[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64559-64560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25381]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NER-NPS0028084; PPNEHATUC0, PPMRSCR1Y.CU0000 (200); OMB 
Control Number 1024-0232]


Agency Information Collection Activities; National Underground 
Railroad Network to Freedom Program

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 23, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; 
or by facsimile at 202-395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to Phadrea Ponds, Information Collection Clearance Officer, National 
Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525; or by email 
at [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1024-0232 
in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR contact Diane Miller, National Program Manager, National 
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, National Park Service, 
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, 4068 Golden Hill 
Road, Church Creek, Maryland 21622; or by email at 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1024-0232 in 
the subject line of your comments. 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.
    On May 28, 2019, we published a Federal Register notice soliciting 
comments on this collection of information for 60 days, ending on July 
29, 2019 (84 FR 24541). We did not receive any public comments on this 
notice.
    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 NPS; (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might the NPS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the NPS 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 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 National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act 
of 1998 (54 U.S.C. 308301, et seq.) authorizes the NPS to collect 
information from applicants requesting to join the Network to Freedom 
Program (the Network). The NPS uses this information to evaluate 
potential participants and to coordinate the preservation and education 
efforts nationwide that integrate local historical places, museums, and 
interpretive programs associated with the Underground Railroad into a 
mosaic of community, regional, and national stories.
    All entities that apply to join the Network must have a verifiable 
association with the historic Underground Railroad movement and 
complete NPS Form 10-946, ``National

[[Page 64560]]

Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Application,'' available on our 
website at http://www.nps.gov/subjects/ugrr/index.htm. Respondents must 
(1) verify associations and characteristics through descriptive texts 
that are the result of historical research and (2) submit supporting 
documentation; e.g., copies of rare documents, photographs, and maps. 
The majority of the information is submitted in electronic format and 
used to determine eligibility to become part of the Network.
    Network to Freedom Program Partners work with the NPS to help 
validate the efforts of local and regional organizations, making it 
easier for them to share their expertise and communicate with us and 
each other. Prospective partners must submit a letter with the 
following information:
     Name and address of the agency, company or organization;
     Name, address, and phone, fax, and email information of 
principal contact;
     Abstract not to exceed 200 words describing the partner's 
activity or mission statement; and
     Brief description of the entity's association to the 
Underground Railroad.
    With this submission, we are requesting one change on page 2 of 
form 10-946. The change is to clarify the contact information to 
distinguish between the owner/manager and the person completing the 
application (if they are different).
    Title of Collection: National Underground Railroad Network to 
Freedom Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0232.
    Form Number: NPS Form 10-946, ``National Underground Railroad 
Network to Freedom Application.''
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals; businesses; nonprofit 
organizations; and Federal, State, tribal, and local governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Estimated      Completion
                                                                     number of       time per        Estimated
                            Activity                                  annual         response      total annual
                                                                     responses        (hours)      burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Application (Form 10-946)...............................              25             160           1,000
Partner Request.................................................               2              .5               1
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................................              27  ..............           1,001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We are reporting 400 fewer burden hours, due to a decrease in 
responses. The burden hour per response remains the same. Due to 
staffing shortages and decreased activity in the program, the resulting 
annualized cost for administering the program are lower than the last 
reporting period. When vacant positions are filled, the number of 
responses and costs are expected to rise to previous levels.
    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.).

Phadrea Ponds,
Acting, Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25381 Filed 11-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P