Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; SURF Program Student Applicant Information

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3504(c)(2)(A)).

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before January 28, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Terrell Vanderah, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8520, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, tel. (301) 975 5785, or terrell.vanderah@nist.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The purpose of this collection is to gather information needed for the SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) Program. The information will be provided by student applicants and will be described in the Proposal Review Process and Evaluation Criteria sections of the Federal Register Notice for the SURF Program. The information will be used by the Program Directors and technical evaluators to determine eligible students, select students for the program using the Evaluation Criteria described in the Federal Register Notice, and place selected students in appropriate research projects that match their needs, interests, and academic preparation. The information includes: student name, host institution, e-mail address, home address, class standing, first- and second-choice NIST laboratories they wish to apply to, academic major and minor, current overall Grade Point Average, gender (for housing purposes only), availability dates, resume, personal statement of commitment and research interests, two letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, verification of U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency, and verification of health coverage.

II. Method of Collection

The Student Applicant Information Form is in paper form.

III. Data

OMB Number: None.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.

Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 400.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Public: $0.

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 costs) 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 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 will also become a matter of public record.