[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26544-26545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11046]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; NOAA 
Restoration Center Performance Progress Report

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The draft revised information 
collection form and guidance not yet approved by OMB can be reviewed at 
http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/programs/crp.html.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 7, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Julia Royster, Office of Habitat Conservation, 
Restoration Center, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 20910, (301) 
427-8686, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The NOAA Restoration Center (NOAA RC) provides technical and 
financial assistance to identify, develop, implement, and evaluate 
community-driven habitat restoration projects. Awards are made as 
grants or cooperative agreements under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 
1891a and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as 
amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970.
    The NOAA RC requires specific information on habitat restoration 
projects that we fund, as part of routine progress reporting. 
Recipients of NOAA RC funds submit information such as project 
location, restoration techniques used, species benefited, acres 
restored, stream miles opened to access for diadromous fish, volunteer 
participation, and other parameters.
    The required information enables NOAA to track, evaluate and report 
on coastal and marine habitat restoration and demonstrate 
accountability for federal funds. This information is used to populate 
a database of NOAA RC-funded habitat restoration. The database, with 
its robust querying capabilities, is instrumental to provide accurate 
and timely responses to NOAA, Department of Commerce, Congressional and 
constituent inquiries. It also facilitates reporting by NOAA on the 
Government Performance and Results Act ``acres restored'' performance 
measure. Grant recipients are required by the NOAA Grants Management 
Division to submit periodic performance reports and a final report for 
each award; this collection stipulates the information to be provided 
in these reports.
    Since the last extension of this collection approved by OMB, the 
database used to track and report on restoration projects has been 
updated and redesigned. The NOAA RC is revising and streamlining the 
progress report form to ensure it aligns with the updated database and 
collects only the information we need to effectively track, evaluate, 
and report on restoration projects completed with federal funds. The 
NOAA RC has also divided the information collected into two forms for 
simplicity. The Performance Report Form focuses on tracking project 
implementation, milestones, performance measures, monitoring, and 
expenditures. The Administrative Form only applies to recipients with 
an award that will implement multiple projects. It collects information 
on the administration of the award, the number of projects supported by 
the award, and award expenditures.

II. Method of Collection

    NOAA's preferred method of collection is submission of electronic 
fillable forms attached to an award file in Grants Online, NOAA's award 
management system. If the recipient does not have electronic access to 
submit the form, mailed paper forms will be accepted.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0472.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (revision and extension of currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; state, local, or 
tribal government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 130.
    Estimated Time per Response: Performance Interim reports, 4 hours, 
30 minutes; final reports, 7 hours, 45 minutes and Administrative 
Interim reports, 4 hours; final reports, 7 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,475.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques

[[Page 26545]]

or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 4, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-11046 Filed 5-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P