[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 238 (Monday, December 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66143-66144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29642]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Agency Information Collection Activities: USGS Earthquake Hazards 
Program (EHP) Annual Assistance Announcement

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

SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
(the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that we have 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Notice of an 
extension of an information collection (1028-0051). This notice 
provides the public an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden 
of this project. The Information Collection Request (ICR), which is 
summarized below, describes the nature and the estimated burden of the 
collection. We acknowledge that we may not conduct or sponsor and a 
person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless 
it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

DATE: You must submit comments on or before January 13, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on this information 
collection directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior via e-mail to [email protected] or 
fax at

[[Page 66144]]

202-395-5806; and identify your submission with Information Collection 
Number 1028-0051. Please also provide a copy of your comments to 
Phadrea Ponds, Information Collections, U.S. Geological Survey, 2150-C 
Center Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (mail); (970) 226-9230 (fax); or 
FAX: [email protected] (e-mail). Use Information Collection Number 1028-
0051 in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Lemersal, Earthquake Hazards 
Program by telephone at (703) 648-6716.

I. Supplementary Information

Abstract

    Research and monitoring findings are essential to fulfilling USGS's 
responsibility under the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act to develop 
earthquake hazard assessments and recording and reporting earthquake 
activity nationwide. Residents, emergency responders, and engineers 
rely on the USGS for this accurate and scientifically sound 
information. Respondents to Program Announcements submit proposals to 
support research and monitoring related to earthquake hazard 
assessments, earthquake causes and effects, and earthquake monitoring. 
This information is used as the basis for selection and award of 
projects meeting the USGS's Earthquake Hazards Program objectives. 
Final reports of research and monitoring findings are required for each 
funded proposal; annual progress reports are required for awards of a 
two- to five-year duration. Final reports are made available to the 
public at the Web site http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/external/.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028-0051.
    Title: Earthquake Hazards Program Research and Monitoring.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Research scientists, engineers, and the general 
public.
    Respondent Obligation: Required; necessary to receive benefits.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually and once every three to five 
years.
    Estimated Annual Number of and Description of Respondents: 250 
Educational institutions, and profit and non-profit organizations.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 370 (250 applications and 
narratives and 120 annual and/or final reports).
    Estimated Completion Time: 45 hours per application response and 9 
hours per final report.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 12,330 (11,250 hours per application 
and 1,080 hours per annual and/or final report).
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: 
12,330 hours. We estimate the public reporting burden will average 45 
hours per application response. This includes time to develop project 
goals, write the statement of work, perform internal proposal reviews, 
and submit the proposal through grants.gov. We estimate the public 
reporting burden will average 9 hours per final or annual report 
response. This includes summarizing accomplishments for the past year's 
funded efforts.
    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 September 22, 2009, we published a Federal Register notice (74 
FR 48281) soliciting comments announcing that we would submit this 
information to OMB for approval. We solicited comments for a period of 
60 days, ending on November 23, 2009. We did not receive any comments 
concerning that notice.
    We again invite comments concerning this ICR on: (1) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether or not the information will have 
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (4) 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 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.
    USGS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Phadrea Ponds 970-
226-9445.

    Dated: December 7, 2009.
 David Applegate,
Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards.
[FR Doc. E9-29642 Filed 12-11-09; 8:45 am]
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