information about the level of knowledge, skills and behavioral changes that take place with the students before and after their program participation. The evaluation results support NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries program performance measures. Scholarship recipients are also required to submit an annual progress report, a biographical sketch, and a photograph.

II. Method of Collection

All forms are electronic, and the primary methods of submittal are e-mail and Internet transmission. Approximately 1% of the application and reference forms may be mailed.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0432.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (reinstatement with change of a previously approved information collection).

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 621.

Estimated Time per Response: Dr. Nancy Foster application form: 8 hours; Letter of Recommendation: 45 minutes; Bio/Photograph Submission: 1 hour; Annual Report: 1 hour, 30 minutes; and Evaluation: 15 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,919.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $4,000.

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 2, 2010.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.