[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55939-55940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22773]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Paperwork 
Submissions Under the Coastal Zone Management Act Federal Consistency 
Requirements

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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 17, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, Government 
Information Specialist, NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, 
NC 28801 (or via the internet at [email protected]). All comments 
received are part of the public record. Comments will generally be 
posted without change. All Personally Identifiable Information (for 
example, name and address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may 
be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information 
or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to David Kaiser, 603-862-2719 or [email protected].

[[Page 55940]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This notice and request for public comment is for a request to 
extend a currently approved information collection.
    The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) creates a State-federal 
partnership to improve the management of the nation's coastal zone 
through the development of federally approved State coastal management 
plans (CMPs). The CZMA provides two incentives for States to develop 
federally approved CMPs: (1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) has appropriated monies to grant to States to 
develop and implement State CMPs that meet statutory and regulatory 
criteria; and (2) the CZMA requires federal agencies, non-federal 
licensees, and State and local government recipients of federal 
assistance to conduct their activities in a manner ``consistent'' with 
the enforceable policies of NOAA-approved CMPs. The latter incentive, 
referred to as the ``federal consistency'' provision, is found at 16 
U.S.C. 1456. NOAA's regulations at 15 CFR part 930 implement NOAA's 
responsibilities to provide procedures for the consistency provision, 
the procedures available for an appeal of a State's objection to a 
consistency certification as provided for in 16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(A) 
and (B) and 1456(d), and changes in the appeal process created by 
Congressional amendments in 1990, 1996 and 2005, and found at 16 U.S.C. 
1465.
    Paperwork and information collection occur largely outside of NOAA 
by: (1) State and Federal agencies engaged in licensing and permitting 
activities affecting coastal resources, (2) Federal agencies taking 
actions affecting State coastal zones, and (3) Federal agencies 
providing federal assistance to State and local governments in the 
coastal zone. In each of these cases, information is collected by the 
entity making the license, permit, assistance or action decision and 
NOAA's regulations provide for the use of that information already 
required by the State or Federal entity in the consistency process. 
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1456, NOAA's regulations require the appropriate 
entity, Federal agency or applicant for license or permit, to prepare a 
consistency determination or certification. This information is 
provided to the relevant State CMP, not to NOAA. Information is 
provided to NOAA only when there is a State objection to a consistency 
certification, when informal mediation is sought by a Federal agency or 
State, or when an applicant for a federal license or permit appeals to 
the Secretary of Commerce for an override to a State CMPs objection to 
a consistency certification. Last, in 1990, Congress required State 
CMPs to provide for public participation in their permitting processes, 
consistency determinations and similar decisions, 16 U.S.C. 
1455(d)(14), and NOAA regulations at part 930 implement that 
requirement.
    A number of paperwork submissions are required by the Coastal Zone 
Management Act (CZMA) federal consistency provision, 16 U.S.C. 1456, 
and implementing regulations. These submissions are intended to provide 
a reasonable, efficient, and predictable means of complying with CZMA 
requirements. The paperwork submission requirements are detailed in 15 
CFR part 930. The information will be used by coastal states with 
federally approved Coastal Zone Management Programs to determine if 
Federal agency activities, Federal license or permit activities, and 
Federal assistance activities that affect a state's coastal zone are 
consistent with the state's coastal management program. Information 
will also be used by NOAA and the Secretary of Commerce for appeals to 
the Secretary by non-federal applicants regarding state CZMA objections 
to federal license or permit activities or Federal assistance 
activities.

II. Method of Collection

    Information is submitted pursuant to the procedural requirements of 
the CZMA and its implementing federal consistency regulations. Required 
information is case-specific and not submitted by form. Methods of 
submittal include email and mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0411.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: State, Local, or tribal government; Federal 
government; business or other for-profit organizations; individuals or 
households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,334.
    Estimated Time per Response: Applications, certifications, and 
state objection or concurrence letters, 8 hours each; state requests 
for review of unlisted activities, 4 hours; public notices, 1 hour; 
interstate listing notices, 30 hours; mediation, 2 hours; appeals to 
the Secretary of Commerce, 210 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 35,799.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $9,024 in recordkeeping and 
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 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 Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-22773 Filed 10-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-08-P