[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66688-66689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18438]


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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; Coastal Ocean Program Grants Proposal Application Package

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 October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0384 in the subject line of your 
comments. All comments received are part of the public record and will 
generally be posted on https://www.regulations.gov without change. 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 Laura Golden, Grants Administrator, by telephone 240-569-0196 or by 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's Coastal Ocean Program (COP) now known as the 
Competitive Research Program (CRP) under the National Centers for 
Coastal Ocean Science provides direct financial assistance through 
grants and cooperative agreements for research supporting the 
management of coastal ecosystems and the NOAA Restore Science Program. 
The statutory authority for COP is Public Law 102-567, section 201 
(Coastal Ocean Program). NOAA was authorized to establish and 
administer the Restore Science Program, in consultation with the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, by the Resources and Ecosystems 
Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies (RESTORE) 
of the Gulf States Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-141, section 1604). 
Identified in the RESTORE Act as the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration 
Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program, the Program 
is commonly known as the NOAA RESTORE Science Program (RSP). In 
addition to standard government application requirements, applicants 
for financial assistance for both programs are required to submit a 
project summary form, current and pending form, and a Data Management 
form template. The Data Management form template is a new addition to 
the application package. Data Management is a required element of the 
application package and the use of this form the will reduce the public 
burden by providing a specific format instead of requiring each 
applicant to create their own format. The Key Contacts form has been 
removed from the collection. CRP recipients are required to file annual 
progress reports and a project final report using CRP formats. The RSP 
recipients are required to file semiannual progress reports, a final 
report and a Gantt chart showing project milestones using RSP formats. 
All of these requirements are needed for better evaluation of proposals 
and monitoring of awards.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0384.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision/extension of a 
currently approved collection).
    Affected Public: Non-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal 
government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes each for a project summary, 
data management template and current and pending Federal support; 5.5 
hours for a semi-annual report; 5 hours for an annual report, 10 hours 
for a CRP final report, 10.5 hours for the RSP final report and 1 hour 
for the milestone Gantt chart.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,912.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: The statutory authority for COP is Public Law 102-
567, section 201 (Coastal Ocean Program). NOAA was authorized to 
establish and administer the Restore Science Program, in consultation 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, by the Resources and 
Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies 
(RESTORE) of the Gulf States Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-141, section 
1604).

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)

[[Page 66689]]

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. 2024-18438 Filed 8-15-24; 8:45 am]
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