[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9251-9256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4834]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No 001102309-2028-02; I.D 010802D


Announcement of Funding Opportunity to Submit Proposals for the 
Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CRES-2002)

AGENCY: Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean 
Program (CSCOR/COP), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability for financial assistance for 
project grants and cooperative agreements.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that CSCOR/
COP is soliciting three to five year proposals to support coral reef 
ecosystem studies in regions under U.S. jurisdiction where coral reefs 
occur. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Federal 
appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded under this 
announcement will have an August 1, 2002 start date.

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DATES: The deadline for receipt of proposals at the CSCOR/COP office is 
3 p.m., e.s.t. April 17, 2002. (Note that late-arriving applications 
provided to a delivery service on or before April 16, 2002 with 
delivery guaranteed before 3 p.m., e.s.t. on April 17,2002 will be 
accepted for review if the applicant candocument that the application 
was provided to the delivery service with delivery to the address 
listed below guaranteed prior to the specified closing date and time, 
and, in any event, the proposals are received in the CSCOR/COP office 
by 3 p.m., e.s.t., no later than 2 business days following the closing 
date.)

ADDRESSES: Submit the original and 19 copies of your proposal to Center 
for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean Program (N/SCI2), 
SSMC4, 8th Floor, Station 8243, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910. NOAA and Standard Form Applications with instructions 
are accessible on the following CSCOR/COP Internet Site: http://www.cop.noaa.gov under the COP Grants Information section, Part D, 
Application Forms for Initial Proposal Submission. Forms may be viewed 
and, in most cases, filled in by computer. All forms must be printed, 
completed, and mailed to CSCOR/COP with original signatures. If you are 
unable to access this information, you may call CSCOR/COP at 301-713-
3338 to leave a mailing request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical Information.Dr. Ruth Kelty, 
CRES-2002 Program point of contact, CSCOR/COP, 301-713-3020/ext 133, 
Internet: [email protected].
    Business Management Information.Leslie McDonald, CSCOR/COP Grants 
Administrator, 301-713-3338/ext 155, Internet: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    Long-term coral reef ecosystem research addresses one of the 
priority research needs identified by the Ecosystem Science and 
Conservation Working Group and is outlined at the Internet site: http://coralreef.gov/wg-reports.html.
    University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Ship 
Time Request Form is available in electronic format at: http://www.gso.uri.edu/unols/ship/shiptime.html. UNOLS' vessel requirements 
are identified later in this document under ``Part I, Section (5) 
Budget.

Background

Program Description

    For complete program description and other requirements criteria 
for the Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean 
Program, see the COP General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions 
annual notification in the Federal Register (66 FR 63019, December 4, 
2001) and at the CSCOR/COP home page.
    Coral reefs and associated seagrass and mangrove communities are 
among the most complex and diverse ecosystems on earth. They support 
important fishing and tourism industries, protect coasts from wave and 
storm damage, build tropical islands, contain an array of potential 
pharmaceuticals, and provide local communities with a source of food, 
materials and traditional activities. As shallow-water, near shore 
communities, coral reef ecosystems are ecologically closely linked to 
adjacent watersheds and are highly vulnerable to human activity. 
Anthropogenic stresses include poor water quality from runoff and 
inadequate sewage treatment, over-harvesting of reef resources, 
sedimentation, shoreline development, and damage from tourists and 
divers. Larger-scale changes in global climate also potentially affect 
coral reef ecosystems through changes in sea temperature, sea level, 
irradiance, wind and precipitation patterns, and frequency and severity 
of tropical storms. Natural and human-induced forces act separately and 
in combination, to degrade coral reef ecosystems. Symptoms of stress 
include mass bleaching (loss of symbiotic algae) of corals, regional 
reductions of certain reef framework corals, and disease outbreaks 
leading to mass mortalities of reef-building corals and associated 
organisms.
    According to the 2000 report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring 
Network, the world has lost an estimated 11 percent of coral reefs and 
a further 16 percent are not fully functional. Significant further 
reductions in coral reef health, accompanied by major losses in 
biological diversity, are expected to continue for the next few decades 
unless coordinated action to manage and conserve these ecosystems is 
undertaken soon.
    The 1998 Executive Order on Coral Reef Protection (E.O. 13089) 
directs Federal agencies to map, research, monitor, manage, and restore 
coral reef ecosystems. In response to the Executive Order, a U.S. Coral 
Reef Task Force established interagency working groups to address six 
areas: (1) Coastal Uses, (2) Ecosystem Science and Conservation, (3) 
Mapping and Information Synthesis, (4) Water and Air Quality, (5) 
International Dimensions, and (6) Education and Outreach. One of the 
key components of the Task Force Action Plan is long-term regional 
ecosystem research, which this announcement addresses.

Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies Description

    This notice solicits proposals that address causes of regional 
declines in coral abundance and degradation of coral ecosystems. CSCOR/
COP's interest is to provide timely and high-quality scientific results 
that can be used to develop alternative management strategies to 
restore and protect coral reef ecosystems. To meet this goal, highest 
consideration will be given to multi-disciplinary team proposals 
incorporating hypothesis-driven research involving both the natural and 
social sciences, which includes participation by the territory, state, 
or Federal resource management community. Because of the complex 
relationships among land-based activities, watershed/reef interactions, 
and local economies and values, the overall research proposal should 
include a component study that addresses social and economic aspects of 
the study area, and integrate this
    research into the study as a whole.
    The development of predictive models is encouraged (e.g., bio-
physical models to investigate larval transport of reef organisms and 
their recruitment to reef systems in the context of variable 
oceanographic conditions; water quality models to investigate the 
relationship between watershed-based pollutant inputs and effects on 
reef ecosystems; economic models to investigate the relationship 
between coral reef health and local economies). Results from such 
research must be applicable to ecosystem sustainability studies and 
assessments for alternative management strategies. Scientific 
information, syntheses, and models from this multi-disciplinary, long-
term effort will enable resource managers to make more informed 
decisions on managing US coral reef ecosystems.
    Research should focus on coral reef ecosystems in the Atlantic or 
Pacific subject to the jurisdiction or control of the United States. 
CSCOR/COP will select the strongest and most balanced proposal(s) that 
focuses on one of the following geographic areas of special interest 
beginning with the highest priority: The (1) Caribbean (includes U.S. 
Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Navassa Island); (2) Western Pacific

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(includes Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Marinas Islands, Marshall 
Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Freely Associated 
States of the Republic of Palau); (3) American Samoa; (4) Hawaiian 
Islands; and (5) Florida. The specific area of study within these 
regions will be defined by the selected proposal.
    Within a study region, more than one specific area may be included 
for comparative purposes. Where remote sites are included, ship 
requirements (ship type, time, and cost) should be identified.

Research Objectives

    This solicitation seeks proposals to:
    (1) Identify and evaluate factors critical to the decline of coral 
reefs in the study region and evaluate management approaches to 
reversing their loss;
    (2) Develop tools, such as models and/or data syntheses, to assist 
resource managers (e.g., assessing impacts of climate change, coastal 
land-use impacts, recruitment/retention mechanisms).
    (3) Understand the social, cultural, and economic context in 
developing tools and evaluating factors critical to the success of reef 
management strategies.

Focus of the Research Program

    To accomplish the above three objectives, proposals must address 
the following four research focus areas:
    (1) Relationship(s) between watershed-based activities and changes 
in coral reef ecosystems, for example: the mechanisms by which 
watershed-based pollutants are transported to and distributed within 
coral reef ecosystems.
    (2) Primary causes of ecological stresses in reef ecosystems of the 
study region (such as, overfishing, reef destruction and pollution, 
climate change, disease, invasive species, sedimentation, etc.) and 
prioritization of these stresses.
    (3) The effect of changes in faunal components on the integrity of 
the reef ecosystem (such as, oceanic and ecological processes that 
regulate species recruitment, species interactions, population 
dynamics, and identification of keystone species).
    (4) Evaluation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as management tools 
for improving coral reef structure and function, and identification of 
important linkages among coral reef ecosystems in the study region.
    The duration of the study is anticipated to be three to five years. 
Typically CSCOR/COP programs of a size and design similar to CRES 
include five to eight lead researchers along with a management team, 
and with a management team chair that serves as a main point of contact 
with the CRES program manager. Management teams typically include three 
to four individuals from different institutions that, as a group, 
provide strong leadership and solid partnerships that enable the 
program to be effectively implemented and produce meaningful results. 
Management teams can include representatives from Federal laboratories, 
universities, local governments, and non-governmental organizations. 
Proposers are strongly encouraged to include MPAs, or potential MPAs in 
the study design if possible, especially where collaborative research 
within MPAs would enhance the understanding of regional coral reef 
ecosystems and human use of these ecosystems. Therefore, priority will 
be given to funding an omnibus proposal that includes a suite of 
projects and a collaborative team of multi-institutional, multi-
disciplinary lead researchers. See Part II: Further Supplementary 
Information Section (11) Project Funding Priorities.
    Continuation of out year funding will be contingent upon the 
determination by the awarding agency that the selected project(s) is/
are on course to provide both interim and final products that will be 
useful to improve the condition of coral reefs in the study region.

