Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Questionnaire To Support Review of Federal Assistance Applications, 9896 [2012-3949]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 9896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3949]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Questionnaire 
To Support Review of Federal Assistance Applications

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 April 23, 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 Cristi Reid, (301) 713-1622 x206 or 
Cristi.Reid@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 
through 4327) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) require that 
an environmental analysis be completed for all major Federal actions 
significantly affecting the environment. NEPA applies only to the 
actions of Federal agencies. While those Federal actions may include a 
Federal agency's decision to fund non-Federal projects under grants and 
cooperative agreements, NEPA requires agencies to assess the 
environmental impacts of actions proposed to be taken by these 
recipients only when the Federal agency has sufficient discretion or 
control over the recipient's activities to deem those actions as 
Federal actions. To determine whether the activities of the recipient 
of a Federal financial assistance award (i.e., grant or cooperative 
agreement) involve sufficient Federal discretion or control, and to 
undertake the appropriate environmental analysis when NEPA is required, 
NOAA must assess information which can only be provided by the Federal 
financial assistance applicant. Thus, NOAA has developed an 
environmental information questionnaire to provide grantees and Federal 
grant managers with a simple tool to ensure that project and 
environmental information is obtained. The questionnaire applies only 
to those programs where actions are considered major Federal actions or 
to those where NOAA must determine if the action is a major Federal 
action. The questionnaire includes a list of questions that encompasses 
a broad range of subject areas. The applicants are not required to 
answer every question in the questionnaire. Each program draws from the 
comprehensive list of questions to create a relevant subset of 
questions for applicants to answer. The information provided in answers 
to the questionnaire is used by NOAA staff to determine compliance 
requirements for NEPA and conduct subsequent NEPA analysis as needed. 
The information provided in the questionnaire may also be used for 
other regulatory review requirements associated with the proposed 
project, such as issuance of permits.

II. Method of Collection

    Methods of submittal include paper forms via the mail, Internet, 
and facsimile transmission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0538.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; state, local, 
or tribal government; and Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,000 in reporting/
recordkeeping 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.

    Dated: February 15, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-3949 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
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