[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42106-42108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3740]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


60-Day Notice of Intention To Request Clearance of Collection of 
Information; Opportunity for Public Comment

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3507 et seq.) and 5 CFR part 1320, the National Park Service 
(NPS) invites public comments on a revision of a currently approved 
information collection (OMB 1024-0038).

DATES: Public comments on the proposed Information Collection Request 
(ICR) will be accepted on or before October 1, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send Comments To: John W. Renaud, Project Coordinator, 
Historic Preservation Grants, Heritage Assistance Programs, NPS, 1849 C 
St., NW., (2256), Washington, DC 20240; via fax at 202/371-1961, or via 
e-mail at [email protected]. Also, please send a copy of your 
comments to Leonard Stowe, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
NPS, 1849 C St., NW., (2605), Washington, DC 20240, or by e-mail at 
[email protected]. All responses to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John W. Renaud, Project Coordinator, 
Historic Preservation Grants, Heritage Assistance Programs, NPS, 1849 C 
St., NW. (2256), Washington, DC 20240; or via fax at 202/371-1961, or 
via e-mail at [email protected], or via telephone at 202/354-2066. 
You are entitled to a copy of the entire ICR package free-of-charge.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Procedures for State, Tribal, and Local Government Historic 
Preservation Programs; 36 CFR 61.
    Bureau Form Number(s): None.
    OBM Number: 1024-0038.
    Expiration Date: November 30, 2007.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Description of Need: This set of information collections has an 
impact on State, tribal, and local governments that wish to participate 
formally in the National Historic Preservation Partnership (NHPP) 
Program, and State and tribal governments that wish to apply for 
Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grants. The NPS uses the information 
collection to ensure compliance with the National Historic Preservation 
Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), as well as the government-wide 
grant requirements that OBM has issued and the Department of the 
Interior implements through 43 CFR part 12. This information collection 
also produces performance data that NPS uses to assess its progress in 
meeting goals set in Departmental and NPS strategic plans created 
pursuant to the 1993 Government Performance and Results Act, as 
amended. This request for OMB approval includes local government burden 
for information collections associated with various aspects of the 
Certified Local Government (CLG) program; State government burden for 
information collections related to the CLG program, the program-
specific aspects of the Historic Preservation Fund grants to States, 
maintenance of a State inventory of historic and prehistoric 
properties, tracking State Historic Preservation Office historic 
preservation consultation with Federal agencies, reporting on other 
State historic preservation accomplishments, and the State role in the 
State Program Review Process; and tribal government burden for 
information collections related to the program-specific aspects of HPF 
grants to Tribal Historic Preservation Officers/Offices (THPOs).
    This request includes information collections related to HPF grants 
to States and to THPOs. NPS is seeking a revision to reflect the 
increased number of partners participating in the NHPP, and 
consequently, in the previously approved information collections. In 
addition, a revision is needed because some information collections had 
not been recognized as such during preparation for earlier OMB 
approvals. Section 101(b) of the National Historic Preservation Act, as 
amended, (16 U.S.C. 470a(b)), specifies the role of States in the NHPP 
Program. Section 101(c), and section 301 of the Act (16 U.S.C. section 
103(c), 470a(c), 16 U.S.C. 470c(c), and 16 U.S.C. 470w), specify the 
role of local governments in the NHPP program. Section 101(d) of the 
Act (16 U.S.C. 470a(d) specifies the role of tribes in the NHPP 
Program. Section 108 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 470h) created the HPF to 
support activities that carry out the purposes of the Act. Section 
101(e)(1) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 470a(e)) directs the Secretary of the 
Interior through the NPS to ``administer a program of matching grants 
to the States for the purposes of carrying out'' the Act. Similarly, 
sections 101(d) and 101(e) of the Act direct a program of grants to 
THPOs for carrying out their responsibilities under the Act. Each year 
Congress directs the NPS to use part of the annual appropriation from 
the HPF for the State grant program and the tribal grant program. The 
purpose of both the HPF State grants program and the HPF THPO grants 
program is to assist States and tribes in carrying out their statutory 
role in the national historic preservation program. HPF grants to 
States and THPOs are program grants; i.e., each State/THPO selects its 
own HPF-eligible activities and projects. Each HPF grant to a State/
THPO has two years of fund availability. At the end of the first year, 
NPS employs a ``Use or Lose'' policy to ensure efficient and effective 
use of the grant funds. All 59 States, territories, and the District of 
Columbia participate in the NHPP Program. Almost 1,600 local 
governments have become Certified Local Governments (CLGs) in order to 
participate in the NHPP program. Approximately 54 local governments 
become CLGs each year. Fifty-seven Federally-recognized tribes have 
joined formally the NHPP and have established THPOs and tribal historic 
preservation offices. Typically, each year five to seven tribes join 
the partnership. NPS developed the information collections associated 
with 36 CFR Part 61 in consultation with State, Tribal, and local 
government partners. The obligation to respond is required to provide 
information to evaluate whether or not State governments meet minimum 
standards and requirements for participation in the National Historic 
Preservation Program; and to meet government-wide requirements for 
Federal grant programs.
    Comments are invited on: (1) The practical utility of the 
information being gathered; (2) the accuracy of the burden hour 
estimate; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden to 
respondents, including use of automated information collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Before including 
your

