[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25010-25011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08698]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX23GB00UM20200; OMB Control Number 1028-0133]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Earth Mapping Resources 
Initiative (Earth MRI) Competitive Cooperative Agreement Program With 
State Geological Surveys

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 (PRA), 
the Office of the Secretary will seek Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval of an extension of a previously approved information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 26, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
clearance of a new information collection should be sent to 
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Department 
of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240; or by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number ``1028-0133 
EarthMRI'' in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this Information Collection Request (ICR), contact James Mosley 
by telephone at (703) 648-6312, or by email at [email protected]. 
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require 
approval. We may not conduct or sponsor, nor are you required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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 especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How the agency might minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    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 personally identifiable information 
(PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your PII--may be made publicly available at any time. While 
you can ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, 
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: Public Law 117-58, Section 40201, ``Earth Mapping 
Resources Initiative'' contained in the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act [otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)] 
authorizes and accelerates the mapping efforts of the Earth Mapping 
Resources Initiative (Earth MRI).
    Earth MRI is a component of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 
Mineral Resources Program and is a national effort to carry out the 
fundamental resources- and mapping mission of the USGS. The goal of 
Earth MRI is to modernize the surface- and subsurface geologic mapping 
of the United States, with a focus on identifying areas that may have 
the potential to contain mineral resources.
    The BIL directed the USGS to accelerate efforts to carry out 
fundamental integrated topographic, geologic, geochemical, and 
geophysical mapping and provide interpretation of subsurface and above-
ground (mine waste) critical-mineral resources data at a funding level 
of $320,000,000 annually for five years (FY2022-FY2026). The USGS 
developed a new competitive cooperative agreement program with the 
State geological surveys to support mine-waste activities authorized 
and funded by the BIL. State geological surveys apply for funds through 
an annual competitive agreement process. Individual State projects last 
for up to two years.
    BIL Section 40201 stipulates that the USGS may enter into 
cooperative agreements with State geological surveys to accelerate the 
efforts of Earth MRI. The BIL requires the USGS to collect information 
necessary to ensure that cooperative-agreement funds authorized by this 
legislation are used in accordance with the BIL and Federal assistance 
requirements under 2 CFR 200. Information collected by Earth MRI as 
part of the consolidated workplan is described below. The USGS seeks 
Office of Management and Budget approval to continue to collect this 
information to manage and monitor cooperative agreement awards to 
comply with the BIL.

[[Page 25011]]

    Title of Collection: Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) 
Competitive Cooperative Agreement Program with State Geological 
Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0133.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of an approved information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: 25.
    Responses: 73 (25 applications, 32 total six-month progress 
reports, and 16 final technical reports.)
    Total Burden Hours: 2,076 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, nor is a person required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Sarah J. Ryker,
Associate Director for Energy and Mineral Resources, U.S. Geological 
Survey.
[FR Doc. 2023-08698 Filed 4-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338-11-P