[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 324-325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-93]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 122903C]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Standardized 
Application and Performance Report Formats for NMFS Noncompetitive 
Grants

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW,

[[Page 325]]

Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to JoAnna Grable, (301) 713-1364, or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    In 2003, NOAA awarded approximately 600 grants for sponsored 
fishery-related activities involving about $350 million in Federal 
funds. About 60% of the total number of fishery grant awards (360) were 
made on a noncompetitive basis. Many of these noncompetitive grants 
provide pass through funds to states and other entities to support such 
ongoing activities as: fisheries research and data collection, 
participation in international fisheries commissions, fishery 
management council operations, and the operation of fish hatcheries.
    This information collection will provide noncompetitive grant 
applicants and recipients with standardized guidance on information 
required by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in a project 
narrative (as part of a grant application) and the information required 
in interim and final performance reports. The information collection 
will assist NOAA and NMFS staff in the review and management of the 
noncompetitive grants.
    Currently, NMFS does not require grant applicants and recipients of 
noncompetitive grants to provide standardized information in the 
project narratives (application) and performance reports. Applicants 
for and recipients of noncompetitive grants provide information they 
deem appropriate, or information prescribed by their particular 
organization. NMFS requests applicants to provide standardized 
information in project narrative to aid Agency staff in determining 
whether proposed activities are: allowed under the funding authority; 
considered technically sound; investigators qualified; and budget costs 
correlate to proposed work activities. Similarly, NMFS requests 
recipients of noncompetitive grants to provide standardized information 
about ongoing or completed grant activities to assist staff in 
evaluating and certifying whether the recipient is meeting or has met 
the goals and objectives established in the award agreement.

II. Method of Collection

    The Agency will send a letter or e-mail to noncompetitive grant 
applicants and include a written format describing what information is 
required in the project narrative portion of a grant application. When 
the application is approved for funding, the Agency will include 
interim and final performance report formats as a special award 
condition to the grant agreement. These report formats will prescribe 
all information that must be included by the recipient in performance 
reports.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government; not-for- profit 
institutions; business or other for profit organizations; and household 
or individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 360.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 hours for a Project Narrative; 5 
hours for a Progress Report; and 15 hours for a Final Report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 12,600.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $21,960.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 23, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-93 Filed 1-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S