03-2033. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Commerce has submitted 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: Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation, Planning, Protection, and Restoration.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0459.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 1,520.

Number of Respondents: 50.

Average Hours Per Response: 30 hours for development of a plan; and 10 hours for a project application and checklist.

Needs and Uses: The FY 2002 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Act directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) to protect important areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion, and to issue guidelines for this program delineating the criteria for grant awards (16 U.S.C. 1456d.). The guidelines establish procedures for eligible applicants, who choose to participate in the program, to use when developing state conservation plans, proposing or soliciting projects under this program, applying for funds, and carrying out projects under this program in a manner that is consistent with the purposes of the program. NOAA also has, or is given, authority under the Coastal Zone Management Act, annual appropriations or other authorities, to issue funds to coastal states and localities for planning, conservation, acquisition, protection, restoration, or construction projects. This information collection will enable NOAA to implement the CELCP, under its current or future authorization, and facilitate the review of similar projects under different, but related, authorities.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government; and not-for-profit institutions.

Frequency: One-time.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: January 23, 2003.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.