[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 198 (Friday, October 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62253-62254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25213]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey

[GX12NM00COM0000]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

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

ACTION: Notice of extension of a currently approved information 
collection, 1028-0094, Energy Cooperatives to Support the National Coal 
Resources Data System.

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SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) will ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) 
described below. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal 
agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. This 
collection is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2013.

DATES: Submit written comments by December 11, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this information collection to 
the 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 
1028-0094 in the subject line.
    For Further Information Please Contact: Joe East, Geologist, 703-
648-6450 (phone); [email protected] (email), or 12201 Sunrise Valley 
Drive, MS 956, Reston, VA 20192 (mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The primary objective of the National Coal Resources Data System 
(NCRDS) is to advance the understanding of the energy endowment of the 
United States (U.S.) by gathering and organizing digital geologic 
information related to coal, coalbed gas, shale gas and other energy 
resources and related information regarding these resources. These data 
are needed to support regional or national assessments concerning coal 
and coal bed gas occurrences. Requesting external cooperation is the 
best way for NCRDS to collect energy data and perform research and 
analyses on the characterization of coals and organic-rich shale, and 
obtain other information (including geophysical or seismic data, sample 
collection for generation of thermal maturity data) that can be used in 
solid-fuel resource assessments and related studies.
    The USGS will issue a call for proposals to support researchers 
from State Geological Surveys and associated accredited Universities 
that can provide geologic data to support the NCRDS and other energy 
assessment projects being conducted by the Energy Resources Program. 
Data submitted to NCRDS by external cooperators constitute more than 
two-thirds of the USGS point-source stratigraphic database (USTRAT) on 
coal occurrence. In 2012, NCRDS supported 30 projects in 23 States. 
This program is conducted under various authorities, including 30 
U.S.C. 208-1, 42 U.S.C. 15801, and 43 U.S.C. 31 et seq. This collection 
will consist of applications, proposals and reports (annual and final).

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028-094.
    Title: Energy Cooperatives to Support the National Coal Resources 
Data System (NCRDS).
    Respondent Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Frequency of Collection: One time every 5 years for applications 
and final reports; annually for progress reports.
    Affected Public: Individuals; State, local and tribal governments; 
State Geological Surveys, universities, and businesses.
    Estimated Annual burden hours: 367.

[[Page 62254]]

    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 26.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 35 (9 applications 26 
reports).
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'': 
None.

III. 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.

IV. Comments

    We are soliciting comments as to: (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) how to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize the burden on 
the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques 
or other forms of information technology. Please note that the 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 publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to 
do so.

    Dated: October 4, 2012.
Brenda Pierce,
Program Coordinator, USGS Energy Resources Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-25213 Filed 10-11-12; 8:45 am]
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