Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; NOAA Community-based Restoration Program Progress Reports, 4941 [E9-1743]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 4941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1743]


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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 March 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 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 
dam and other 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 benefited, 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. The 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 until the Performance Progress Report standard forms family 
(SF-PPR) comes into use government-wide, at which time this information 
collection will be discontinued.

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 is 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; 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: January 22, 2009.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E9-1743 Filed 1-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P