Expected Products and Outcomes

    Long-term multi-disciplinary research will provide a better 
understanding of the nature, extent, and consequences of anthropogenic 
and natural stress on coral reef ecosystems. Research results may be 
used to distinguish anthropogenic factors from natural variability in 
determining coral reef ecosystem health and potential impacts that may 
result from climate variability. Project proposals should clearly 
address a timetable and major program elements that will lead to 
specific interim and final management deliverables. In order for the 
study results to be useful to resource managers and decision makers, 
the study design and implementation should include a clear means to 
incorporate the information needs of the targeted region. Examples for 
accomplishing this type of input could include annual workshops and 
Management and Technical Advisory Committees that include a broad 
spectrum of regional interests. Proposers are strongly encouraged to 
develop an approach in the proposal to ensure regional stakeholder 
input and participation.
    A final synthesis report will be required as part of the NOAA 
``Decision Analysis Series'' that concisely summarizes the project 
results and their potential application to improving the condition of 
degraded reefs, protecting healthy reefs in the study region, and other 
critical information relevant to reef management. Guidelines for 
producing this report will be made available to the project management 
team early in the project cycle.

CRES Products Will Include:

    (1) Research data, assessments, publications, synoptic accounts, 
and any other useful activity or product that will provide resource 
managers and the public with timely information that is readily 
understandable;
    (2) Syntheses of the research, including specific recommendations 
for management action, that lead to improved coral reef ecosystem 
health through novel and/or traditional approaches, particularly with 
respect to integrated watershed management and MPAs, and;
    (3) Predictive tools such as simulation models and data syntheses 
(including ecological forecasts) that will help managers make informed 
decisions, and assess alternative management strategies (e.g., 
watershed and coastal water quality models to assess changes in land 
inputs and impacts on reefs and related habitats; larval transport and 
recruitment of reef organisms in the context of variable oceanographic 
conditions, and information for optimizing site selection for MPAs).

Part I: Schedule and Proposal Submission

    This document requests full proposals only. The provisions for 
proposal preparation provided here are mandatory. Proposals received 
after the published deadline or proposals that deviate from the 
prescribed format will be returned to the sender without further 
consideration. Information regarding this announcement, additional 
background information, and required Federal forms are available on the 
CSCOR/COP home page.

Full Proposals

    Applications submitted in response to this announcement require an 
original proposal and 19 proposal copies at time of submission. This 
includes color or high-resolution graphics, unusually sized materials, 
or otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of the proposal. For 
color graphics, submit either color originals or color copies. The 
stated requirements for the number of proposal copies provide for a 
timely

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review process. Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail submission 
of full proposals will not be accepted.

