Proposed Information Collection-Renewal/Revision; Comment Request; Educational Partnership Program (EPP), Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, Recruitment, Training, and Research Program

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 December 5, 2016.

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 JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Todd Christenson, 301 628 2916 or todd.christenson@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for extension of a current information collection.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Education (OEd) collects, evaluates and analyzes student data for the purpose of selecting successful candidates, and for generating reports and news articles to communicate the success of its program. The OEd requires applicants to its undergraduate scholarship programs to complete an application in order to be considered. The application package requires two faculty and/or academic advisors to complete a NOAA student scholar reference form in support of the scholarship application. NOAA OEd student scholar alumni are also requested to provide information to NOAA for internal tracking purposes. NOAA OEd grant recipients are required to update the student tracker database with the required student information. The collected student data supports NOAA OEd's program performance measures. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program and the NMFS Recruiting, Training, and Research Program also collect student data for their programs and are also covered by this notice.

II. Method of Collection

Electronic applications and electronic forms are required from participants, and the primary methods of submittal are email and Internet submission of electronic forms. Approximately 1% of the application and reference forms may be mailed to accommodate those without internet access. New student records may also be provided via spreadsheet by OEd grant recipients for bulk upload to the student tracker database by NOAA OEd staff.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0568.

Form Number: None.

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

Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-profit ; not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: Student Performance Achievement Reporting (SPAR) database form, 8; undergraduate application form, 600; reference forms, 1200; alumni update form, 200.

Estimated Time per Response: SPAR database form, 17 hours; undergraduate application form, 8 hours; reference forms, 1 hour; alumni update form, 1 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,336.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $300 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.