Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Program, 72824-72827 [2016-25495]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
with the Committee concerning matters
to be discussed.
Comments should be submitted to
Robie Lange, Historian, National
Historic Landmarks Program, National
Park Service, 1849 C Street NW., MS
2280, Washington, DC 20240, telephone
(202) 354–2257, or email robie_lange@
nps.gov.
Before including your address,
telephone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information
in your comment, you should be aware
that your entire comment—including
your personal identifying information—
may be made publicly available at any
time. While you may ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
Draft minutes of the meeting will be
available for public inspection about 12
weeks after the meeting from the
National Historic Landmarks Program,
National Park Service, 1849 C Street
NW., Washington, DC 20240.
Alma Ripps,
Chief, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016–25542 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–NCR–WHHO–22097; PPNCWHHO00,
PPMPSPD1Z.YM0000]
Notice of Public Meeting and Request
for Comments; The National Christmas
Tree Lighting
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice/request for public
meeting and public comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The National Park Service is
seeking public comments and
suggestions on the planning of the 2016
National Christmas Tree Lighting and
the subsequent 31-day event. The
general plan and theme for the event is
the celebration of the holiday season
with the display of the traditional
American symbols of Christmas.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Friday, November 4, 2016. Written
comments will be accepted until
November 4, 2016.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
9:00 a.m. on November 4, 2016, in Room
234 of the National Capital Region
Headquarters Building, at 1100 Ohio
Drive SW., Washington, DC (East
Potomac Park). Written comments may
be sent to Peter Lonsway, Manager,
President’s Park, National Park Service,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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1100 Ohio Drive SW., Washington, DC
20242. Due to delays in mail delivery,
it is recommended that comments be
provided by telefax at (202) 208–1643 or
by email to Peter_Lonsway@nps.gov.
Comments may also be delivered by
messenger to the White House Visitor
Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW., in Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter Lonsway, Manager, President’s
Park, National Park Service, weekdays
between 9 a.m., and 4 p.m., at (202)
208–1631.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
National Park Service is seeking public
comments and suggestions on the
planning of the 2016 National Christmas
Tree Lighting and the subsequent 31day event, which opens on December 1,
2016, on the Ellipse (President’s Park),
south of the White House. The general
plan and theme for the event is the
celebration of the holiday season, where
the park visitor will have the
opportunity to view that lighting of the
National Christmas tree, attend musical
presentations and visit the yuletide
displays of the traditional and familiar
American symbols of Christmas, a
national holiday. As in the past, these
traditional and familiar American
symbols will be the National Christmas
Tree, the smaller trees representing the
various states, District of Columbia and
the territories, various seasonal musical
`
presentations, and a traditional creche
which is not owned by the Government.
In order to facilitate this process the
National Park Service will hold a
meeting at 9 a.m. on November 4, 2016,
in Room 234 of the National Capital
Region Headquarters Building, at 1100
Ohio Drive SW., Washington, DC (East
Potomac Park).
Persons who would like to comment
at the meeting should notify the
National Park Service by November 4,
2016, by calling the White House Visitor
Center weekdays between 9 a.m., and 4
p.m., at (202) 208–1631.
In addition, public comments and
suggestions on the planning of the 2016
National Christmas Tree Lighting and
the subsequent 31-day event may be
submitted in writing. Written comments
may be sent to the Manager, President’s
Park, National Park Service, 1100 Ohio
Drive SW., Washington, DC 20242, and
will be accepted until November 4,
2016. Before including your address,
telephone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information
in your comment, be advised that your
entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you may ask in your comment to
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withhold from public review your
personal identifying information, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Alma Ripps,
Chief, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016–25545 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–PVE–LWCF–22043,
PSSSLAD0016001 (177)]
Information Collection Request Sent to
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for Approval; Land and Water
Conservation Fund State Assistance
Program
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
We (National Park Service,
NPS) have sent an Information
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for
review and approval. We summarize the
ICR below and describe the nature of the
collection and the estimated burden and
cost. This information collection is
scheduled to expire on October 31,
2016. We may not conduct or sponsor
and a person is not required to respond
to a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB Control
Number. However, under OMB
regulations, we may continue to
conduct or sponsor this information
collection while it is pending at OMB.
DATES: You must submit comments on
or before November 21, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments and
suggestions on this information
collection to the Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior at OMB–
OIRA at (202) 395–5806 (fax) or OIRA_
Submission@omb.eop.gov (email).
