[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 71 (Friday, April 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 17968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07548]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; The 
Environmental Questionnaire and Checklist (EQC)

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of the 
Secretary, 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 purpose of this notice is to allow 
for 60 days of public comment.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before June 13, 2017.

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 Jennifer Jessup at [email protected] or by telephone 
(202) 482-3306.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
(42 U.S.C. 4321-4347) and the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) 
Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) require that 
federal agencies complete an environmental analysis for all major 
federal actions significantly affecting the environment. Those actions 
may include a federal agency's decision to fund non-federal projects 
under grants and cooperative agreements, including infrastructure 
projects. In order to determine NEPA compliance requirements for a 
project receiving Department of Commerce (DOC) bureau-level funding, 
DOC must assess information which can only be provided by the applicant 
for federal financial assistance (grant).
    The Environmental Questionnaire and Checklist (EQC) provides 
federal financial assistance applicants and DOC staff with a tool to 
ensure that the necessary project and environmental information is 
obtained. The EQC was developed to collect data concerning potential 
environmental impacts that the applicant for federal financial 
assistance possesses and to transmit that information to the Federal 
reviewer. The EQC will allow for a more rapid review of projects and 
facilitate DOC's evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of a 
project and level of NEPA documentation required. DOC staff will use 
the information provided in answers to the questionnaire to determine 
compliance requirements for NEPA and conduct subsequent NEPA analysis 
as needed. Information provided in the questionnaire may also be used 
for other regulatory review requirements associated with the proposed 
project, such as the National Historic Preservation Act.

II. Method of Collection

    The primary method of collection will be the Internet 
(electronically). Some supporting documents may be emailed, or mailed.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0690-0028.
    Form Number: CD-593.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; state, local, 
or tribal government; and Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,000 in miscellaneous 
costs ($5 x approximately 200 respondents who would mail attachments 
rather than emailing them).

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 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-07548 Filed 4-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NW-P