[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 109 (Monday, June 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32364-32365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13916]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Marine Debris Program Performance Progress Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-xxxx.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (request for a new information 
collection).
    Number of Respondents: 70.
    Average Hours per Response: 10 hours per semi-annual report.
    Burden Hours: 1,400 hours.
    Needs and Uses: The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) supports 
national and international efforts to research, prevent, and reduce the 
impacts of marine debris. The MDP is a centralized office within NOAA 
that coordinates and supports activities, both within the bureau and 
with other federal agencies, that address marine debris and its 
impacts. In addition to inter-agency coordination, the MDP uses 
partnerships with state and local agencies, tribes, non-governmental 
organizations, academia, and industry to investigate and solve the 
problems that stem from marine debris through research, prevention, and 
reduction activities, in order to protect and conserve our nation's 
marine environment and ensure navigation safety.
    The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (33 
U.S.C. 1951 et seq.) as amended by the Marine Debris Act Amendments of 
2012 (Pub. L. 112-213, Title VI, Sec. 603, 126 Stat. 1576, December 20, 
2012) outlines three central program components for the MDP to 
undertake: (1) Mapping, identification, impact assessment, removal, and 
prevention; (2) reducing and preventing fishing gear loss; and (3) 
outreach to stakeholders and the general public. To address these 
components, the Marine Debris Act authorized the MDP to establish 
several competitive grant programs on marine debris research, 
prevention and removal that provide federal funding to non-federal 
applicants throughout the coastal United States and territories.
    The terms and conditions of the financial assistance awarded 
through

[[Page 32365]]

these grant programs require regular progress reporting and 
communication of project accomplishments to MDP. This information 
collection enables MDP to monitor and evaluate the activities supported 
by federal funds to ensure accountability to the public and to ensure 
that funds are used consistent with the purpose for which they were 
appropriated. It also ensures that reported information is standardized 
in such a way that allows for it to be meaningfully synthesized across 
a diverse set of projects and project types. MDP uses the information 
collected in a variety of ways to communicate with federal and non-
federal partners and stakeholders on individual project and general 
program accomplishments.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; not-
for-profit institutions; state, local or tribal government.
    Frequency: Semi-annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: June 3, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-13916 Filed 6-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P