Please provide a copy of your comments
to the Information Collection Clearance
Officer, National Park Service, 12201
Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 242,
Reston, VA 20192 (mail); or madonna_
baucum@nps.gov (email). Please
reference OMB Control Number 1024–
0031 in the subject line of your
comments. You may review the ICR
online at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow
the instructions to review Department of
the Interior collections under review by
OMB.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this IC, contact Elisabeth Fondriest,
Recreation Grants Chief, State and Local
Assistance Programs Division at 202–
354–6916; or 1849 C Street NW. (2225),
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Washington, DC 20240 (mail); or
elisabeth_fondriest@nps.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Land and Water Conservation
Fund Act of 1965 (LWCF Act) (54 U.S.C.
200305) was enacted to help preserve,
develop, and ensure access for the
public to outdoor recreation
opportunities. The LWCF Act provides
funds for and authorizes Federal
assistance to the States for planning,
acquisition, and development of needed
land and water areas and facilities. In
accordance with the LWCF Act, the
National Park Service (we, NPS)
administers the LWCF State Assistance
Program, which provides matching
grants to States and through the States
to local units of government. As used in
this information collection request, the
term ‘‘States’’ includes the 50 States; the
Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the
Northern Mariana Islands; the District of
Columbia; and the Territories of Guam,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American
Samoa.
In accordance with the LWCF Act, we
administer the LWCF State Assistance
Program, which provides matching
grants to States, and through the States
to local units of government. LWCF
grants are provided to States on a
matching basis for up to 50 percent of
the total project-related allowable costs.
Grants to eligible insular areas may be
for 100 percent assistance. The LWCF
State Assistance Program gives
maximum flexibility and responsibility
to the States. States establish their own
priorities and criteria and award their
grant money through a competitive
selection process based on a Statewide
recreation plan. Payments for all
projects are made to the State agency
that is authorized to accept and
administer funds paid for approved
projects. Local units of government
participate in the program as
subgrantees of the State with the State
retaining primary grant compliance
responsibility.
The following information is collected
to administer the LWCF State
Assistance Program:
Application. States may seek financial
assistance for acquisition, development,
or planning projects to be conducted
under the LWCF Act. To receive a grant,
States must submit an application to
NPS for review and approval. We use
the information provided in
applications to determine eligibility
under the authorizing legislation and to
select those projects that will provide
the highest return on the Federal
investment. Project proposals for LWCF
grants comprise the following:
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• NPS Form 10–902, ‘‘Project
Agreement’’. This form documents the
agreement between the NPS and the
State for accomplishing the project. It
binds the Federal Government and the
State to certain obligations through its
acceptance of Federal assistance,
including the rules and regulations
applicable to the conduct of a project
under the Act and any special terms and
conditions to the project established by
the NPS and agreed to by the State. It
obligates the United States to provide
grants up to a designated amount for
eligible costs; sets forth methods of
costing, accounting, incurrence of costs,
and similar matters. The form also
establishes the project performance
period and briefly describes the scope of
the project.
• NPS Form 10–903, ‘‘Description
and Notification Form’’ (DNF). The
State must submit a DNF for each park
or other recreation area that will be
assisted with grant funds. This form
provides data about the assisted project
site(s), such as location, acreages and
details about improvements, as
understood at the beginning of each
grant project.
• NPS Form 10–904, ‘‘Proposal
Description and Environmental
Screening Form’’ (PD/ESF). The PD
assists the applicant in developing a
narrative that provides administrative
and descriptive information to help the
Federal decision-maker understand the
nature of the proposed project. The ESF
indicates the resources that could be
impacted by the project, enabling States
and/or local project sponsors to more
accurately follow an appropriate
pathway for compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). The analysis serves as part of
the Federal administrative record
required by NEPA and its implementing
regulations.
• Pre-award Onsite Inspection Report.
The State must physically inspect
proposed project sites prior to the award
of grant funds and report on the
findings. The inspection must be
conducted in accord with the onsite
inspection agreement between the State
and NPS. See additional information
under Reports, below.
• Maps and other supporting
documentation. Applicants must
develop and submit two maps: One
depicting the general location of the
park as well as the entrance area; the
other delineating the specific boundary
of the outdoor recreation area that will
be protected for outdoor recreation
purposes and subject to the conversion
provisions at 54 U.S.C. 200305(f).
