[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58408-58409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23774]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX20DK40GUK0100; OMB Control Number 1028-0097 Renewal]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; State Water 
Resources Research Institute Program Annual Application, National 
Competitive Grants, and Reporting

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 58409]]

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 2, 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 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-
0097 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Earl Greene by email at [email protected] or by 
telephone at 571-332-4184. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

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.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
August 5, 2019 (84 FR 38039). 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 can 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) Water Resources 
Research Act (WRRA) program issues an annual announcement to solicit 
applications for the noncompetitive State Water Resources Research 
Program annual grants authorized by section 104(c) and for the national 
competitive grant program authorized by section 104(g) of the Water 
Resources Research Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-242), as amended [42 U.S.C. 
10303(c)].
    Annual grants (104c) may contain research and information transfer 
projects as well as an administration project describing the 
Institute's overall administration and objectives. The research 
projects are generally selected in a competitive statewide 
solicitation, peer review, and selection process designed and conducted 
by each Institute. National competitive grants (104g) will focus on 
water problems and issues of a regional or interstate nature beyond 
those of concern only to a single state and which relate to specific 
program priorities identified jointly by the Secretary (of the 
Interior) and the Institutes.
    The State Water Resources Research Institutes were established 
under Section 104(a) of the Act [42 U.S.C. 10303(a)]. There are 54 
Water Resources Research Institutes, one in each state, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. The 
Institutes are organized as the National Institutes for Water Resources 
(NIWR). The NIWR cooperates with the USGS in establishing total 
programmatic direction, reporting on the activities of the Institutes, 
coordinating and facilitating regional research, and information and 
technology transfer.
    Title of Collection: State Water Resources Research Institute 
Program Annual Application, National Competitive Grants, and Reporting.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0097.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Universities.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 54.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 173.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 180 hours.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 10,160 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour 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).

Earl Greene,
USGS, Program Coordinator, Water Resources Research Act.
[FR Doc. 2019-23774 Filed 10-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4338-11-P