[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52931-52932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21594]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2011-0020]


Notice of Intent To Request Comments on a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service (NRCS) to request comments on a currently approved 
information collection for which approval will expire, 0578-0030, 
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program.
    Public Participation: NRCS invites public participation to promote 
open communication and better decisionmaking. All persons and 
organizations that have an interest in the EWP program are urged to 
provide comments.
    Scoping Process: Public participation is requested throughout the 
scoping process. NRCS is soliciting comments from the public indicating 
what issues and impacts the public believes should be encompassed 
within the scope of the EWP program. Comments are invited on: (a) 
Whether the proposed collection

[[Page 52932]]

of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility, (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used, (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, such as through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technologic collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

DATES: Effective Date: This is effective August 24, 2011.
    Comment Date: Submit comments on or before October 24, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted, identified by Docket Number 
NRCS-2011-0020, using any of the following methods:
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: http://regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for sending comments 
electronically.
     Mail: Attention: Phyllis I. Watkins, Agency OMB Clearance 
Officer, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, Post Office Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013.
     E-mail: [email protected].
    All comments received will become a matter of public record and 
will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phyllis I. Watkins, Agency OMB 
Clearance Officer, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, Post Office Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013; 
Phone: (202) 720-3770; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This notice is prepared in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995).

Government Paperwork Elimination Act

    NRCS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act and the Freedom to E-File Act, which require government 
agencies, in general, and NRCS, in particular, to provide the option of 
submitting information or transacting business electronically to the 
maximum extent possible.

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Emergency Watershed Protection Program. OMB Number: 0578-
0030.
    Expiration Date: January 31, 2012.
    Type of Request: To request comments on a currently approved 
collection for which approval will expire.
    Abstract: The primary objective of NRCS is to work in partnership 
with the American people and the farming and ranching community to 
conserve and sustain our natural resources. The purpose of EWP 
information collection is to provide assistance to sponsors to 
undertake emergency measures to retard runoff and prevent soil erosion 
to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products 
of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood, or other natural 
disaster is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of that 
watershed. The sponsor's request is submitted formally as a letter (now 
the Appendix to NRCS-PDM-20A) to the NRCS State Conservationist for 
consideration. The Damage Survey Report (NRCS-PDM-20) is the agency 
decisionmaking document that includes the economic, social, and 
environmental evaluation and the engineer's cost estimate. This 
information collection allows the responsible Federal official to make 
EWP program eligibility determinations and provide Federal cost-share 
contribution to complete the measures. This request is necessary to 
implement the EWP program for which NRCS has statutory authority. The 
table below lists the forms in this collection, the uses for each 
document, and the applicable programs. These forms constitute this 
information collection and reflect the documents used by EWP sponsors 
to request participation in the recovery program.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Form No.                           Form Title              OMB No.              Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRCS-PDM-20...........................  Damage Survey Report..........    0578-0030  EWP Recovery.
NRCS-PDM-20A..........................  Appendix to the DSR, Request      0578-0030  EWP Recovery.
                                         for Participation in the
                                         Program.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NRCS will ask OMB for 3-year approval within 60 days of submitting 
the request.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3.5 hours or 117 minutes per 
response.
    Respondents: State government or State agency or a legal 
subdivision thereof, local unit of government, or any Native American 
Tribe or Tribal organization as defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.450b), with a 
legal interest in or responsibility for the values threatened by a 
watershed emergency. All of the foregoing entities must be capable of 
obtaining necessary land rights and capable of carrying out any 
operation and maintenance responsibilities that may be required.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 420.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,565 hours.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed August 17, 2011, in Washington, DC.
Homer L. Wilkes,
Acting Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-21594 Filed 8-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3416-10-P