Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application Forms for Membership on a National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, 1061 [2012-102]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 1061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-102]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application 
Forms for Membership on a National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

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 9, 2012.

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 Becky Shortland, (912) 598-2381 or 
Becky.Shortland@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    Section 315 of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 
1445a) allows the Secretary of Commerce to establish one or more 
advisory councils to provide advice to the Secretary regarding the 
designation and management of national marine sanctuaries. Advisory 
councils are individually chartered for each sanctuary to meet the 
needs of that sanctuary. Once an advisory council has been chartered, 
the sanctuary superintendent starts a process to recruit members for 
that council by providing notice to the public and requesting 
interested parties to apply for the available seat(s) (e.g., Research, 
Education) and position(s) (i.e., council member or alternate). The 
information obtained through this application process will be used to 
determine the qualifications of the applicant for membership on the 
sanctuary advisory council.
    Two application forms are currently associated with this 
information collection: (a) National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council 
Application form; and (b) National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council 
Youth Seat Application form. These application forms are currently 
being revised to ensure consistency between the forms, as well as 
clarify the information and supplemental materials to be submitted by 
applicants. Application form instructions will specify requirements 
imposed upon the agency when reviewing applicants as potential council 
members or alternates, including the need to assess potential conflicts 
of interest (or other issues) and the applicant's status as a 
federally-registered lobbyist. Specific questions posed to applicants 
will be reordered, reworded and, at times, condensed to improve the 
organization of applicant responses and, thereby, simplify the 
applicant review process.

II. Method of Collection

    Complete applications may be submitted electronically via email 
(with attachments), by mail, or by facsimile transmission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0397.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
currently approved collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 520.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 520.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,040.

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 3, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-102 Filed 1-6-12; 8:45 am]
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