[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18248-18249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9092]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey


Agency Information Collection Activity; National Cooperative 
Geologic Mapping Program (EDMAP and STATEMAP)

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

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 have submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) a new information collection request (ICR) 
for approval of the paperwork requirements for the National Cooperative 
Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP). The NCGMP has two components: 
educational (EDMAP) and State (STATEMAP). This notice provides the 
public an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of the 
application requirements discussed below.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before May 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments on this information collection 
directly to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of 
the Interior, via e-mail [[email protected]] or fax (202) 395-
5806; and identify your submission as 1028-NEW. Please also submit a 
copy of your comments to Phadrea Ponds, USGS Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, 2150-C Center Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (mail); 
(970) 226-9230 (fax); or [email protected] (e-mail). Please reference 
Information Collection 1028-NEW, NCGMP in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: To request additional 
information about this ICR, contact Randall Orndorff, Associate Program 
Coordinator (STATEMAP and EDMAP), National Cooperative Geological 
Mapping Program, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 
908, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); at 703-648-4316 (telephone); or 
[email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The primary objective of the EDMAP component of the NCGMP is to 
train the next generation of geologic mappers. To do this, NCGMP 
provides funds for graduate and selected undergraduate students in 
academic research projects that involve geologic mapping as a major 
component. Through these cooperative agreements, NCGMP hopes to expand 
the research and educational capacity of academic programs that teach 
earth science students the techniques of geologic mapping and field 
data analysis. We will accept only one proposal from an individual 
principal investigator (professor or faculty advisor), although we will 
accept more than one proposal from a single university if authored by 
different principal investigators. Although EDMAP awards support 
student mapping in the field, the student's faculty advisor must write 
the proposal. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.
    The primary objective of the STATEMAP component of the NCGMP is to 
establish the geologic framework of areas determined to be vital to the 
economic, social, or scientific welfare of individual States. The State 
geologist determines mapping priorities in consultation with a multi-
representational State Mapping Advisory Committee. We will accept only 
one proposal from each State each fiscal year. Proposals may contain a 
number of geologic mapping projects and may include one compilation or 
digitization project, or all projects may be for new mapping if the 
State chooses. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: None. This is a new collection.
    Title: National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (EDMAP and 
STATEMAP).
    Respondent Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 101. U.S. 
accredited university geoscience or related departments are eligible 
for EDMAP funds. University professors must write and submit the 
proposals. Only State Geological Surveys are eligible to apply for the 
STATEMAP component. Since many State Geological Surveys are organized 
under a State university system, such universities may submit a 
proposal on behalf of the State Geological Survey.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 101.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: 
2,020. We expect to receive 55 applications for EDMAP and 46 for 
STATEMAP, each taking 20 hours to complete. This includes the time for 
project conception and development, proposal writing and reviewing, and 
submitting a project narrative through Grants.gov.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There are no ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection 
of information.

III. Request for Comments

    On April 22, 2008, we published a Federal Register notice (73 FR 
21646) soliciting comments on the STATEMAP component. The comment 
period closed on June 23, 2008. On August 26, 2008,

[[Page 18249]]

we published a Federal Register notice (73 FR 50341) soliciting 
comments on the EDMAP component. The comment period for this notice 
closed on October 27, 2008. We did not receive any comments in response 
to these notices.
    We again invite comments concerning this ICR on: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit 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 publically available at anytime. 
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.

    Dated: April 7, 2009.
Randall Orndorff,
Associate Program Coordinator, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. E9-9092 Filed 4-20-09; 8:45 am]
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