[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65903-65904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26736]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey

[GX.13.GG00.99600.00]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

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

ACTION: Notice of an extension of an information collection (1028-
0051).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we will submit to OMB an information 
collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork 
requirements for respondents to submit proposals and fulfill assistance 
reporting requirements for research in earthquake hazard assessments 
and earthquake occurrence under the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 
1977, as amended, Public Law 95-124, 42 U.S.C. 7701 et. seq. To submit 
a proposal, three standard OMB forms and a project narrative must be 
completed and submitted via Grants.gov. This collection is scheduled to 
expire on February 28, 2013. This notice provides the public an 
opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these forms.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before December 31, 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);

[[Page 65904]]

or [email protected] (email). Please Reference Information 1028-0051 in 
the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this IC, Elizabeth Lemersal, Earthquake Hazards Program, (703) 
648-6716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Earthquake Hazards Program Research and Monitoring.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0051.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    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/.
    Responses are voluntary. No questions of a ``sensitive'' nature are 
asked.
    Affected Public: Research scientists, engineers, and the general 
public.
    Respondent Obligation: Voluntary; necessary to receive benefits.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually: Grant proposals and reporting; 
Every two to five years: Cooperative Agreement proposals and reporting.
    Estimated Annual Number of and Description of Respondents: 250 
Educational institutions, and profit and non-profit organizations.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 350 (250 applications and 
narratives and 100 annual and final reports).
    Estimated Completion Time: 45 hours per application response and 12 
hours per final report.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 12,450 (11,250 hours for 
applications and 1,200 hours for final reports).
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: 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 12 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: We 
have not identified any ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this 
collection of information.
    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.
    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 23, 2012.
William Leith,
Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards.
[FR Doc. 2012-26736 Filed 10-30-12; 8:45 am]
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