Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program Progress Reports, 72613 [E5-6852]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 72613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6852]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; NOAA Community-
Based Restoration Program Progress Reports

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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 February 6, 
2006.

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 dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Robin Bruckner, 301-713-0174 or via the Internet at 
Robin.Bruckner@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) provides 
financial assistance on a competitive basis to implement grass-roots, 
community-based habitat restoration, debris prevention and removal, and 
barrier removal activities through individual projects or restoration 
partnerships. The NOAA Restoration Center (RC) within the NOAA 
Fisheries Service Office of Habitat Conservation, intends to continue 
requiring specific information on projects funded under various grants 
initiatives managed by the RC as part of routine progress reporting. 
Recipients of NOAA funds under these initiatives will be required to 
submit information including project location, restoration techniques 
used, species benefitted, acres restored, stream miles opened to access 
for diadromous fish, volunteer participation, and other parameters. 
This information collection is necessary to track and report on the 
large number of community-based projects being implemented with RC 
support around the country. This information will be used to continue 
populating a database of NOAA-funded habitat restoration, debris 
prevention and removal, and barrier removal projects. The database, 
with its robust querying capabilities, is instrumental to accurate and 
timely responses to NOAA, Department of Commerce, Congressional and 
Constituent inquiries. It also ensures accountability for federal funds 
expended for community-based activities, reported by NOAA through the 
Government Performance and Reporting 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 will stipulate the information to be 
provided in these reports.

II. Method of Collection

    The reporting form and format outline will be provided to funding 
recipients and will also be available on the Restoration Center's home 
page. Electronic submission of forms and progress report narratives 
will be encouraged but not required.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0472.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Not-for profit institutions; State, Local and 
Tribal Governments, business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Interim reports, 9 hours and 45 
minutes; and final reports, 11 hours and 45 minutes. Three semi-annual 
reports and one final report over a 24-month period are required for 
each award; however, information collected and submitted for any single 
report need not be collected again for subsequent reports.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,240.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,940.

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: November 30, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E5-6852 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P