2018-15872. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Bay Watershed Education and Training Program National Evaluation System

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

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 September 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Bronwen Rice, NOAA Office of Education, [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

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

The NOAA Office of Education's Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program seeks to contribute to NOAA's mission by supporting education efforts to create an environmentally literate citizenry with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to protect watersheds and related ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. B-WET currently funds projects in seven regions (California, Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, New England, and the Pacific Northwest). B-WET has created an across-region, internal evaluation system to provide ongoing feedback on program implementation and outcomes to ensure maximum quality and efficiency of the B-WET program. The evaluation system is sustained by B-WET staff with occasional assistance from an outside contractor.

B-WET awardees and the awardees' professional development teacher-participants are asked to voluntarily complete online survey forms to provide evaluation data. One individual from each awardee organization is asked to complete a form once per year of the award, and the teacher participants are asked to complete one form at the end of their professional development program and another form at the end of the following school year.

II. Method of Collection

Respondents submit their information electronically on web-based survey forms.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0658.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved collection).

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

Estimated Number of Respondents: Given the funding levels of the past three fiscal years, NOAA B-WET estimates that approximately 115 awardees and 2,507 teachers will be invited to respond each year.

Estimated Time per Response: Awardee-respondents will complete an online survey in 60 minutes and teacher-respondents will complete two online surveys in 30 minutes each.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,040.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/reporting costs.

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: July 20, 2018.

Sarah Brabson,

NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.