Applicants should submit other
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documents that have a significant
bearing on the project.
Grant Amendment. After initial award
but during the award performance
period, a State or project sponsor may
seek to modify the agreed-upon terms,
such as the award end date, the scope
of work, or the budget. NPS must review
and approve such changes. States must
submit an amendment request on behalf
of themselves or the local sponsor,
which depending on the nature of the
change, could comprise the following
elements: NPS Form 10–902A,
‘‘Amendment to Project Agreement:,
revised Standard Forms, a letter from
the State Liaison Officer (SLO)
describing the proposed changes and
the impact to the project, the PD/ESF, a
revised boundary map, and a revised
DNF.
• NPS Form 10–902A, ‘‘Amendment
to Project Agreement’’. An amendment
form is required to alter the signed
Project Agreement. When the
amendment is signed by the NPS, it
becomes part of the agreement and
supersedes it in the specified matters.
• NPS Form 10–903, ‘‘Description
and Notification Form’’. A revised DNF
may be required for changes in scope
that significantly alter the planned
facility development or the acreage of
the site or area to be protected under
6(f).
Conversion of Use. In accordance
with 54 U.S.C. 200305(f) and
implementing regulations found at 36
CFR 59, no lands acquired or developed
with LWCF funds can be converted to
other than public outdoor recreation
uses without the approval of the
Secretary of the Interior. States must
submit a formal request to the
appropriate NPS Regional Office with
documentation to substantiate that: (a)
All alternatives to the conversion have
been evaluated and then rejected on a
sound basis; (b) required replacement
land being offered as a substitute is of
reasonably equivalent location and
recreational usefulness as the assisted
site proposed for conversion; (c) the
property proposed for substitution
meets the eligibility requirements for
LWCF assistance; and (d) replacement
property is of at least equal fair market
value as established by an appraisal
developed in accordance with Federal
appraisal standards. Required
documentation is similar to that
submitted for grant amendment requests
(Forms 10–902A, Amendment to Project
Agreement; 10–903, DNF; and/or 10–
904, PD/ESF). Additional documents
include maps showing the existing
protected recreation area and
delineating the area to be converted and
of the proposed replacement property.
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor
Recreation Plan (SCORP). The LWCF
Act requires that to be eligible for LWCF
financial assistance, each State must
prepare and submit a SCORP to NPS for
approval. The NPS requires a new or
updated SCORP at least once every 5
years. The SCORP must include:
• The name of the State agency that
will have the authority to represent and
act for the State.
• An evaluation of the demand for
and supply of outdoor recreation
resources and facilities in the State.
• A program for the implementation
of the plan.
• Certification by the Governor that
ample opportunity for public
participation has taken place in plan
development.
Open Project Selection Process
(OPSP). Each State must develop an
OPSP that provides objective criteria
and standards for grant selection that
are explicitly based on each State’s
priority needs for the acquisition and
development of outdoor recreation
resources as identified in the SCORP.
The OPSP is the connection between the
SCORP and the use of LWCF grants to
assist State efforts in meeting high
priority outdoor recreation resource
needs. To ensure continuing close ties
between the SCORP and the OPSP,
States must review project selection
criteria each time that a new or
amended SCORP is approved by the
NPS. States must submit to the NPS a
revised set of OPSP criteria that conform
to any changes in SCORP priorities or
submit an appropriate certification that
no such revisions are necessary.
Proposal for a Public Facility. Except
for certain kinds of supporting facilities
(e.g., restrooms, visitor information
centers), project sponsors must seek
NPS approval when constructing an
indoor structure on a property that has
received LWCF assistance. In most
cases, development of an indoor
structure would constitute a conversion,
but, in certain cases NPS may approve
them where it can be shown that they
will enhance the outdoor recreation
uses of a park and there will be a net
gain in benefits to the outdoor recreating
public using that park. The request
comprises the PD/ESF, which is used to
describe the nature of the facility, how
it will support and enhance the outdoor
recreation use of the site, and ownership
and management; as well as a copy of
a revised boundary map indicating the
location of the proposed facility.
Request for Temporary NonConforming Use. Project sponsors must
seek NPS approval for the temporary
(up to 6 months) use of an LWCFassisted site for purposes that do not
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conform to the public outdoor
recreation requirements. The State’s
proposal to NPS must include: (a) Form
10–904, PD/ESF (used to describe the
proposed temporary use); (b) SLO
recommendations; and (c) an
acknowledgement by the SLO that a full
conversion will result if the temporary
use has not ceased after 6 months.
