[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 71466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23408]



[[Page 71466]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Questionnaire 
To Support Review of Federal Assistance Applications

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 30, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., 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 Shelby L. Mendez, (301) 713-1622 ext. 207 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 
through 4327) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) require that 
an environmental analysis be completed for all major Federal actions 
significantly affecting the environment. NEPA applies only to the 
actions of Federal agencies. While those Federal actions may include a 
Federal agency's decision to fund non-Federal projects under grants and 
cooperative agreements, NEPA requires agencies to assess the 
environmental impacts of actions proposed to be taken by these 
recipients only when the Federal agency has sufficient discretion or 
control over the recipient's activities to deem those actions as 
Federal actions. To determine whether the activities of the recipient 
of a Federal financial assistance award (i.e., grant or cooperative 
agreement) involve sufficient Federal discretion or control, and to 
undertake the appropriate environmental analysis when NEPA is required, 
NOAA must assess information which can only be provided by the Federal 
financial assistance applicant. Thus, NOAA is developing an 
environmental information questionnaire to provide grantees and Federal 
grant managers with a simple tool to ensure that project and 
environmental information is obtained. The questionnaire will apply 
only to those programs where actions are considered major Federal 
actions or to those where NOAA must determine if the action is a major 
Federal action. The questionnaire will include a list of questions that 
encompasses a broad range of subject areas. The applicants will not be 
required to answer every question in the questionnaire. Each program 
will draw from the final comprehensive list of questions to create a 
relevant subset of questions for applicants to answer. The information 
provided in answers to the questionnaire will be used by NOAA staff to 
determine compliance requirements for NEPA and conduct subsequent NEPA 
analysis as needed. The information provided in the questionnaire may 
also be used for other regulatory review requirements associated with 
the proposed project, such as permitting.

II. Method of Collection

    Methods of submittal include paper forms through the mail, Internet 
and facsimile transmission.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; state, local or 
tribal government; and Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,750.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,250.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $8,750.

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: November 22, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-23408 Filed 11-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NW-P