[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5642-5643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2882]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey


Application Notice Describing the Areas of Interest and 
Establishing the Closing Date for Receipt of Applications Under the 
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 1998

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Applications are invited for research projects under the 
NEHRP.
    The purpose of this program is to support research in earthquake 
hazards prediction; to provide earth-science data and information 
essential to determine seismic hazards present in the United States; 
and information essential to mitigate earthquake damage.
    Applications may be submitted by educational institutions, private 
firms, private foundations, individuals, and agencies of state and 
local governments.
    The NEHRP supports research related to the following general areas 
of interest:
    I. Evaluating National and Regional Hazard and Risk. National and 
regional hazard and risk maps are critical to effective risk reduction 
strategies.
    II. Evaluating Urban Hazard and Risk. The strong ground shaking and 
resulting catastrophic losses in the 1994 Northridge earthquake 
reinforced the need for the U.S. Geological Survey to concentrate its 
efforts where the risks are highest, that is, in the nation's urban 
areas.
    III. Understanding Earthquake Processes. The effectiveness of risk-
mitigation strategies and disaster response are limited by our meager 
understanding of the tectonic processes that cause earthquakes and 
generate the strong shaking and ground failure that devastates the 
build environment.
    IV. Providing Real-time Hazard Assessment. Effective earthquake 
hazard evaluation and response to damaging events depend on timely, 
accurate information. Short, intermediate, and long-term earthquake 
forecasts in regions of high earthquake potential can all lead to 
mitigation activities that reduce the losses in subsequent earthquakes.
    V. Providing Geologic Hazards Information Services. Computer

[[Page 5643]]

technology has evolved rapidly in recent years to the point that new 
powerful tools are accessible both to the providers and the users of 
geologic hazards information.

ADDRESSES: The program announcement is expected to be available on or 
about February 7, 1997. You may obtain a copy of Announcement No. 00042 
from the USGS Contracts and Grants Information Site at http://
www.usgs.gov/contracts/ or the External Research Program Internet Site 
at http://erp-web.er.usgs.gov or by writing Brian Heath, U.S. 
Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and Federal Assistance--Mail 
Stop 205A, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, or by 
fax (703-648-7901).

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applicants will be on or about 
March 28, 1997. The actual closing date will be specified in 
Announcement No. 00042.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Sims, Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Program--U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 905, 12201 Sunrise 
Valley Drive, Reston Virginia 20192. Telephone: (703) 648-6722.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority for this program is contained in 
the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, Public Law 95-124 (42 
U.S.C. 7701, et. seq.). The Office of Management and Budget Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 15.807.

    Dated: January 31, 1997.
Gloria J. Stiltner,
Acting Associate Chief for Operations.
[FR Doc. 97-2882 Filed 2-5-97; 8:45 am]
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