Request for Significant Change of Use.
Project sponsors must seek NPS
approval to change the use of an
assisted site from one eligible use to
another when the proposed use
significantly contravenes the plans or
intent for the area as they were outlined
in the original LWCF application for
Federal assistance; e.g., changing a site’s
use from passive to active recreation.
NPS Form 10–904, PD/ESF is used for
this request.
Extension of the 3-year Limit for
Delayed Outdoor Recreation
Development. Project sponsors must
seek NPS approval to continue a nonrecreation use beyond the 3-year limit
for acquisition projects that were
previously approved with delayed
outdoor recreation development. The
State must submit a written request and
justification for such an extension to
NPS before the end of the initial 3-year
period. This request must include: (a) a
full description of the property’s current
public outdoor recreation resources and
the public’s current ability to use the
property; and (b) an update of the
project sponsor’s plans and schedule for
developing outdoor recreation facilities
on the property.
Reports. We use this information
provided in reports to ensure that the
grantee is accomplishing the work on
schedule and to identify any problems
that the grantee may be experiencing in
accomplishing that work.
• Onsite Inspection Reports. States
must administer a regular and
continuing program of onsite
inspections of projects. Onsite
inspection reports are prepared for all
inspections conducted and are included
in the official project files maintained
by the State. Progress onsite inspection
reports occur during the grant project
period and are generally combined with
the annual performance report or when
grant payments are made. Final onsite
inspection reports must be submitted to
the NPS within 90 days after the date of
completing a project and prior to final
reimbursement and administrative
closeout. Post-completion onsite
inspection reports must be completed
within 5 years after the final project
reimbursement and every 5 years
thereafter. If there are problems, the
report should include a description of
the discrepancy and the corrective
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action to be taken. Only reports
indicating problems are forwarded to
the NPS for review and necessary
action; all other reports are maintained
in State files.
• Financial and Program Performance
Reports. In accordance with 2 CFR 200
(Uniform Administrative Requirements,
Cost Principles, and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards),
grantees must monitor grant and
subgrant supported activities to ensure
compliance with applicable Federal
requirements and that performance
goals are being achieved. States must
submit reports to NPS at least annually
that include performance and financial
information.
Recordkeeping. To comply with the
grant requirements of 2 CFR 200, States
must maintain financial records,
supporting documents, statistical
records, and all other records pertinent
to a grant program for a period of 3 years
after final payment on a project. The
records must be retained beyond the 3year period if audit findings have not
been resolved. However, to comply with
the LWCF Act perpetuity requirements,
States must maintain sufficient records
to allow them to keep track of parks and
other recreation areas that have been
assisted.
Request for Reimbursement/Record of
Electronic Payment. States use the
Automated Standard Application for
Payments (ASAP) system for drawing
funds on approved grants. For planning
grants, States must submit to NPS a
progress report and request for
reimbursement before they may request
payments. Acquisition and development
projects do not require prior approval,
but upon completion of an electronic
payment on a given date the State must
concurrently (within 24 hours) submit a
completed NPS Form 10–905, ‘‘Record
of Electronic Payment’’ to the LWCF
Program offices in Washington, DC and
applicable NPS Region.
Proposal to Shelter Facilities. Project
sponsors must seek NPS approval to
construct new or partially or fully
enclose an existing outdoor recreation
facility, such as a pool or ice rink, to
shelter them from cold climatic
conditions and thereby increase the
recreational opportunities. This
approval is required whether seeking to
use LWCF grant funds for this purpose
or not. NPS Form 10–904, PD/ESF is
used for this request.
II. DATA
OMB Control Number: 1024–0031.
Title: Land and Water Conservation
Fund State Assistance Program, 54
U.S.C. 200305.
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
Service Form Numbers: NPS Forms
10–902, 10–902A, 10–903, 10–904, and
10–905.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Description of Respondents: States;
the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and
the Northern Mariana Islands; the
District of Columbia; and the territories
of Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and
American Samoa.
Number of
annual
respondents
Activity
Number of
responses
per
respondent
Number of Respondents: 56.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Estimated Annual Nonhour Cost
Burden: None.
