Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on the Registry of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments, 29201-29202 [2014-11760]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Notices part of the agreement/plan and implemented regularly. These plans should include monitoring, according to protocols developed collaboratively by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDACS), North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other interested parties; the monitoring should occur annually at each protected site. Each site should contain an A or B ranked occurrence. For downlisting to be considered, we would like to have at least 7 of the 10 protected sites to be Aranked occurrences. The remaining three sites can be either A or B ranked occurrences. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Criteria for Delisting Carex lutea will be considered for removal from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species (delisting) when all of the following criteria are met: 1. There are 15 protected sites in the wild that are distributed across the range of the species. [Note: Recovery sites will be considered permanently protected when they are placed under a conservation easement or other binding land agreement and a management agreement, and are ranked as an A or B population by the NCNHP.] 2. On each of the 15 Carex lutea sites, for at least 5 years, any non-native plant species that have the potential to displace Carex lutea are maintained at or below 10 percent of total number of species and at or below 10 percent cover (volume). 3. All 15 Carex lutea sites demonstrate stable or increasing population trends for 10 consecutive years. 4. Habitat management plans are actively being implemented for all protected sites and are showing evidence that actions are proving effective for this plant. 5. A prescribed fire regime is being conducted at all sites to mimic historical frequency and timing (which will be determined through recovery actions in this plan). The definition of ‘‘protected’’ is the same as in the criteria for downlisting. For delisting to be considered, at least 10 of the 15 protected sites should be A ranked occurrences. The remaining five sites can be either A or B ranked occurrences. Next Steps As reclassification and recovery criteria are met, the status of the species will be reviewed, and it will be considered for reclassification or VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:42 May 20, 2014 Jkt 232001 removal from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Authority The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: April 23, 2014. Cynthia K. Dohner, Regional Director, Southeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2014–11730 Filed 5–20–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Geological Survey [GX14N05ESB0500] Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on the Registry of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of a new information collection, Registry of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments. AGENCY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the information collection request (ICR) described below. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this ICR. DATES: To ensure that your comments are considered, the OMB must receive them on or before June 20, 2014. ADDRESSES: Please submit your written comments on this information collection directly to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior, at OIRA_ SUBMISSION@omb.eop.gov (email); or (202) 395–5806 (fax). Please also forward a copy of your comments to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 807 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); 703– 648–7195 (fax); or gs-info_collections@ usgs.gov (email). Reference ‘‘Information Collection 1028–NEW: Registry of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments’’ in all correspondence. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin O’Malley, National Climate SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 29201 Change and Wildlife Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 400, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); 703–648–4086 (phone); or romalley@usgs.gov (email). You may also find information about this ICR at www.reginfo.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The USGS proposes to collect information on existing assessments of the vulnerability of various natural resources and societal assets to climate change (hereafter VA or ‘‘vulnerability assessments’’). This information will include the organization conducting the study, study location, topical focus of the assessment, methodology and supporting data used, and point of contact information. Because many governmental and nongovernmental parties are conducting such assessments, and because their conclusions, methodologies, and related data assets may be of interest or utility to others contemplating such assessments, the USGS will make the information collected available on the Web in the form of a simple registrytype database. Users, including the general public, scientists, resource management agencies, and others will be able to search the database by various keywords of interest. II. Data OMB Control Number: 1028–NEW. Title: Registry of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments. Type of Request: Approval of new information collection. Respondent Obligation: None (participation is voluntary). Frequency of Collection: This information will be collected initially and reviewed at least annually. All listed Registry projects will be contacted and requested to update their information; Federal agencies participating in the Registry will conduct ‘‘data calls’’ according to agency practice to identify new agency projects, and external partners will be reminded via Web posting and community-of-practice networking that new projects may be added to the Registry. Additional entries may be added at any time, as information becomes available. Description of Respondents: Federal agencies, state, tribal and nongovernmental partners, individual scientists, and others involved in the conduct of climate change vulnerability assessments. Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: Approximately 1,360 responses (i.e., additions to the registry) E:\FR\FM\21MYN1.SGM 21MYN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 29202 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Notices are expected in the initial data collection phase (first year), including approximately 1200 from Federal organizations, 110 from state, local and tribal institutions, and 50 from private entities (nongovernmental organization, academic, commercial). In subsequent years, annual additions to the registry are expected to be 100 or fewer from all sources. Estimated Time per Response: We estimate that it will take one hour per person to document a single assessment project for inclusion in the registry. In future years, reviewing project information to ensure currency or identifying new projects is expected to require de minimis effort. Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 160 for non-Federal entities in year one and less than 50 in each subsequent year. The requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act regarding estimation of annual burden hours do not apply to information collections from Federal agencies and are not addressed here. Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’ Burden: There are no ‘‘non-hour cost’’ burdens associated with this collection of information. Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until the OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obliged to respond. Comments: On August 21, 2013, we published a Federal Register notice (78 FR 162) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval and soliciting comments. The comment period closed on October 21, 2013. We received two comments in response to that notice, each emphasizing support for the project. Specifically, the comments suggested that development of a registry would be necessary for cataloguing existing assessments and that such a registry will increase understanding of the nation’s progress towards determining climate change impacts and provide insights for adaptation planning. Additionally, one commenter felt the registry will be useful for comparing assessment methods from different disciplines (e.g., ecosystems, infrastructure) and potentially reveal unrecognized connections or causal relationships between climate change and societal or natural resource vulnerabilities (e.g., ecosystem shifts and changes in vectorborne and zoonotic disease incidence). Suggested improvements included ensuring that the registry is relevant for VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:42 May 20, 2014 Jkt 232001 all disciplines assessing vulnerability and implementing adaptation actions, including the public health and health care delivery services sectors. Our initial intent was to ensure that the registry would be available to all parties interested in questions of vulnerability and adaptation. We have, therefore, expanded the focus of the registry to explicitly include the health sectors cited in the received comments. III. Request for Comments We again invite comments concerning this ICR as to: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) how to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Please note that comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your personal mailing address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personally identifiable information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask the OMB in your comment to withhold your personally identifiable information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done. Robin I. O’Malley, Policy and Partnership Coordinator, National Climate, Change and Wildlife Science Center, US Geological Survey. [FR Doc. 2014–11760 Filed 5–20–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4311–AM–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLORB00000.L17110000. PH0000.L.X.SS.020H0000; HAG14–0114] Steens Mountain Advisory Council; Meeting Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Public Meetings. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Land Management (BLM), the Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC) will meet as indicated below: DATES: June 12–13, 2014 in Frenchglen, Oregon; July 17–18, 2014 in Burns or Frenchglen, Oregon; and November 13– 14, 2014 in Bend, Oregon. Meetings may be canceled or rescheduled on short notice due to lack of Council business or emergency situations (wildfire, etc.). Meeting agendas and details will be available online at www.blm.gov/or/rac/ steens-rac-minutes.php about two weeks prior to each session. Meeting times and the duration scheduled for public comment periods may be extended or altered when the authorized representative considers it necessary to accommodate necessary business and all who seek to be heard regarding matters before the SMAC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Martinak, Public Affairs Specialist, BLM Burns District Office, 28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738, (541) 573– 4519, or email tmartina@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1 (800) 877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SMAC was initiated August 14, 2001, pursuant to the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act (CMPA) of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–399). The SMAC provides representative counsel and advice to the BLM regarding new and unique approaches to management of the land within the bounds of the Steens Mountain CMPA; recommending cooperative programs and incentives for landscape management that meet human needs, and the maintenance and improvement of the ecological and economic integrity of the area. A public comment period will be available each day of each meeting, excluding sessions that are entirely in the field for tour purposes. The public is welcome to attend all sessions, including field tours. Unless otherwise approved by the SMAC Chair, the public comment period will last no longer than 30 minutes, and each speaker may address the SMAC for a maximum of five minutes. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, please be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may E:\FR\FM\21MYN1.SGM 21MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29201-29202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11760]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 Geological Survey

