[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 110 (Friday, June 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32353-32354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12721]


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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

[[Page 32354]]

approval of the paperwork requirements for the Mineral Resources 
Program's (MRP) Mineral Resource External Research Program (MRERP). To 
submit a proposal for the MRERP a project narrative must be completed 
and submitted via Grants.gov. Furthermore, for multi-year projects, an 
annual progress report must be completed, and for all projects, a final 
technical report is required at the end of the project period. This 
notice provides the public an opportunity to comment on the paperwork 
burden of these project narrative and report requirements. The 
narrative and report guidance is available at http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/Minerals/index.html.

DATES: Submit written comments by August 5, 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 
1028-NEW, MRP in the subject line.
     FAX: (970) 226-9230. Use Information Collection Number 
1028-NEW, MRP in the subject line.
     Mail to Phadrea Ponds, U.S. Geological Survey, 2150 
Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Please reference Information 
Collection 1028-NEW, MRP in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Jeff L. Doebrich at 703-648-
6103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Mineral Resources Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.
    Form Number: Project narrative and report guidance posted on 
Grants.gov.
    Abstract: Through the MRERP, the MRP of the USGS offers an annual 
competitive grant and/or cooperative agreement opportunity to 
universities, State agencies, Tribal governments or organizations, and 
industry or other private sector organizations. Applicants must have 
the ability to conduct research in topics related to non-fuel mineral 
resources and that meet the goals of the MRP. The MRERP will consider 
all research-based proposals that address one of the MRP's long-term 
goals. The long-term goals of the MRP, as described in the MRP Five-
Year Plan for FY 2006-2010 (http://minerals.usgs.gov/plan/2006-2010/2006-2010_plan.html) are (1) Ensure availability of up-to-date 
quantitative assessments of potential for undiscovered mineral 
deposits, (2) ensure availability of up-to-date geoenvironmental 
assessments of priority Federal lands, (3) ensure availability of 
reliable geologic, geochemical, geophysical, and mineral locality data 
for the United States, and (4) ensure availability of long-term data 
sets describing mineral production and consumption. Furthermore, annual 
research priorities are provided as guidance for applicants to consider 
when submitting proposals. Annual research priorities are determined by 
USGS MRP management. Since its initiation in 2004, the MRERP has 
awarded more than $1.8 million to 30 different research projects across 
the country.
    We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and 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 Annual Number and Description of Respondents: 
Approximately 500 research scientists from universities, State 
agencies, Tribal governments or organizations, and industry or other 
private sector organizations.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 48.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 2160.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We 
estimate the public reporting burden averages 45 hours per response. 
This includes the time for (1) Project conception and development, 
proposal writing and reviewing, and submitting project narrative 
through Grants.gov, (2) preparation of annual progress report, and (3) 
preparation of final technical report.
    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. This notice provides the required 60-day public comment 
period.
    USGS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Alfred Travnicek, 
703-648-7231.

    Dated: May 30, 2008.
Suzette M. Kimball,
Associate Director for Geology.
[FR Doc. E8-12721 Filed 6-5-08; 8:45 am]
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