Total annual
responses
Completion
time per
response
(hours)
Total annual
burden hours
60
50
50
11
11
8
5
2
5
3.6
1
1
1
1
1
1
300
180
50
11
11
8
5
2
12
5
92.5
600
30
16
16
16
3,600
900
4,625
6,600
330
128
80
32
5
56
56
56
1
78
11.8
1
5
4,368
661
56
16
5.75
1
40
80
25,116
661
2,240
56
1
6
1
336
1
1
16
336
16
Totals ............................................................................
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Application ............................................................................
Grant Amendment (not including Conversion of Use) ........
Conversion of Use ...............................................................
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan ..........
Open Project Selection Process ..........................................
Proposal for Public Facility ..................................................
Request for Temporary Non-Conforming Use .....................
Request for Significant Change of Use ...............................
Extension of 3-Year Limit for Delayed Outdoor Recreation
Development ....................................................................
Onsite Inspection Reports ...................................................
Financial and Program Performance Reports (per grant) ...
Recordkeeping .....................................................................
Requests for Reimbursement/Record of Electronic Payment ..................................................................................
Proposal to Shelter Facilities ...............................................
........................
........................
5,994
........................
44,744
III. COMMENTS
On March 11, 2016, we published in
the Federal Register (81 FR 12949) a
Notice of our intent to request that OMB
renew approval for this information
collection. In that Notice, we solicited
comments for 60 days, ending on May
10, 2016. One comment was received in
response the Notice; it objected to the
use of federal dollars for support of state
projects and did not address the
information collection.
We again invite comments concerning
this information collection on:
• Whether or not the collection of
information is necessary, including
whether or not the information will
have practical utility;
• The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of
information;
• Ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and
• Ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment, including your personal
identifying information, may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask OMB in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:39 Oct 20, 2016
Jkt 241001
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that it will be done.
Dated: October 18, 2016.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer,
National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–25495 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–EH–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–22033;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP16.R50000]
Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Review Committee;
Meetings
National Park Service, Interior.
Meeting notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice is hereby given in
accordance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, (5 U.S.C. Appendix 1–
16), of two meetings of the Native
American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Review Committee (Review
Committee). All meetings will be open
to the public.
DATES: The Review Committee will meet
on March 15–16, 2017, from 8:30 a.m.
until 5 p.m. (Mountain); and July 11,
2017, from 2 p.m. until approximately 6
p.m. (Eastern). Related deadlines for
participating in each meeting are
detailed in this notice.
SUMMARY:
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The Review Committee will
meet on March 15–16, 2017, at History
Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO
80203. Electronic submissions of
materials or requests are to be sent to
nagpra_info@nps.gov. Those who desire
to attend the telephonic meeting should
register at https://www.nps.gov/nagpra to
be provided the telephone access
number for the meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Review Committee was established in
Section 8 of the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990
(NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3006.
ADDRESSES:
March 15–16, 2017
The Review Committee will meet on
March 15–16, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m. (Mountain), at History Colorado,
Denver, CO. This meeting will be open
to the public. The agenda for this
meeting will include a report from the
National NAGPRA Program; the
discussion of the Review Committee
Report to Congress for 2017;
subcommittee reports and discussion;
and other topics related to the Review
Committee’s responsibilities under
Section 8 of NAGPRA. In addition, the
agenda may include requests to the
Review Committee for a
recommendation to the Secretary of the
Interior that an agreed-upon disposition
of Native American human remains
determined to be culturally
unidentifiable proceed; presentations by
Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian
organizations, museums, Federal
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72824-72827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25495]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-PVE-LWCF-22043, PSSSLAD0016001 (177)]
Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Land and Water Conservation Fund State
Assistance Program
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We (National Park Service, NPS) have sent an Information
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize
the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the
estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to
expire on October 31, 2016. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person
is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. However, under OMB
regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information
collection while it is pending at OMB.
