2024-00094. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Weather Modification Activities Reports

AGENCY:

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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 March 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control Number 0648– 0025 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 the OAR Weather Program Office, Attn: Jessie Carman, 1315 East West Hwy., Bldg. SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3282, (202) 936–6085, [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This is a request for extension of a currently approved information collection.

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR)/Weather Program Office is conducting this information collection pursuant to section 6(b) of Public Law 92–205. This law requires that all non-federal weather modification activities ( e.g., cloud seeding) in the United States (U.S.) and its territories be reported to the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA. This reporting is critical for gauging the scope of these activities, for determining the possibility of duplicative operations or of interference with another project, for providing a database for checking atmospheric changes against the reported activities, and for providing a single source of information on the safety and environmental factors used in weather modification activities in the U.S. Two forms are collected under this OMB Control Number: one prior to and one after the activity. The requirements are detailed in 15 CFR part 908. This data is used for scientific research, historical statistics, international reports and other purposes.

II. Method of Collection

Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648–0025.

Form Number(s): NOAA Forms 17–4 and 17–4A.

Type of Review: Regular submission. Extension of a current information collection.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.

Estimated Time per Response: 60 minutes per initial report; 30 minutes per final report.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 75 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: Public Law 92–205, Weather Modification Reporting Act of 1972.

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.