Required Elements

    All recipients must follow the instructions in the preparation of 
the CSCOR/COP application forms included in this document in Part II: 
Further Supplementary Information, (10) Application forms and kit. Each 
proposal must also include the following seven elements, or will be 
returned to sender without further consideration:
    (1) Signed Summary title page. The title page should be signed by 
the Principal Investigator (PI). The Summary Title page identifies the 
project's title starting with the acronym: CRES 2002 (Coral Reef 
Ecosystem Studies), a short title (less than 50 characters); and the 
PI's name and affiliation, complete address, phone, FAX and E-mail 
information. The requested budget for each fiscal year should be 
included on the Summary title page. Multi-institution proposals must 
include signed Summary title pages from each institution.
    (2) One-page abstract/project summary. The Project Summary 
(Abstract) Form, which is to be submitted at time of application, shall 
include an introduction of the problem, rationale, scientific 
objectives and/or hypotheses to be tested, and a brief summary of work 
to be completed. The prescribed CSCOR/COP format for the Project 
Summary Form can be found on the CSCOR/COP Internet site under the 
Grants Information section, Part D.
    The summary should appear on a separate page, headed with the 
proposal title, institution(s), investigator(s), total proposed cost 
and budget period. It should be written in the third person. The 
summary is used to help compare proposals quickly and allows the 
respondents to summarize these key points in their own words.
    (3) Statement of work/project description. The proposed project 
must be completely described, including identification of the problem, 
scientific objectives, proposed methodology, relevance to the CRES 
program goals and objectives. The project description section 
(including relevant results from prior support) should not exceed 15 
pages. Page limits are inclusive of figures and other visual materials, 
but exclusive of references and milestone chart.
    This section should clearly identify project management with a 
description of the functions of each PI within a team. It should 
provide a full scientific justification for the research, do not simply 
reiterate justifications presented in this document. It should also 
include:
    (a) The objective for the period of proposed work and its expected 
significance;
    (b) The relation to the present state of knowledge in the field and 
relation to previous work and work in progress by the proposing 
principal investigator(s);
    (c) A discussion of how the proposed project lends value to the 
program goal;
    (d) Potential coordination with other investigators; and
    (e) References cited.
    Reference information is required. Each reference must include the 
name(s) of all authors in the same sequence in which they appear in the 
publications, the article title, volume number, page numbers and year 
of publications. While there is no established page limitation, this 
section should include bibliographic citations only and should not be 
used to provide parenthetical information outside the 15-page project 
description.
    (4) Milestone chart. Provide time lines of major tasks covering the 
duration of the proposed project.
    (5) Budget and Application Forms. Both NOAA and CSCOR/COP-specific 
application forms may be obtained at the CSCOR/COP Grants website. 
Forms may be viewed and, in most cases, filled in by computer. All 
forms must be printed, completed, and mailed to CSCOR/COP; original 
signatures are required. If applicants are unable to access this 
information, they may contact the CSCOR/COP grants administrator 
previously listed in the section FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    At time of proposal submission, all applicants must submit the 
Standard Form, SF-424 (Rev 7-97) Application for Federal Assistance to 
indicate the total amount of funding proposed for the whole project 
period. Applicants must also submit a COP Summary Proposal Budget Form 
for each fiscal year increment. Multi-institution proposals must 
include a Summary Proposal Budget Form for each institution. Use of 
this budget form will provide for a detailed annual budget and for the 
level of detail required by the CSCOR/COP program staff to evaluate the 
effort to be invested by investigators and staff on a specific project. 
The COP budget form is compatible with forms in use by other agencies 
that participate in joint projects with CSCOR/COP and can be found on 
the CSCOR/COP home page under COP Grants Information, Part D. All 
applications must include a budget narrative and a justification to 
support all proposed budget categories. The SF-424A, Budget Information 
(Non-Construction) Form, will be requested only from those applicants 
subsequently recommended for award.
    Requests for ship time should be identified in the proposal budget. 
The investigator is responsible for requesting ship time and for 
meeting all requirements to ensure the availability of requested ship 
time. Copies of relevant ship time request forms should be included 
with the proposal. For example, the UNOLS Ship Time Request Form is 
available in electronic format at the website referenced earlier in 
this document under the section ``ELECTRONIC ACCESS.'' Paper copies may 
also be requested from UNOLS, but the electronic version is strongly 
preferred for ease of information exchange and processing.
    (6) Biographical sketch. With each proposal, the following must be 
included: Abbreviated curriculum vitae, two pages per investigator; a 
list of up to five publications most closely related to the proposed 
project and up to five other significant publications; and list of all 
persons (including their organizational affiliation), in alphabetical 
order, who have collaborated on a project, book, article, or paper 
within the last 48 months. If there are no collaborators, this should 
be so indicated. Students, post-doctoral associates, and graduate and 
postgraduate advisors of the PI should also be disclosed. This 
information is used to help identify potential conflicts of interest or 
bias in the selection of reviewers.
    (7) Proposal format and assembly. The original proposal should be 
clamped in the upper left-hand corner, but left unbound. The 19 
additional copies can be stapled in the upper left-hand corner or bound 
on the left edge. The page margin must be 1 inch (2.5 cm) margins at 
the top, bottom, left and right, and the typeface standard 12-point 
size must be clear and easily legible. Proposals should be single 
spaced.

