2019-22610. Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments; Department of the Interior Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers

AGENCY:

U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Send your comments on this information collection request (ICR) by mail to U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by email to [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1028-0096 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact Doug Beard, Chief of the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center, by email at [e-mail], or by telephone at 703-648-5212.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity 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 soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the USGS; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the USGS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the USGS minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 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.

Abstract: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) manages eight Department of the Interior (DOI) Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs). Each CASC involves a cooperative agreement with a host institution. The host institution agreements are periodically re-competed, requiring collection of information from potential host institutions. In addition, this information collection addresses quarterly and annual reporting required of host institutions.

Title of Collection: Department of the Interior Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers.

OMB Control Number: 1028-0096.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Institutions that are expected to propose to serve as CASC host or partner institutions include state, local government, and tribal entities, including academic institutions. Existing host institutions are state academic institutions.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: The USGS expects to request proposals for a maximum of three CASCs in any year, and to receive an average of 5 proposals per CASC-request, for a total of 15 proposals in any single year. The USGS expects to enter into hosting agreements with a minimum of eight CASC host institutions.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: The USGS would request quarterly financial statements and annual progress reports covering host agreements from eight institutions. In addition, the USGS expects to have in place approximately 40 cooperative agreements per year addressing specific research projects funded under these hosting agreements. Each of these 40 agreements requires quarterly financial statements and one annual progress report.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Each proposal for CASC hosting is expected to take 200 hours to complete. The time required to complete quarterly and annual reports for any specific host cooperative agreement or research project agreement is expected to total 2.5 hours per report.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: A maximum of 3120 hours in years when proposals are requested, and 120 hours in those years with only quarterly and annual reporting.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.

Frequency of Collection: Information will be collected one time every five years (approximately) for each CASC, to enable re-competition of CASC hosting agreements. In addition, host institutions are required to fill four quarterly financial statements and one annual progress report.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: There are no “non-hour cost” burdens associated with this collection of information.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq).

Thomas Beard,

Chief, National Climate Adaptation Science Center.