DATES: You must submit comments on or before November 21, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information
collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at
OMB-OIRA at (202) 395-5806 (fax) or OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov
(email). Please provide a copy of your comments to the Information
Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 12201 Sunrise
Valley Drive, Mail Stop 242, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); or
madonna_baucum@nps.gov (email). Please reference OMB Control Number
1024-0031 in the subject line of your comments. You may review the ICR
online at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review
Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this IC, contact Elisabeth Fondriest, Recreation Grants Chief,
State and Local Assistance Programs Division at 202-354-6916; or 1849 C
Street NW. (2225),
[[Page 72825]]
Washington, DC 20240 (mail); or elisabeth_fondriest@nps.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (LWCF Act) (54
U.S.C. 200305) was enacted to help preserve, develop, and ensure access
for the public to outdoor recreation opportunities. The LWCF Act
provides funds for and authorizes Federal assistance to the States for
planning, acquisition, and development of needed land and water areas
and facilities. In accordance with the LWCF Act, the National Park
Service (we, NPS) administers the LWCF State Assistance Program, which
provides matching grants to States and through the States to local
units of government. As used in this information collection request,
the term ``States'' includes the 50 States; the Commonwealths of Puerto
Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands; the District of Columbia; and
the Territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
In accordance with the LWCF Act, we administer the LWCF State
Assistance Program, which provides matching grants to States, and
through the States to local units of government. LWCF grants are
provided to States on a matching basis for up to 50 percent of the
total project-related allowable costs. Grants to eligible insular areas
may be for 100 percent assistance. The LWCF State Assistance Program
gives maximum flexibility and responsibility to the States. States
establish their own priorities and criteria and award their grant money
through a competitive selection process based on a Statewide recreation
plan. Payments for all projects are made to the State agency that is
authorized to accept and administer funds paid for approved projects.
Local units of government participate in the program as subgrantees of
the State with the State retaining primary grant compliance
responsibility.
The following information is collected to administer the LWCF State
Assistance Program:
Application. States may seek financial assistance for acquisition,
development, or planning projects to be conducted under the LWCF Act.
To receive a grant, States must submit an application to NPS for review
and approval. We use the information provided in applications to
determine eligibility under the authorizing legislation and to select
those projects that will provide the highest return on the Federal
investment. Project proposals for LWCF grants comprise the following:
NPS Form 10-902, ``Project Agreement''. This form
documents the agreement between the NPS and the State for accomplishing
the project. It binds the Federal Government and the State to certain
obligations through its acceptance of Federal assistance, including the
rules and regulations applicable to the conduct of a project under the
Act and any special terms and conditions to the project established by
the NPS and agreed to by the State. It obligates the United States to
provide grants up to a designated amount for eligible costs; sets forth
methods of costing, accounting, incurrence of costs, and similar
matters. The form also establishes the project performance period and
briefly describes the scope of the project.
NPS Form 10-903, ``Description and Notification Form''
(DNF). The State must submit a DNF for each park or other recreation
area that will be assisted with grant funds. This form provides data
about the assisted project site(s), such as location, acreages and
details about improvements, as understood at the beginning of each
grant project.
NPS Form 10-904, ``Proposal Description and Environmental
Screening Form'' (PD/ESF). The PD assists the applicant in developing a
narrative that provides administrative and descriptive information to
help the Federal decision-maker understand the nature of the proposed
project. The ESF indicates the resources that could be impacted by the
project, enabling States and/or local project sponsors to more
accurately follow an appropriate pathway for compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The analysis serves as part
of the Federal administrative record required by NEPA and its
implementing regulations.
Pre-award Onsite Inspection Report. The State must
physically inspect proposed project sites prior to the award of grant
funds and report on the findings. The inspection must be conducted in
accord with the onsite inspection agreement between the State and NPS.
See additional information under Reports, below.
Maps and other supporting documentation. Applicants must
develop and submit two maps: One depicting the general location of the
park as well as the entrance area; the other delineating the specific
boundary of the outdoor recreation area that will be protected for
outdoor recreation purposes and subject to the conversion provisions at
54 U.S.C. 200305(f). Applicants should submit other documents that have
a significant bearing on the project.
Grant Amendment. After initial award but during the award
performance period, a State or project sponsor may seek to modify the
agreed-upon terms, such as the award end date, the scope of work, or
the budget. NPS must review and approve such changes. States must
submit an amendment request on behalf of themselves or the local
sponsor, which depending on the nature of the change, could comprise
the following elements: NPS Form 10-902A, ``Amendment to Project
Agreement:, revised Standard Forms, a letter from the State Liaison
Officer (SLO) describing the proposed changes and the impact to the
project, the PD/ESF, a revised boundary map, and a revised DNF.
NPS Form 10-902A, ``Amendment to Project Agreement''. An
amendment form is required to alter the signed Project Agreement. When
the amendment is signed by the NPS, it becomes part of the agreement
and supersedes it in the specified matters.
NPS Form 10-903, ``Description and Notification Form''. A
revised DNF may be required for changes in scope that significantly
alter the planned facility development or the acreage of the site or
area to be protected under 6(f).
