[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58616-58617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23646]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey


Agency Information Collection: Comment Request

AGENCY: United States Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a new 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 Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR)-USGS competitive 
grant program conducted in conjunction with the State Water Resources 
Research Institutes. The NIWR cooperates with the USGS in establishing 
total programmatic direction, reporting on the activities of the 
Institutes, coordinating and facilitating regional research and 
information and technology transfer, and in operating the NIWR-USGS 
Student Internship Program. Furthermore, an annual progress and final 
technical report for all projects is required at the end of the project 
period.
    This notice provides the public an opportunity to comment on the 
paperwork burden of this collection.

DATES: You must submit comment on or before December 8, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments to the IC to Phadrea Ponds, Information 
Collections Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 2150-C Center 
Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (mail); (970) 226-9230 (fax); or 
[email protected] (e-mail). Please reference Information Collection 1028-
NEW, USGS-WRRI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John E. Schefter, Chief, Office of 
External Research, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 
MS 424, Reston, Virginia 20192 (mail) at (703) 648-6800 (Phone); or 
[email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: NIWR-USGS National Competitive Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-new.
    Abstract: The NIWR-USGS National Competitive Grant Program issues 
an annual call for proposals to support research on water problems and 
issues of a regional or interstate nature beyond those of concern only 
to a single state and which relate to specific program priorities 
identified jointly by the USGS and the state water resources research 
institutes authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.). Any investigator at an accredited 
institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to 
apply for a grant through a water research institute or center 
established under the provisions of the Act. Proposals involving 
substantial collaboration between the USGS and university scientists 
are encouraged. Proposals may be for projects of 1 to 3 years in 
duration and may request up to $250,000 in federal funds. Successful 
applicants must match each dollar of the federal grant with one dollar 
from nonfederal sources. This program is authorized by the Water 
Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended (42 U.S.C. 10303(g)).
    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 of Collection: Annually.
    Affected Public: Research investigators at accredited institutions 
of higher education.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary (necessary to receive benefits).
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: We expect to 
receive approximately 65 applications and award 7 grants per year.

[[Page 58617]]

    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We 
estimate the public reporting burden to be 36 hours per response. This 
includes 24 hours per applicant to prepare and submit the application; 
and 12 hours (total) per grantee to complete the interim and final 
technical reports.
    Annual Burden Hours: 1656.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'': We 
have not identified any ``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. We 
invite comments concerning this information collection on:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents.
    Please note that the comments submitted in response to this notice 
are a matter of public record. Before including your 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 OMB in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that it will be done. To comply with the public 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: Phadrea D. Ponds 
970-226-9445.

    Dated: October 1, 2008.
John E. Schefter,
Water Resources Research Act Program Coordinator.
 [FR Doc. E8-23646 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
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