2013-06207. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Title: NOAA Coastal Ocean Program Grants Proposal Application Package.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0384.

Form Number(s): NA.

Type of Request: Regular submission (revision and extension of a current information collection).

Number of Respondents: 300.

Average Hours per Response: Abstract, current and pending funding, and key contacts forms, 30 minutes each; annual progress reports, 5 hours; final reports, 10 hours.

Burden Hours: 1,050.

Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved information collection. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal Ocean Program (COP) provides direct financial assistance through grants and cooperative agreements for research supporting the management of coastal ecosystems. The statutory authority for COP is Public Law 102-567 Section 201 (Coastal Ocean Program). In addition to standard government application requirements, applicants for financial assistance are required to submit a project summary form, current and pending form and a key contacts form. Recipients are required to file annual progress reports and a project final report using COP formats. All of these requirements are needed for better evaluation of proposals and monitoring of awards.

This request is for a revision due to the addition of the Key Contacts and the Current and Pending Federal Support forms. These additional forms are necessary for consistency. The main purpose of this information collection is to enable COP to provide a summary of the key applicant contacts and their current and pending Federal funding. The information gathered will enable COP to properly and quickly evaluate proposals in a collaborative environment with its partner agencies.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; state, local and tribal governments; individuals or households; business or other for-profit organizations.

Frequency: One time and annually.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or maintain benefits.

OMB Desk Officer: [e-mail].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to [e-mail].

Dated: March 13, 2013.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.