[GX14N05ESB0500]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on 
the Registry of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a new information collection, Registry of Climate 
Change Vulnerability Assessments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that 
we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the 
information collection request (ICR) described below. To comply with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and as part of our continuing 
efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on this ICR.

DATES: To ensure that your comments are considered, the OMB must 
receive them on or before June 20, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your written comments on this information 
collection directly to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior, at OIRA_SUBMISSION@omb.eop.gov (email); or 
(202) 395-5806 (fax). Please also forward a copy of your comments to 
the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 
807 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192 
(mail); 703-648-7195 (fax); or gs-info_collections@usgs.gov (email). 
Reference ``Information Collection 1028-NEW: Registry of Climate Change 
Vulnerability Assessments'' in all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin O'Malley, National Climate 
Change and Wildlife Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 400, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); 703-648-
4086 (phone); or romalley@usgs.gov (email). You may also find 
information about this ICR at www.reginfo.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The USGS proposes to collect information on existing assessments of 
the vulnerability of various natural resources and societal assets to 
climate change (hereafter VA or ``vulnerability assessments''). This 
information will include the organization conducting the study, study 
location, topical focus of the assessment, methodology and supporting 
data used, and point of contact information. Because many governmental 
and nongovernmental parties are conducting such assessments, and 
because their conclusions, methodologies, and related data assets may 
be of interest or utility to others contemplating such assessments, the 
USGS will make the information collected available on the Web in the 
form of a simple registry-type database. Users, including the general 
public, scientists, resource management agencies, and others will be 
able to search the database by various keywords of interest.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.
    Title: Registry of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments.
    Type of Request: Approval of new information collection.
    Respondent Obligation: None (participation is voluntary).
    Frequency of Collection: This information will be collected 
initially and reviewed at least annually. All listed Registry projects 
will be contacted and requested to update their information; Federal 
agencies participating in the Registry will conduct ``data calls'' 
according to agency practice to identify new agency projects, and 
external partners will be reminded via Web posting and community-of-
practice networking that new projects may be added to the Registry. 
Additional entries may be added at any time, as information becomes 
available.
    Description of Respondents: Federal agencies, state, tribal and 
nongovernmental partners, individual scientists, and others involved in 
the conduct of climate change vulnerability assessments.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: Approximately 1,360 
responses (i.e., additions to the registry)

[[Page 29202]]

are expected in the initial data collection phase (first year), 
including approximately 1200 from Federal organizations, 110 from 
state, local and tribal institutions, and 50 from private entities 
(nongovernmental organization, academic, commercial). In subsequent 
years, annual additions to the registry are expected to be 100 or fewer 
from all sources.
    Estimated Time per Response: We estimate that it will take one hour 
per person to document a single assessment project for inclusion in the 
registry. In future years, reviewing project information to ensure 
currency or identifying new projects is expected to require de minimis 
effort.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 160 for non-Federal entities in year 
one and less than 50 in each subsequent year. The requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act regarding estimation of annual burden hours do 
not apply to information collections from Federal agencies and are not 
addressed here.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There are no ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection 
of information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. Until the OMB approves a collection 
of information, you are not obliged to respond.
    Comments: On August 21, 2013, we published a Federal Register 
notice (78 FR 162) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for 
approval and soliciting comments. The comment period closed on October 
21, 2013. We received two comments in response to that notice, each 
emphasizing support for the project. Specifically, the comments 
suggested that development of a registry would be necessary for 
cataloguing existing assessments and that such a registry will increase 
understanding of the nation's progress towards determining climate 
change impacts and provide insights for adaptation planning. 
Additionally, one commenter felt the registry will be useful for 
comparing assessment methods from different disciplines (e.g., 
ecosystems, infrastructure) and potentially reveal unrecognized 
connections or causal relationships between climate change and societal 
or natural resource vulnerabilities (e.g., ecosystem shifts and changes 
in vector-borne and zoonotic disease incidence). Suggested improvements 
included ensuring that the registry is relevant for all disciplines 
assessing vulnerability and implementing adaptation actions, including 
the public health and health care delivery services sectors. Our 
initial intent was to ensure that the registry would be available to 
all parties interested in questions of vulnerability and adaptation. We 
have, therefore, expanded the focus of the registry to explicitly 
include the health sectors cited in the received comments.

III. Request for Comments

    We again invite comments concerning this ICR as to: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) how to enhance the quality, usefulness, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize 
the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this notice are 
a matter of public record. Before including your personal mailing 
address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your personally identifiable information, may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask the OMB in your 
comment to withhold your personally identifiable information from 
public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done.

Robin I. O'Malley,
Policy and Partnership Coordinator, National Climate, Change and 
Wildlife Science Center, US Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 2014-11760 Filed 5-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4311-AM-P
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