Through acts such as the National
Construction Safety Team Act (NCSTA) and the NIST Organic Act,
among others, as well as the President's Climate Action Plan
(2013), NIST conducts research and develops guidance and other
related tools to promote and enhance the safety and well-being of
people in the face of a hazard event. With this in mind, NIST
proposes to conduct a number of data collection efforts within the
topic areas of disaster and failure studies and community
resilience and sustainability, including studies of specific
disaster events (e.g., wildfire, urban fire, structure collapse,
hurricane, earthquake, tornado, and flood events), assessments of
community resilience and sustainability, and evaluations of the
usability and utility of NIST guidance or other products. For
example, one study may assess user perceptions and applications of
the NIST “Community Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and
Infrastructure Systems” as well as adherence to building and fire
codes and standards in community resilience planning. Another
example may include the study of disaster impacts to community
members due to a large-scale wildfire event. These data collection
efforts may be either qualitative or quantitative in nature, or may
consist of mixed methods. Additionally, data may be collected via a
variety of means, including but not limited to electronic or social
media, direct or indirect observation (i.e., in person, video and
audio collections), interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups.
NIST will limit its inquiries to data collections that solicit
strictly voluntary opinions or responses. The results of the data
collected will be used to decrease negative impacts of disasters on
society, and, in turn, increase community resilience within the
U.S. communities. Steps will be taken to ensure anonymity of
respondents in each activity covered by this request.
The NIST Engineering Laboratory
utilizes this clearance to conduct research in support of topic
areas of disaster and failure studies, community resilience
(including studies of specific disaster events such as wildfire,
urban fire, structure collapse, hurricane, earthquake, tornado, and
flood events). This type of research is directly related to a range
of disasters which are unpredictable in their number during a given
year. Additionally, some disasters may require multiple studies
resulting in multiple collections for a given disaster. Therefore,
in preparation of the upcoming disaster season, NIST is
respectfully requesting to increase the ICR Annual Response
allotment from 5,000 to 15,000 Responses; and the ICR Annual Hours
allotment from 5,625 to 12,000. NIST assures that no changes will
be made to any the individual information collection requests that
have been approved for use.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.