OMB has issued a memo attempting to address the question of whether and how the Paperwork Reduction Act applies in the context of scientific research.
The three-part document, M-11-07, explains how the PRA process can be streamlined and simplified in the context of such research. Typically it requires agencies to develop an information request, publish that in the Federal Register, consider public comments, publish another notice and submit to OMB for review.
According to the memo, the PRA does not apply to certain kinds of scientific research, such as collections that are neither "sponsored" nor "conducted" by the agency, as well as those that are subject to what is commonly termed the "clinical exemption."
The memo also describes several possible options for streamlining the PRA process, including generic clearances and emergency review.
It also offers suggestions for strategies that agencies can use to expedite the PRA process as a whole, such as collaborating directly with OMB on certain matters.
