[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21646-21647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8527]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a new information collection.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we will submit to OMB a new information 
collection request (ICR) for approval of the paperwork requirements for 
the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP). To submit a 
proposal for the NCGMP three standard OMB forms and project narrative 
must be completed and submitted via on Grants.gov. This notice provides 
the public an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these 
forms. The forms are available at http://wwwO7.grants.gov/agencies/approved_standard_forms.jsp and the NCGMP narrative guidance is 
available at http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/STATEMAP/index.html.

[[Page 21647]]


DATE: Submit written comments by June 23, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this information collection to 
the Department of the Interior, USGS, via:
     E-mail [email protected]. Use Information Collection 
Number -----NEW, NCGMP in the subject line.
     FAX: (703) 648-7069. Use Information Collection Number --
---NEW, NCGMP in the subject line.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; USGS Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 807 National 
Center, Reston, VA 20192. Please reference Information Collection -----
NEW, NCGMP in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randall Orndorff. 703-648-4316. Copies 
of the forms can be obtained at no cost at http://www.reginfo.gov, or 
by contacting the USGS clearance officer at the phone number listed 
below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: National Cooperative Geologic Mapping 
Program (NCGMP).
    OMB Control Number: -----NEW NCGMP.
    Form Number: Standard Form 424 ``Application for Federal 
Assistance'', Standard Form 424A ``Budget Information Non-Construction 
Programs'', and Standard Form 424B ``Assurances Non-Construction 
Programs'', and Project narrative guidance posted on Grants.gov.
    Abstract: The primary objectives of the STATEMAP component of the 
NCGMP are to establish the geologic framework of areas determined to be 
vital to the economic, social, or scientific welfare of individual 
States. The State Geologist shall determine mapping priorities in 
consultation with a multi-representational State Mapping Advisory 
Committee. These priorities shall be based on: (a) state requirements 
for geologic-map information in areas of multiple-issue need or areas 
of compelling single-issue need, and (b) State requirements for 
geologic-map information in areas where mapping is required to solve 
critical earth-science problems. Priorities are not dependent on past 
agreements with the USGS. The community partner is the state geological 
surveys whose responsibilities vary from state to state. The state 
surveys function as basic scientific information sources for their 
state governments, and some have regulatory responsibilities for water, 
oil and gas, and land reclamation. Many are associated with state 
university systems. Every federal dollar awarded to a state geological 
survey through an annual competitive grant process is matched by a 
state dollar. State priorities are set with the advice of the broad-
based State Mapping Advisory Committee. Since the beginning of the 
Program in 1992, the states have matched over $60 million. In 2006, 
STATEMAP is supporting 125 projects in 47 states. The authority for the 
program is listed in the National Geologic Mapping Act (Pub. L. 106-
148).
    We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its 
implementing regulations (43 CFR Part 2), and under regulations at 30 
CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to the public 
or for limited inspection.'' Responses are voluntary. No questions of a 
``sensitive'' nature are asked. We intend to release the project 
abstracts and primary investigators for awarded/funded projects only.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 50 State 
Geological Surveys are canvassed for one frequency period.
    Estimated Number of Responses: Approximately 46 proposals are 
submitted by individuals involved in the area of geologic mapping.
    Annual burden hours: 920.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We 
estimate the public reporting burden averages 20 hours per response. 
This includes the time for prioritizing project, developing, writing, 
reviewing proposal and submitting the information through Grants.gov.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There are no ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection 
of information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection 
of information, you are not obligated to respond.
    Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) requires each agency'' * * * to 
provide notice * * * and otherwise consult with members of the public 
and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of 
information * * *'' Agencies must specifically solicit comments to: (a) 
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the agency to perform its duties, including whether the information 
is useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the 
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    To comply with the public consultation process, we publish this 
Federal Register notice announcing that we will submit this ICR to OMB 
for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day public comment 
period.
    USGS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Alfred Travnicek, 
703-648-7231.

    Dated: April 15, 2008.
Randall C. Orndorff,
Program Coordinator, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program.
[FR Doc. E8-8527 Filed 4-21-08; 8:45 am]
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