E5-6852. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program Progress Reports

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before February 6, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Robin Bruckner, 301-713-0174 or via the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to implement grass-roots, community-based habitat restoration, debris prevention and removal, and barrier removal activities through individual projects or restoration partnerships. The NOAA Restoration Center (RC) within the NOAA Fisheries Service Office of Habitat Conservation, intends to continue requiring specific information on projects funded under various grants initiatives managed by the RC as part of routine progress reporting. Recipients of NOAA funds under these initiatives will be required to submit information including project location, restoration techniques used, species benefitted, acres restored, stream miles opened to access for diadromous fish, volunteer participation, and other parameters. This information collection is necessary to track and report on the large number of community-based projects being implemented with RC support around the country. This information will be used to continue populating a database of NOAA-funded habitat restoration, debris prevention and removal, and barrier removal projects. The database, with its robust querying capabilities, is instrumental to accurate and timely responses to NOAA, Department of Commerce, Congressional and Constituent inquiries. It also ensures accountability for federal funds expended for community-based activities, reported by NOAA through the Government Performance and Reporting Act acres restored performance measure. Grant recipients are required by the NOAA Grants Management Division to submit periodic performance reports and a final report for each award; this collection will stipulate the information to be provided in these reports.

II. Method of Collection

The reporting form and format outline will be provided to funding recipients and will also be available on the Restoration Center's home page. Electronic submission of forms and progress report narratives will be encouraged but not required.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0472.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Not-for profit institutions; State, Local and Tribal Governments, business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.

Estimated Time Per Response: Interim reports, 9 hours and 45 minutes; and final reports, 11 hours and 45 minutes. Three semi-annual reports and one final report over a 24-month period are required for each award; however, information collected and submitted for any single report need not be collected again for subsequent reports.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,240.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,940.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: November 30, 2005.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.