[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55581-55582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22610]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX19 EN05ESB0500; OMB Control Number 1028-0096/Renewal]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments; 
Department of the Interior Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers

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 
December 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections 
Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control 
Number 1028-0096 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Doug Beard, Chief of the USGS National Climate 
Adaptation Science Center, by email at [email protected], or by telephone 
at 703-648-5212.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, 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.
    We are 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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) manages eight 
Department of the Interior (DOI) Regional Climate Adaptation Science 
Centers (CASCs). Each CASC involves a cooperative agreement with a host 
institution. The host institution agreements are periodically re-
competed, requiring collection of information from potential host 
institutions. In addition, this information collection addresses 
quarterly and annual reporting required of host institutions.
    Title of Collection: Department of the Interior Regional Climate 
Adaptation Science Centers.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0096.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Institutions that are expected to 
propose to serve as CASC host or partner institutions include state, 
local government, and tribal entities, including academic institutions. 
Existing host institutions are state academic institutions.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: The USGS expects to 
request proposals for a maximum of three CASCs in any year, and to 
receive an average of 5 proposals per CASC-request, for a total of 15 
proposals in any single year. The USGS expects to enter into hosting 
agreements with a minimum of eight CASC host institutions.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: The USGS would request 
quarterly financial statements and annual progress reports covering 
host agreements from eight institutions. In addition, the USGS expects 
to have in place approximately 40 cooperative agreements per year 
addressing specific research projects funded under these hosting 
agreements. Each of these 40 agreements requires quarterly financial 
statements and one annual progress report.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Each proposal for CASC 
hosting is expected to take 200 hours to complete. The time required to 
complete quarterly and annual reports for any specific host cooperative 
agreement or research project agreement is expected to total 2.5 hours 
per report.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: A maximum of 3120 
hours in years when proposals are requested, and 120 hours in those 
years with only quarterly and annual reporting.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Information will be collected one time 
every five years (approximately) for each CASC, to enable re-
competition of CASC hosting agreements. In addition, host institutions 
are required to fill four quarterly financial statements and one annual 
progress report.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: There are no ``non-hour 
cost'' burdens associated with this collection of information.
    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.

[[Page 55582]]

    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq).

Thomas Beard,
Chief, National Climate Adaptation Science Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-22610 Filed 10-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4338-11-P