Part II: FURTHER SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

    (1) Program authorities. For a list of all program authorities for 
the Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean Program, 
see the General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions of the 
Coastal Ocean Program published in the Federal Register (66 FR 63019, 
December 4, 2001) and at the CSCOR/COP home page. Specific Authority 
cited for this announcement is the 16 USC 6401 et seq.
    (2) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number. The CFDA

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number for the Coastal Ocean Program is 11.478.
    (3) Program description. For complete CSCOR/COP program 
descriptions, see the General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions 
of the Coastal Ocean Program published in the Federal Register (66 FR 
63019, December 4, 2001).
    (4) Funding availability. It is anticipated that one CRES regional 
project will be funded at approximately $1,500,000 per year for up to 
five years, beginning in fiscal year 2002. Actual funding levels will 
depend upon the final budget appropriations for each fiscal year. Each 
CSCOR/COP project typically consists of several coordinated 
investigations, as part of an overall omnibus proposal as described in 
more detail earlier in this announcement, with separate sub-awards. For 
this announcement, sub-awards within an omnibus proposal would be 
expected to range from approximately $50,000 to $500,000. Announcements 
for additional CRES regional projects in fiscal year 2003 and beyond 
will depend on availability of funds.
    If an application is selected for funding, NOAA has no obligation 
to provide any additional prospective funding in connection with that 
award in subsequent years. Renewal of an award to increase funding or 
to extend the period of performance is based on satisfactory 
performance and is at the total discretion of the funding agency.
    Publication of this notice does not obligate any agency to any 
specific award or to obligate any part of the entire amount of funds 
available. Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws 
and agency policies, regulations and procedures applicable to Federal 
financial assistance awards.
    (5) Matching requirements. None.
    (6) Type of funding instrument. Project Grants for non-Federal 
applicants, interagency transfer agreements, or any other appropriate 
mechanisms other than project grants or cooperative agreements for 
Federal applicants.
    (7) Eligibility criteria: For complete eligibility criteria for the 
CSCOR/COP, see the COP General Grant Administration Terms and 
Conditions annual document in the Federal Register (66 FR 63019, 
December 4, 2001) and the CSCOR/COP home page. Eligible applicants are 
institutions of higher education, not-for-profit institutions, state, 
local and Indian tribal governments and Federal agencies. CSCOR/COP 
will accept proposals that include foreign researchers as collaborators 
with a researcher who is affiliated with a U.S. academic institution, 
Federal agency, or any other non-profit organization.
    Applications from non-Federal and Federal applicants will be 
competed against each other. Proposals selected for funding from non-
Federal applicants will be funded through a project grant or 
cooperative agreement under the terms of this notice. Proposals 
selected for funding from NOAA employees shall be effected by an intra-
agency fund transfer. Proposals selected for funding from a non-NOAA 
Federal agency will be funded through an inter-agency transfer.
    Note: Before non-NOAA Federal applicants may be funded, they must 
demonstrate that they have legal authority to receive funds from 
another Federal agency in excess of their appropriation. Because this 
announcement is not proposing to procure goods or services from 
applicants, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535) is not an appropriate 
legal basis.
    (8) Award period. Full Proposals can cover a project period from 
three to five years. Multi-year project period funding will be funded 
incrementally on an annual basis. Each annual award shall require an 
Implementation Plan and statement of work that can be easily divided 
into annual increments of meaningful work representing solid 
accomplishments (if prospective funding is not made available, or is 
discontinued).
    (9) Indirect costs. If indirect costs are proposed, the total 
dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an application must not 
exceed the indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant 
Federal agency prior to the proposed effective date of the award.
    (10) Application forms and kit. For complete information on 
application forms for the CSCOR/COP, see the COP General Grant 
Administration Terms and Conditions annual Document in the Federal 
Register (66 FR 63019, December 4, 2001) at the CSCOR/COP home page; 
and the information given under Required Elements, paragraph (5) 
Budget.
    (11) Project funding priorities. For description of project funding 
priorities, see the COP General Grant Administration Terms and 
Conditions annual notification in the Federal Register (66 FR 63019, 
December 4, 2001) and at the CSCOR/COP home page.
    (l2) Evaluation criteria. For complete information on evaluation 
criteria, see the COP General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions 
annual Document in the Federal Register (66 FR 63019, December 4, 2001) 
and at the CSCOR/COP home page.
    (13) Selection procedures. For complete information on selection 
procedures, see the COP General Grant Administration Terms and 
Conditions annual Document in the Federal Register (66 FR 63019, 
December 4, 2001) and at the CSCOR/COP home page. All proposals 
received under this specific Document will be evaluated and ranked 
individually in accordance with the assigned weights of the above 
evaluation criteria by independent peer mail review and/or panel 
review. No consensus advice will be given by the independent peer mail 
review or the review panel.
    (14) Other requirements. (a) For a complete description of other 
requirements, see the COP General Grant Administration Terms and 
Conditions annual Document in the Federal Register (66 FR 63019, 
December 4, 2001) and at the CSCOR/COP home page. NOAA has specific 
requirements that environmental data be submitted to the National 
Oceanographic Data Center (see Section 16 below). (b) The Department of 
Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements contained in the Federal Register (66 FR 49917, October 1, 
2001) are applicable to this solicitation. However, please note that 
the Department of Commerce will not implement the requirements of 
Executive Order 13202 (66 FR 49921), pursuant to guidance issued by the 
Office of Management and Budget in light of a court opinion which found 
that the Executive Order was not legally authorized. See Building and 
Construction Trades Department v. Allbaugh, 172 F. Supp. 2d 138 (D.D.C. 
2001). This decision is currently on appeal. When the case has been 
finally resolved, the Department will provide further information on 
implementation of Executive Order 13202.
    (c) Please note that NOAA is developing a policy on internal 
overhead charges, NOAA scientists considering submission of proposals 
should contact the appropriate CSCOR/COP Program Manager for the latest 
information.
    (15) Intergovernmental review. Applications under this program are 
not subject to Executive Order l2372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs.'' It has been determined that this notice is not 
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Because notice and 
comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, for this 
notice relating to public property, loans, grants benefits or contracts 
(5U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required and

