[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3658-3660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01167]


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NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities, Comment 
Request

AGENCY: National Capital Planning Commission.

ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activities, comment 
request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA or 
Act) and its implementing regulations, the National Capital Planning 
Commission (NCPC or Commission) hereby announces an opportunity for 
public comment on a proposed Generic Clearance for the Collection of 
Qualitative Data for Planning Initiatives undertaken by the NCPC. A 
copy of the draft supporting statement is available at www.ncpc.gov. 
Following review and disposition of public comments, NCPC will submit 
this generic information request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval, and additional public comment will be 
solicited. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. Written 
comments will be available for public review at www.ncpc.gov.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 24, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule by either of 
the methods listed below.
    1. U.S. mail, courier, or hand delivery: Office of Public 
Engagement, National Capital Planning Commission, 401 9th Street NW., 
Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004.
    2. Electronically: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Office of Public Engagement, 
National Capital Planning Commission, 401 9th Street NW., Suite 500, 
Washington, DC 20004; [email protected], (202) 482-7200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
Agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for collection of information they conduct or sponsor. Collection 
of information is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and 
includes Agency requests or requirements that members of the public 
submit reports, keep records or provide information to a third party. 
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires 
Federal Agencies to provide a 60 day notice in the

[[Page 3659]]

Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information 
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with 
this requirement, NCPC is publishing notice of the proposed collection 
of information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, NCPC 
invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of NCPC's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of NCPC's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques, when 
appropriate, and other forms of information technology.
    Below is a summary of the collection activities the NCPC will 
submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA.
    NCPC is the federal government's central planning agency for the 
National Capital Region. Pursuant to the National Capital Planning Act 
(40 U.S.C., Sec. Sec.  8701 et seq.) NCPC prepares a comprehensive plan 
for the National Capital Region; reviews federal and some District of 
Columbia proposed developments, projects and plans; reviews District 
zoning amendments; prepares an annual Federal Capital Improvements 
Program and reviews the District Capital Improvements Program. To 
fulfill the mission established in the National Capital Planning Act, 
NCPC needs to conduct additional planning studies to inform the 
activities noted above.
    Over the next three years, NCPC anticipates it will complete an 
update to elements of the ``Comprehensive Plan for the National 
Capital,'' including a new urban design element; update the parks and 
open space element and conduct a study of parks in Washington, DC; 
advance an initiative for Pennsylvania Avenue; conduct regional climate 
adaptation and infrastructure studies; prepare one or more viewshed 
studies; study trail proposals; prepare commemoration studies and 
plans; and develop area-specific plans for federal precincts in the 
Monumental Core, including the SW. Ecodistrict and NW. Rectangle.
    Other new initiatives may be proposed during the next three years. 
While NCPC establishes a multi-year strategic plan and a yearly work 
program anticipating major initiatives, the agency's work is often 
shaped by external factors, including new Administration directives and 
the planning and development decisions of other federal agencies and 
local governments in the region.
    To fulfill the agency mission and consistent with best planning 
practices, NCPC's planning initiatives are predicated on receiving 
public input at all development stages. Public input is voluntary. The 
affected public may include individuals, agencies, and organizations 
within the National Capital Region, as well as national and even 
international audiences. Agency staff may receive requests from the 
Commission to solicit public input on specific topic areas identified 
as a planning process unfolds. NCPC's plans affect federal and non-
federal properties, regional residents and workers, federal and local 
government agencies, visitors, development interests, businesses, and 
civic and interest-based organizations.
    Based on prior experience and current practice, each initiative 
collects qualitative, voluntary public feedback to inform NCPC in their 
planning initiatives. While the specific information requested from the 
public cannot be determined at this time, the general nature of the 
collection and collection tools used are described below. NCPC will 
provide more refined individual estimates of burden in subsequent 
notices to OMB.
    To offer the public the broadest possible opportunity to comment, 
NCPC may ask the same questions in different formats: On line, in 
writing, and verbally at public meetings and focus groups. The purpose 
of collecting public input is to inform and shape NCPC's planning work 
at the earliest opportunity. Early in a planning study, public feedback 
is used to shape the direction and scope of the study, including 
possible vision and goals, study alternatives, and anticipated issues. 
At later stages, NCPC has often completed technical studies, and 
identified and developed options and alternatives for policies, 
physical development plans, or programs. Public input helps the agency 
evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of studies, and conveys 
preferences and responses to alternatives. Towards the end of a 
planning study, NCPC has typically developed early drafts of plans and 
policies and is seeking more detailed public comments, often on a 
preferred plan idea or approach. Public input is often organized around 
major plan/policy topics and key decisions. Public input helps the 
agency evaluate the full range of possible impacts and understand the 
preferences of the public prior to acting on a proposed policy or plan.
    Information collected will be used by agency staff as they develop 
policy and development plans. For some initiatives, steering committees 
comprised of representatives from federal agencies provide advisory 
guidance on agency policy and development plans. These committees 
review and consider public input prior to providing guidance. The 
Commission reviews informal public input, sometimes provided in summary 
form, as well as formally-submitted public comments as part of their 
deliberations and actions on draft and final agency plans.
    NCPC estimates the burden of this collection of information as 
follows:

                                 Table 1--Estimated Three Year Reporting Burden
                                                   [Footnote]
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                                                 Average number
                                    Number of          of           Number of
                                     events       respondents/      responses    Hours/response    Total hours
                                                      event
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Focus Groups...................             119              15            1785            1.5            2677.5
Public Meetings................              57              50            2850            1              2850
Online comment.................              27             300            8100            0.5            4050
Questionnaire..................              15             100            1500            0.25            375
Ideas Competition..............               5             400            2000             .5            1000
Design Charrette...............               3             100             300            1.5             450
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[[Page 3660]]

 
    Total......................             226             965           15235  ..............          11402.5
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Footnote: There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection.

    The number of respondents to be included in each new event may 
vary, depending on the nature of the material and the target audience. 
Table 1 provides examples of the types of collection tools that may be 
administered and estimated burden levels during the three year period. 
Time to read, view or listen to the subject material is built into the 
estimated ``Total Hours.''

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

    Dated: January 20, 2015.
Anne R. Schuyler,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2015-01167 Filed 1-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7520-01-P