[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66657-66658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24104]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Chesapeake Bay Watershed Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES:  To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before January 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0753 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Shannon Sprague, Environmental Literacy and Partnerships Manager, 
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, 200 Harry S Truman Parkway, Suite 460, 
Annapolis, MD 21401, 240-653-9023, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement of 2014 required 
monitoring of progress toward the environmental literacy goal: ``Enable 
students in the region to graduate with the knowledge and skills needed 
to act responsibly to protect and restore their local watersheds.'' 
NOAA, on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Program, will ask the state 
education agencies for Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West 
Virginia, and the District of Columbia to survey their local education 
agencies (LEAs) to determine: (1) LEA capacity to implement a 
comprehensive and systemic approach to environmental literacy 
education, (2) student participation in Meaningful Watershed 
Educational Experience during the school year, (3) sustainability 
practices at schools, and (4) LEA needs for improving environmental 
literacy education programming. LEAs (generally school districts, in 
some cases charter school administration) are asked to complete the 
survey on the status of their LEA on a set of key indicators for the 
four areas listed above. One individual from each LEA is asked to 
complete their survey once every two years. The results of the biennial 
ELIT survey will be analyzed and reported to the internal stakeholders 
of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Participating states will 
receive a summarized report of findings for the full watershed, a 
summary of findings for their state, and comparisons of results between 
states. These aggregated results will be used by the state agencies to 
understand progress of their school districts over time, and to inform 
decision-making about strategies and priorities for future work with 
school districts. Additionally, NOAA will use this information to 
inform priorities within their B-WET funding opportunities and 
technical assistance. The biennial reporting will also be used by the 
Chesapeake Bay Program to understand progress of school districts in 
the watershed, understand differences between jurisdictions, and guide 
strategy for providing targeted support in each state.

II. Method of Collection

    Data will be collected electronically via Qualtrics or through a 
platform with similar functionality.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0753.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government (local education 
agencies); Not-for-profit organizations (charter schools).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The survey will be distributed to 
approximately 685 local education agencies.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 229.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: US Code: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. Name of Law: 
National Environmental Policy Act.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or

[[Page 66658]]

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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-24104 Filed 11-3-22; 8:45 am]
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