[[Page 42107]]

address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Frequency of collection: Annually.
    Description of Respondents: State, tribal, and local governments 
that wish to participate formally in the National Historic Preservation 
Program and who wish to apply for Historic Preservation Fund grant 
assistance.
    Estimated average number of respondents/record keepers: The net 
number of partners participating in this set of information collections 
annually is 59 States, 57 Tribes, and 1,554 CLGs.
    Estimated average number of responses: NPS estimates that there are 
34,539 responses per year. This is the gross number of responses for 
all of the elements included in this set of information collections.
    Estimated average number of State HPF grant-related applicant 
responses: 118 per year.
    Estimated average gross number of State HPF grant-related grantee 
responses: 400 per year.
    Estimated average gross number of State HPF grant-related responses 
for successful Applicants/Grantees: 518 per year.
    Estimated average number of THPO HPF grant-related Applicant 
responses: 57 per year.
    Estimated average gross number of THPO HPF grant-related grantee 
responses: 171 per year.
    Estimated average gross number of THPO HPF application plus grant-
related responses: 228 per year.
    Estimated average number of State and local CLG program related 
responses per State/CLG: 42 per year.
    Estimated average gross number State and local CLG program related 
responses for all States/CLGs: 2,897 per year.
    Estimated average minimum number of State inventory responses per 
State: 78 per year.
    Estimated average gross minimum number of State inventory responses 
for all States: 4,602 per year.
    Estimated average minimum number of State consultation on Federal 
projects responses per State: 445 per year.
    Estimated average gross minimum number of State consultation of 
Federal projects responses for all States: 26,255 per year.
    Estimated average number of other State performance reports per 
State: 1 per year.
    Estimated average gross number of other State performance reports 
for all States: 25 per year.
    Estimated average minimum number of State Program Reviews per 
State: 1 per year.
    Estimated average gross minimum number of State Program Reviews for 
all States: 14 per year.
    Estimated average gross number of responses for all non-grant 
collections: 33,793 per year.
    Frequency of Response: The frequency of response varies depending 
upon the activity. In the CLG program, States and local governments 
participate once for the certification process, once per year for the 
monitoring of each CLG, once every four years for the evaluation of 
each CLG, and once a year on a voluntary basis for other performance 
reporting. Each State adds property records to its inventory and tracks 
the progress of consultation with Federal agencies as the information 
becomes available. Each State reports once a year on a voluntary basis 
for other performance reporting. The National Historic Preservation Act 
requires that each State undergo a State Program Review every four 
years. For the program-specific aspects of the HPF grants to State 
program, the estimated number of responses includes a ``Cumulative 
Products Table'' of projected performance in summary format, an 
``Organization Chart'' showing the availability of appropriately 
qualified staff, and a (major) ``Anticipated Activities List''. During 
the grant cycle, grantees seek NPS approval once for a subgrant (via a 
project notification) and associated final project report. Each year, 
every State submits an ``End of Year Report'' that includes the 
Cumulative Products Table (which compares actual to proposed 
performance), a ``Sources of Nonfederal matching Share Report,'' a 
``Project/Activity Database Report,'' an ``Unexpended Carryover Funds 
Table and Carryover Statement,'' and a ``Significant Preservation 