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has not been prepared for this notice, 5 U.S.C. 603(a). It has been 
determined that this notice does not contain policies with Federalism 
implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
    (16) Data archiving. Any data collected in projects supported by 
CSCOR/COP must be delivered to a National Data Center (NDC), such as 
the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), in a format to be 
determined by the institution, the NODC, and Program Officer. It is the 
responsibility of the institution for the delivery of these data; the 
DOC will not provide additional support for delivery beyond the award. 
Additionally, all biological cultures established, molecular probes 
developed, genetic sequences identified, mathematical models 
constructed, or other resulting information products established 
through support provided by CSCOR/COP are encouraged to be made 
available to the general research community at no or a modest handling 
charge (to be determined by the institution, Program Officer, and DOC). 
For more details, refer to COP data policy posted at the CSCOR/COP home 
page.
    (17) This notification involves collection-of-information 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of 
Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, and SF-LLL has been approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control numbers 0348-0043, 
0348-0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-0046.
    The following requirements have been approved by OMB under control 
number 0648-0384: a Summary Proposal Budget Form (30 minutes per 
response), a Project Summary Form (30 minutes per response), a 
standardized format for the Annual Performance Report (5 hours per 
response), a standardized format for the Final Report (10 hours per 
response) and the submission of up to 20 copies of proposals (10 
minutes per response). The response estimates include the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate 
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden, to [email protected]. 
Copies of these forms and formats can be found on the CSCOR/COP home 
page under Grants Information sections, Parts D and F.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.

    Dated: February 20, 2002.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 02-4834 Filed 2-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JS-S