[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18311-18312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08632]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey

[GX18DK10GUH0300; OMB Control Number 1028-0118/Renewal]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; USGS Water Use 
Data and Research Program Announcement

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 30, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to USGS, Information Collections Clearance Officer, 12201 Sunrise 
Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1028-
0118 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Cheryl A. Dieter by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at 443-498-5537. You may also view the ICR at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the USGS, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, provide the general public and other 
Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, 
and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the 
impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the 
public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
Thursday, October 25, 2018 (83 FR 53895). No comments were received.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. We are especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the 
proper functions of the USGS; (2) will this information be processed 
and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; 
(4) how might the USGS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the USGS minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    Comments that you submit 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 may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The USGS is authorized under SECURE Water Act Section 
9508 to assist state water resource agencies with improving their water 
use data collection activities. The USGS has implemented the Water Use 
Data and Research program (WUDR) to work with state water agencies in 
gathering and analyzing their data and assists this effort via 
cooperative agreements. WUDR will work to improve the collection and 
reporting of water-use categories by state agencies, including 
categories of water use that were previously discontinued due to 
limited resources. This collection will be used

[[Page 18312]]

in reports to Congress on water resources in the Nation. Total program 
authorization is $12,500,000 for a period of five years.
    Cooperative agreements will be announced and awarded as part of a 
competitive process that will be guided, annually, by a technical 
committee whose members will include representatives from the 
stakeholder community as well as the USGS. WUDR funds will be 
coordinated with a single agency in each state. Collaboration and 
coordination with USGS personnel will be required as part of the WUDR 
program. Data must be stored electronically and made available in 
machine readable formats that can be incorporated into USGS databases. 
Additionally, methods used for data collection (estimated values, 
coefficients, etc.) and a description of data quality assurance and 
control must be provided to the USGS.
    Title of Collection: USGS Water Use Data and Research Program 
Announcement.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0118.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State water-resource agencies that 
collect water-use data.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: WUDR estimates that 
30 respondents (states) will read the Program Announcement, 14 
respondents will submit applications, and 12 respondents will submit 
semi-annual progress reports and a final technical report.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 14 applications, 24 
progress reports, and 12 final technical reports.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Read Program announcement: 
1 hour; prepare applications: 40 hours; progress reports: 4 hours; 
final technical report: 24 hours.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 974 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory to be eligible to receive 
funding.
    Frequency of Collection: Program Announcements are published 
annually. Proposals are submitted annually by State Water Resource 
Agencies wishing to compete for funding as related to the annual 
Program Announcement. State water-resource agencies that receive a 
cooperative agreement must submit semi-annual progress reports and a 
final technical report.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: None.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.).

Melinda Dalton,
Program Coordinator, Water Availability and Use Science Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-08632 Filed 4-29-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4338-11-P