Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program Progress Reports

AGENCY:

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection, request for comment.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before August 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at Adrienne.thomas@noaa.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 0648-0472 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or specific questions related to collection activities should be directed to Janine Harris, Marine Habitat Resource Specialist, Office of Habitat Conservation, Restoration Center, 1315-East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301-427-8625) or Janine.harris@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. The NOAA Restoration Center (NOAA RC) is sponsoring this collection. NOAA RC provides technical and financial assistance to identify, develop, implement, and evaluate community-driven habitat restoration projects. Awards are made as grants or cooperative agreements under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 1891a and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970.

The NOAA RC requires collection of specific information on habitat restoration projects that we fund, as part of routine progress reporting. Recipients of NOAA RC funds submit information such as project location, restoration techniques used, species benefited, acres restored, stream miles opened to access for diadromous fish, volunteer participation, and other parameters.

The required information enables NOAA to track, evaluate and report on coastal and marine habitat restoration and demonstrate accountability for federal funds. This information is used to populate a database of NOAA RC-funded habitat restoration. The database, with its robust querying capabilities, is instrumental to provide accurate and timely responses to NOAA, Department of Commerce, Congressional and constituent inquiries. It also facilitates reporting by NOAA on the Government Performance and Results 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 stipulates the information to be provided in these reports.

There are two progress report forms for simplicity. The Performance Report Form focuses on tracking project implementation, milestones, performance measures, monitoring, and expenditures. The Administrative Form only applies to recipients with an award that will implement multiple projects. It collects information on the administration of the award, the number of projects supported by the award, and award expenditures. The Project Performance Report and Administration Report Forms and Example Report Form Instructions can be reviewed under the Progress Reporting heading at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/resources-noaa-restoration-center-applicants#progress-reporting .

II. Method of Collection

NOAA's preferred method of collection is submission of electronic fillable forms attached to an award file in Grants Online, NOAA's award management system.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0472.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection).

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

Estimated Number of Respondents: 130.

Estimated Time per Response: Performance Report Form initial reports, 9 hour 30 minutes; Performance Report Form semi-annual reports, 5 hours 30 minutes; Performance Report Form final reports, 9 hours 45 minutes; Administrative Report Form initial reports, 6 hours; Administrative Report Form semi-annual reports, 2 hours 45 minutes; and Administrative Report Forms final reports, 5 hours 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,846.

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

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 1891a and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970.

IV. Request for Comments

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.