Conversion of Use. In accordance with 54 U.S.C. 200305(f) and
implementing regulations found at 36 CFR 59, no lands acquired or
developed with LWCF funds can be converted to other than public outdoor
recreation uses without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior.
States must submit a formal request to the appropriate NPS Regional
Office with documentation to substantiate that: (a) All alternatives to
the conversion have been evaluated and then rejected on a sound basis;
(b) required replacement land being offered as a substitute is of
reasonably equivalent location and recreational usefulness as the
assisted site proposed for conversion; (c) the property proposed for
substitution meets the eligibility requirements for LWCF assistance;
and (d) replacement property is of at least equal fair market value as
established by an appraisal developed in accordance with Federal
appraisal standards. Required documentation is similar to that
submitted for grant amendment requests (Forms 10-902A, Amendment to
Project Agreement; 10-903, DNF; and/or 10-904, PD/ESF). Additional
documents include maps showing the existing protected recreation area
and delineating the area to be converted and of the proposed
replacement property.
[[Page 72826]]
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The LWCF
Act requires that to be eligible for LWCF financial assistance, each
State must prepare and submit a SCORP to NPS for approval. The NPS
requires a new or updated SCORP at least once every 5 years. The SCORP
must include:
The name of the State agency that will have the authority
to represent and act for the State.
An evaluation of the demand for and supply of outdoor
recreation resources and facilities in the State.
A program for the implementation of the plan.
Certification by the Governor that ample opportunity for
public participation has taken place in plan development.
Open Project Selection Process (OPSP). Each State must develop an
OPSP that provides objective criteria and standards for grant selection
that are explicitly based on each State's priority needs for the
acquisition and development of outdoor recreation resources as
identified in the SCORP. The OPSP is the connection between the SCORP
and the use of LWCF grants to assist State efforts in meeting high
priority outdoor recreation resource needs. To ensure continuing close
ties between the SCORP and the OPSP, States must review project
selection criteria each time that a new or amended SCORP is approved by
the NPS. States must submit to the NPS a revised set of OPSP criteria
that conform to any changes in SCORP priorities or submit an
appropriate certification that no such revisions are necessary.
Proposal for a Public Facility. Except for certain kinds of
supporting facilities (e.g., restrooms, visitor information centers),
project sponsors must seek NPS approval when constructing an indoor
structure on a property that has received LWCF assistance. In most
cases, development of an indoor structure would constitute a
conversion, but, in certain cases NPS may approve them where it can be
shown that they will enhance the outdoor recreation uses of a park and
there will be a net gain in benefits to the outdoor recreating public
using that park. The request comprises the PD/ESF, which is used to
describe the nature of the facility, how it will support and enhance
the outdoor recreation use of the site, and ownership and management;
as well as a copy of a revised boundary map indicating the location of
the proposed facility.
Request for Temporary Non-Conforming Use. Project sponsors must
seek NPS approval for the temporary (up to 6 months) use of an LWCF-
assisted site for purposes that do not conform to the public outdoor
recreation requirements. The State's proposal to NPS must include: (a)
Form 10-904, PD/ESF (used to describe the proposed temporary use); (b)
SLO recommendations; and (c) an acknowledgement by the SLO that a full
conversion will result if the temporary use has not ceased after 6
months.
Request for Significant Change of Use. Project sponsors must seek
NPS approval to change the use of an assisted site from one eligible
use to another when the proposed use significantly contravenes the
plans or intent for the area as they were outlined in the original LWCF
application for Federal assistance; e.g., changing a site's use from
passive to active recreation. NPS Form 10-904, PD/ESF is used for this
request.
Extension of the 3-year Limit for Delayed Outdoor Recreation
Development. Project sponsors must seek NPS approval to continue a non-
recreation use beyond the 3-year limit for acquisition projects that
were previously approved with delayed outdoor recreation development.
The State must submit a written request and justification for such an
extension to NPS before the end of the initial 3-year period. This
request must include: (a) a full description of the property's current
public outdoor recreation resources and the public's current ability to
use the property; and (b) an update of the project sponsor's plans and
schedule for developing outdoor recreation facilities on the property.
Reports. We use this information provided in reports to ensure that
the grantee is accomplishing the work on schedule and to identify any
problems that the grantee may be experiencing in accomplishing that
work.
Onsite Inspection Reports. States must administer a
regular and continuing program of onsite inspections of projects.
