[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49861-49862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12877]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; 3D Nation Elevation Data Requirements and Benefits Study

    The Department of Commerce will submit the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite 
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. Public comments were previously requested 
via the Federal Register on March 5, 2024, during a 60-day comment 
period. No comments were received. This notice allows for an additional 
30 days for public comments.
    Agency: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.
    Title: 3D Nation Requirements and Benefits Elevation Data Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0762.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular submission; extension of a current 
information collection.
    Number of Respondents: 600.
    Average Hours per Response: 2.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,200.
    Needs and Uses: This is a request for extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are working to improve 
the technology systems, data, and services that provide information 
about 3D elevation data and related applications within the United 
States. By continuing to learn about business uses and associated 
benefits that would be realized from improved elevation data, the 
agencies can more effectively prioritize and direct investments that 
will best serve user needs. The 3D Nation Elevation Data Requirements 
and Benefits Study (``3D Nation Study'') is part of the continuing 
effort to develop and refine future program alternatives that would 
provide enhanced 3D data to meet many Federal, State, and other 
national business needs. The 3D Nation Study seeks to understand needs 
for 3D elevation data in terms of mission-critical activities, 
geographic extents of data needs, accuracy requirements, frequency 
needed, and anticipated benefits of having the required data.
    In 2022, NOAA and the USGS completed the first 3D Nation Study 
assessing requirements and benefits of topographic (terrestrial 
elevation) and bathymetric (water depth) data in inland, nearshore, and 
offshore geographies. The 3D Nation Study consisted of a standardized 
questionnaire covering a wide range of business uses that depend on 
elevation data to inform policy, regulation, scientific research, and 
management decisions. Input was gathered from a variety of government 
entities (e.g., Federal, State, local, Tribal) as well as not-for-
profit, academic, and private/commercial users of elevation data. 
Collected responses were aggregated at the agency, organization, State 
and national levels. Responses associated with individuals were not 
distributed. Responses were one-time and voluntary. In-person 
interviews to clarify questionnaire results were arranged on a case-by-
case basis.
    NOAA and USGS are now analyzing respondent data from the first 3D 
Nation Study. The report and appendices of questionnaire and other 
report-related sections are available at the 3D Nation Study site 
(https://3dnation.iocm.noaa.gov/) and via NOAA's Integrated Ocean and 
Coastal Mapping Program page (https://iocm.noaa.gov/planning/3DNationStudy.html). The findings are being used to update a baseline 
of national business needs and associated benefits for 3D data and 
associated technologies. This baseline enhances

[[Page 49862]]

the responsiveness of NOAA, USGS, and partner agency programs to 
stakeholder needs. It is intended to inform the design of directed 
future programs that balance requirements, benefits, and costs at a 
national scale.
    NOAA and USGS plan to revisit national elevation data needs to 
assess changes to the 3D Nation Study baseline in or after 2026, which 
is why NOAA and USGS are seeking to extend the expiration date of this 
currently approved ICR. The survey tool for the future 3D Nation Study 
collection will likely include a subset of questions from the original 
questionnaire because the 2022 3D Nation Study provides a sufficient 
foundation to minimize questions in a number of study areas. Prior to 
conducting the next round of surveys, NOAA will submit a request for 
questionnaire revision to OMB based on analysis of the baseline survey.
    Affected Public: Federal government, State, local or Tribal 
governments; not-for-profit institutions, academia, business or other 
for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: On occasion, 3-5-year intervals.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947 (33 U.S.C. 
883a et seq.).
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of 
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of 
this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently 
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB 
Control Number 0648-0762.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-12877 Filed 6-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P