[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 64886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20388]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Disclosure Statement

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
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 November 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
mail to Maureen O'Reilly, Management Analyst, at [email protected]. 
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 Cierra Bean, Business Operations Analyst, CHIPS Program Office, 
[email protected] or (202) 815-2677.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal 
agencies to interpret and administer Federal policies, regulations, and 
laws in accordance with NEPA's policies and to consider environmental 
values in their decision making, including through preparation of 
environmental review documents such as environmental impact statements 
and environmental assessments. On June 3, 2023, President Biden signed 
the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA) into law, which included 
amendments to NEPA. Specifically, the FRA added section 107, which 
addresses, in part, timely preparation of environmental review 
documents. Section 107(f) of NEPA requires agencies to ``prescribe 
procedures to allow a project sponsor to prepare an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement under the supervision 
of the agency.'' 42 U.S.C. 4336a(f).
    Additionally, the NEPA implementing regulations state, 
``Contractors or applicants preparing environmental assessments or 
environmental impact statements shall submit a disclosure statement to 
the lead agency that specifies any financial or other interest in the 
outcome of the action. Such statement need not include privileged or 
confidential trade secrets or other confidential business 
information.'' 40 CFR 1506.5. As part of its procedures, NIST has 
therefore developed a NEPA disclosure statement for project sponsors to 
use in conjunction with preparation of environmental review documents 
under the agency's supervision. This statement may be used by in a 
variety of contexts at NIST. NIST may request recipients of funds for 
extramural construction to prepare environmental review documents and 
to submit the NEPA disclosure statement.
    This statement may also be used by the CHIPS Incentives Program. 
The CHIPS Incentives Program is authorized by Title XCIX--Creating 
Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America of the William 
M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2021 (Pub. L. 116-283, referred to as the CHIPS Act or Act), as amended 
by the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Division A of Pub. L. 117-167). The CHIPS 
Incentives Program is administered by the CHIPS Program Office (CPO) 
within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the 
United States Department of Commerce (Department). CPO may request 
recipients of CHIPS incentives prepare environmental review documents 
and submit the NEPA disclosure statement.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected electronically.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0693-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission--new information collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: 0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory to obtain benefits.
    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4336a(f), 40 CFR 1506.5 and 1507.3.

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 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 Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-20388 Filed 9-19-23; 8:45 am]
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