[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12871-12872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5174]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey

[USGS-GX12GL00DT70500]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request for 
National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP)

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Department of the Interior.

[[Page 12872]]


ACTION: Notice of an extension of a currently approved information 
collection.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
(the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that we will 
submit to OMB an extension of a currently approved information 
collection (IC) for the National Geological and Geophysical Data 
Preservation Program (NGGDPP) under Section 351 of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005. This notice provides the public and other Federal agencies 
an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this information 
collection (IC). The existing IC is scheduled to expire on July 31, 
2012. To submit a proposal to the NGGDPP, a project narrative must be 
completed and submitted via www.Grants.gov. Furthermore, a final 
technical report for all projects is required at the end of the project 
period. Narrative and report guidance is available through http://datapreservation.usgs.gov/and at www.Grants.gov.

DATES: Submit written comments by May 1, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comments concerning the IC to the USGS 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 807, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); 703-648-7199 
(fax); or [email protected] (email). Please reference Information 
Collection 1028-0087.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty Adrian at (303) 202-4828 or by 
mail at U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS 975, Denver Federal 
Center, Denver, CO 80225, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation 
Program (NGGDPP).
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0087.
    Abstract: Section 351 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the 
Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the U.S. Geological 
Survey, as follows, ``The Secretary shall carry out a National 
Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program in accordance with 
this section--
    (1) To archive geologic, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, 
well logs, and samples;
    (2) To provide a national catalog of such archival material; and
    (3) To provide technical and financial assistance related to the 
archival material.'' The Plan outlines program goals and recommends 
implementation strategies. An action item in the plan is to ``begin 
interactions with State geological surveys and other DOI agencies that 
maintain geological and geophysical data and samples to address their 
preservation and data rescue needs.'' In response, the USGS is 
requesting each state that elects to participate in the program to:
    (1) Inventory their current collections and data preservation needs 
to provide a snapshot of the diversity of scientific collections held, 
supported, or used by State geological surveys. This inventory of 
current collections will form the foundation of the National Catalog;
    (2) Build the National Catalog by providing site-specific metadata 
for items in inventoried collections. Focus on site-specific sample 
data allows broad national coverage with content useful to a wide 
variety of users. The types of sites cataloged will be determined by 
the holdings of participating states; and
    (3) In FY 2010 and beyond, depending on appropriations, states 
would be invited to propose projects that address other priorities 
identified in the Implementation Plan for the National Geological and 
Geophysical Data Preservation Program, including: (a) Inventory 
collections of geological and geophysical data; (b) Digital 
infrastructure; (c) Metadata for items in data collections; and (d) 
Special data rescue needs.
    Furthermore, annual data preservation priorities are provided in 
the Program Announcement as guidance for applicants to consider when 
submitting proposals. Annual priorities are determined by the USGS 
NGGDPP Catalog and Financial and Technical Assistance Committees 
comprising representatives from State geological surveys, industry, 
academia, and DOI. Since its inception in 2007, NGGDPP has awarded, and 
44 states have matched, over $2,521,000 in grant funds.
    This notice concerns the collection of information that is 
sufficient and relevant to evaluate and select proposals for funding. 
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 49 State Geological Surveys will have the opportunity to 
apply for matching Federal funds.
    Respondent Obligation: Voluntary (necessary to receive benefits).
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 34.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1224 hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We 
estimate the public reporting burden averages 36 hours per response. 
This includes time (1) to write and review the proposal and submit it 
through www.Grants.gov and (2) prepare and submit the final technical 
report.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'': We 
have not identified any ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this 
collection of information.
    Request for Comments: We invite comments concerning this IC 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. Please note that any comments submitted in response to this 
notice are a matter of public record. Before including your address, 
phone number, email 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 any time. While you can ask OMB in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that will be done.

    Dated: February 23, 2012.
Betty M. Adrian,
Acting Program Coordinator, National Geological and Geophysical Data, 
Preservation Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-5174 Filed 3-1-12; 8:45 am]
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