Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Grantee Reporting Requirements for Prediction of and Resilience Against Extreme Events (PREEVENTS)

AGENCY:

National Science Foundation.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years.

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 of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Written comments on this notice must be received by December 16, 2019 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send email to splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme Events (PREEVENTS).

OMB Number: 3145-0244.

Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2020.

Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information collection.

Proposed Project: NSF and the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) have long supported basic research in scientific and engineering disciplines necessary to understand natural hazards and extreme events. The Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme Events (PREEVENTS) program is one element of the NSF-wide Risk and Resilience activity, which has the overarching goal of improving predictability and risk assessment, and increasing resilience, in order to reduce the impact of extreme events on our life, society, and economy. PREEVENTS provides an additional mechanism to support research and related activities that will improve our understanding of the fundamental processes underlying natural hazards and extreme events in the geosciences.

PREEVENTS is intended to encourage new scientific directions in the domains of natural hazards and extreme events. PREEVENTS will consider proposals for conferences that will foster development of interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary communities required to address complex questions surrounding natural hazards and extreme events. Such proposals are called PREEVENTS Track 1 proposals.

In addition to standard NSF annual and final report requirements, PIs for all PREEVENTS Track 1 awards will be required to submit to NSF a public report that summarizes the conference activities, attendance, and outcomes; describes scientific and/or technical challenges that remain to be overcome in the areas discussed during the conference; and identifies specific next steps to advance knowledge in the areas of natural hazards and extreme events that were considered during the conference. These reports will be made publicly available via the NSF website, and are intended to foster nascent interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary communities and to enable growth of new scientific directions.

Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to understand and evaluate the outcomes of the conference, to foster growth of new scientific communities, and to evaluate the progress of the PREEVENTS program.

Estimate of Burden: 40 hours per award for 5-10 conference awards for a total of 200-400 hours.

Respondents: Universities and Colleges; Non-profit, non-academic organizations; For-profit organizations; NSF-funded Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs).

Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each five to ten Track 1 awardees.