Accomplishments Summary.'' For the program-specific aspects of the HPF 
grants to THPOs program, the estimated number of responses includes a 
grant application scope of work, a ``Grants Product Summary Table,'' an 
unexpended funds carry-over statement, and a ``THPO Annual Report'' (a 
narrative summary of important accomplishments).
    Automated Data Collection: NPS has made available to States for 
completion on-line all of the forms for the HPF State Grants program.
    Estimate average time burden per respondent: NPS estimated that the 
total public (State plus local) burden for the Certified Local 
Government (CLG) program averages 36 hours per CLG for the 
certification, monitoring, and evaluation of each CLG and 45 minutes 
for reporting of other CLG accomplishments. NPS estimates that the 
total public (State) burden averages 10 minutes per Federal agency 
project tracked, 45 minutes per inventory record, 2 hours per reporting 
on other State accomplishments, and 90 hours per State Program Review. 
NPS estimates that the total public burden for collection not directly 
tied to grants is 129 hours per respondent. NPS estimates that the 
public burden for the HPF-supported State grant program collections of 
information will average 11 hours per application and 19 hours per 
grant per year for all of the grant-related collections. The combined 
total public burden for the HPF State grant program-related information 
collections would average 31 hours per successful applicant/grantee. 
NPS estimates that the public burden for the HPF-supported THPO grant 
program collections of information will average 7 hours per application 
and 14 hours per grant per year for all of the grant-related 
collections. The combined total public burden for the HPF THPO grant 
program-related information collections would average 21 hours per 
successful applicant/grantee. These burden estimates are a one-year 
average for the two-year grants. The combined total public burden for 
the 36 CFR Part 61-related information collections would average 182 
hours per partner. These estimates of burden include time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of 
information.
    Estimated average time burden hours per State HPF grant-related 
applicant response: 11 hours.
    Estimated average burden hours per State HPF grant-related Grantee 
response: 20 hours.
    Estimated total annual average burden hours per State HPF grant-
related respondent: 31 hours.
    Estimated total annual average burden hours for all State HPF 
grant-related responses: 1,568 hours.
    Estimated average burden hours per THPO HPF grant-related Applicant 
response: 7 hours.
    Estimated average burden hours per THPO HPF grant-related Grantee 
response: 14 hours.

[[Page 42108]]

    Estimated average annual burden hours per THPO HPF grant-related 
Applicant/Grantee for all responses: 21 hours.
    Estimated total annual average burden hours for all THPO HPF grant-
related respondents: 1,217 hours.
    Estimated average burden hours in the CLG program per response: 50 
minutes.
    Estimated average burden hours in the State inventory program per 
response: 40 minutes.
    Estimated average burden hours in the Federal agency consultation 
tracking program per response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated average burden hours in other performance reporting per 
response: 2 hours.
    Estimated average burden hours in the State Program Review program 
per response: 90 hours.
    Estimated average annual burden hours per partner for all non 
grant-related responses: 432 hours.
    Estimated annual burden on all respondents for all non grant 
related responses: 33,565 hours.
    Estimated total annual reporting burden: 36,351 hours per year.

    Dated: July 25, 2007.
Leonard E. Stowe,
NPS, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-3740 Filed 7-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-EN-M