E8-18550. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application Form for Membership on a National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council

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 October 14, 2008.

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 Karen M. Brubeck, 206-842-6084 or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Section 315 of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1445a) allows the Secretary of Commerce to establish one or more advisory councils to provide advice to the Secretary regarding the designation and management of national marine sanctuaries. The councils are individually chartered for each sanctuary to meet the needs of the sanctuary. Once a council has been chartered, the sanctuary manager starts a process to recruit members for that Council by providing notice to the public and requesting interested parties to apply for the available seats.

II. Method of Collection

An application form and guidelines for a narrative submission must be submitted to the sanctuary manager. Submissions may be made electronically.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0397.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 500 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: August 7, 2008.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.