Onsite inspection reports are prepared for all inspections conducted
and are included in the official project files maintained by the State.
Progress onsite inspection reports occur during the grant project
period and are generally combined with the annual performance report or
when grant payments are made. Final onsite inspection reports must be
submitted to the NPS within 90 days after the date of completing a
project and prior to final reimbursement and administrative closeout.
Post-completion onsite inspection reports must be completed within 5
years after the final project reimbursement and every 5 years
thereafter. If there are problems, the report should include a
description of the discrepancy and the corrective action to be taken.
Only reports indicating problems are forwarded to the NPS for review
and necessary action; all other reports are maintained in State files.
Financial and Program Performance Reports. In accordance
with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles,
and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards), grantees must monitor grant
and subgrant supported activities to ensure compliance with applicable
Federal requirements and that performance goals are being achieved.
States must submit reports to NPS at least annually that include
performance and financial information.
Recordkeeping. To comply with the grant requirements of 2 CFR 200,
States must maintain financial records, supporting documents,
statistical records, and all other records pertinent to a grant program
for a period of 3 years after final payment on a project. The records
must be retained beyond the 3-year period if audit findings have not
been resolved. However, to comply with the LWCF Act perpetuity
requirements, States must maintain sufficient records to allow them to
keep track of parks and other recreation areas that have been assisted.
Request for Reimbursement/Record of Electronic Payment. States use
the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system for
drawing funds on approved grants. For planning grants, States must
submit to NPS a progress report and request for reimbursement before
they may request payments. Acquisition and development projects do not
require prior approval, but upon completion of an electronic payment on
a given date the State must concurrently (within 24 hours) submit a
completed NPS Form 10-905, ``Record of Electronic Payment'' to the LWCF
Program offices in Washington, DC and applicable NPS Region.
Proposal to Shelter Facilities. Project sponsors must seek NPS
approval to construct new or partially or fully enclose an existing
outdoor recreation facility, such as a pool or ice rink, to shelter
them from cold climatic conditions and thereby increase the
recreational opportunities. This approval is required whether seeking
to use LWCF grant funds for this purpose or not. NPS Form 10-904, PD/
ESF is used for this request.
II. DATA
OMB Control Number: 1024-0031.
Title: Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Program,
54 U.S.C. 200305.
[[Page 72827]]
Service Form Numbers: NPS Forms 10-902, 10-902A, 10-903, 10-904,
and 10-905.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Description of Respondents: States; the Commonwealths of Puerto
Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands; the District of Columbia; and
the territories of Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
Number of Respondents: 56.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Estimated Annual Nonhour Cost Burden: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Completion
Number of Number of Total annual time per Total annual
Activity annual responses per responses response burden hours
respondents respondent (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application..................... 60 5 300 12 3,600
Grant Amendment (not including 50 3.6 180 5 900
Conversion of Use).............
Conversion of Use............... 50 1 50 92.5 4,625
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor 11 1 11 600 6,600
Recreation Plan................
Open Project Selection Process.. 11 1 11 30 330
Proposal for Public Facility.... 8 1 8 16 128
Request for Temporary Non- 5 1 5 16 80
Conforming Use.................
Request for Significant Change 2 1 2 16 32
of Use.........................
Extension of 3-Year Limit for 5 1 5 16 80
Delayed Outdoor Recreation
Development....................
Onsite Inspection Reports....... 56 78 4,368 5.75 25,116
Financial and Program 56 11.8 661 1 661
Performance Reports (per grant)
Recordkeeping................... 56 1 56 40 2,240
Requests for Reimbursement/ 56 6 336 1 336
Record of Electronic Payment...
Proposal to Shelter Facilities.. 1 1 1 16 16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals...................... .............. .............. 5,994 .............. 44,744
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. COMMENTS
On March 11, 2016, we published in the Federal Register (81 FR
12949) a Notice of our intent to request that OMB renew approval for
this information collection. In that Notice, we solicited comments for
60 days, ending on May 10, 2016. One comment was received in response
the Notice; it objected to the use of federal dollars for support of
state projects and did not address the information collection.
We again invite comments concerning this information collection on:
Whether or not the collection of information is necessary,
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this
collection of information;
Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. Before including your address, phone number, email
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal
identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask OMB in your comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it
will be done.
Dated: October 18, 2016.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25495 Filed 10-20-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-EH-P
