[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69693-69694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28112]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
November 14, 2012.
The Department of the Treasury will submit the following
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, on or after the date of
publication of this notice.
DATES: Comments should be received on or before December 20, 2012 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the burden estimate, or any other
aspect of the information collection, including suggestion for reducing
the burden, to (1) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office
of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for Treasury, New
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or email
at [email protected] and (2) Treasury PRA Clearance Officer,
1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Suite 8140, Washington, DC 20220, or email
at [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the submission(s) may be
obtained by calling (202) 927-5331, email at [email protected], or the
entire information collection request maybe found at www.reginfo.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Generic Clearances for Meaningful Access Information
Collections.
OMB Control Number: NEW.
Abstract: A court order was issued in American Council of the Blind
v. Paulson, 591 F. Supp. 2d 1 (D.D.C. 2008) (``ACB v. Paulson'')
requiring the Department of the Treasury and BEP to ``provide
meaningful access to United States currency for blind and other
visually impaired persons, which steps shall be completed, in
connection with each denomination of currency, not later than the date
when a redesign of that denomination is next approved by the Secretary
of the Treasury * * *.''
In compliance with the court's order, BEP intends to meet
individually with blind and visually impaired persons and request their
feedback about tactile features that BEP is considering for possible
incorporation into the next U.S. paper currency redesign. BEP employees
will attend national conventions and conferences for disabled persons.
At those gatherings, BEP employees will invite blind and visually
impaired persons to provide feedback about certain tactile features
being considered for inclusion in future United States currency paper
designs.
The BEP also intends to contract with specialists in the field of
visual acuity to develop methodologies for conducting scientific tests.
Using those methodologies, the BEP or its contracted specialists will
conduct acuity testing with select groups of blind and visually
impaired volunteers. The acuity tests will help either confirm or
provide other perspectives on the results of BEP's information
collections at national conferences and conventions. The acuity tests
will also help ground bases for which BEP determines the tactile
feature to be incorporated into the next United States paper currency
design.
The BEP's information collection activities at national conferences
will use identical methodologies or otherwise share a common element.
Similarly, the BEP's scientific studies will use very similar
methodologies or share a common element. Thus the BEP, in order to
comply with the court's order in ACB v. Paulson requests OMB approval
for two generic clearances to conduct various information collection
activities. Over the next three years, the BEP anticipates undertaking
a variety of new information collection activities related to BEP's
efforts to provide meaningful access to U.S. paper currency for blind
and visually impaired persons. Following standard OMB requirements, for
each information collection that BEP proposes to undertake under each
of these generic clearances, the OMB will be notified at least two
weeks in advance and provided with a copy of the information collection
instrument along with supportive materials. The BEP will only undertake
a new collection if the OMB does not object to the BEP's proposal.
Type of Review: New Collection.
Affected Public: Individuals, Organizations.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 500 per year. The
BEP will conduct the majority of its information collection activities
at conferences and conventions of organizations of blind and visually
impaired persons. The BEP is able to estimate the number of attendees
at such conferences and meetings based on historical data. The BEP,
however, only collects information from volunteers who stop by its
information booth, and who care to take the time responding to
questions. It is difficult, therefore, to estimate the actual number of
respondents from whom BEP may be able to collect information in a year.
The BEP's scientific studies may include more focused sample sizes,
comprised of persons volunteering to participate in the studies.
Estimated Average Time per Respondent: 30 minutes per response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 250 burden
hours.
Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice
will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of
Management and Budget approval. All comments will become a matter of
public record. The public is invited to submit written comments
concerning: (a) Whether the
[[Page 69694]]
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Bureau, including whether the information will
have practical uses; (b) the accuracy of the above estimate of the
burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (d) ways to minimize the reporting burdens on respondents,
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Treasury Department PRA Clearance Officer: Robert Dahl, Department
of the Treasury, Room 11000, 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20220.
BEP Contact: Sonya White, Deputy Chief Counsel, United States
Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Room 419-
A, 14th and C Streets SW., Washington, DC 20228.
Robert Dahl,
Treasury Department PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-28112 Filed 11-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-P