Agency Information Collection Activities; USGS Water Use Data and Research Program, 53895-53896 [2018-23320]

Agencies

• Geological Survey
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 207 (Thursday, October 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53895-53896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23320]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX18DK10GUH0300; OMB Control Number 1028-0118]


Agency Information Collection Activities; USGS Water Use Data and 
Research Program

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

[[Page 53896]]


ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to the U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections 
Clearance Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 
20192; or by email to [email protected]. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1028-0118 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Cheryl A. Dieter by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at 443-498-5537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing 
collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our 
information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting 
burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection 
requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the USGS; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the USGS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the USGS minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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 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.
    Abstract: The USGS is authorized under SECURE Water Act Section 
9508 to assist state water resource agencies with improving their water 
use data collection activities. USGS has implemented the Water Use Data 
and Research program (WUDR), to work with state water agencies in 
gathering and analyzing their data, and assists this effort via 
cooperative agreements. WUDR will be used to improve the collection and 
reporting of water-use categories by state agencies, including 
categories of water use that were previously discontinued due to 
limited resources. This collection will also be used in reports to 
Congress on water resources in the nation. The total authorized funding 
in FY18 for the Water Use Data and Research Program is $1,500,000; 
total program authorization is $12,500,000 for a period of five years.
    Cooperative agreements will be announced and awarded as part of a 
competitive process that will be guided, annually, by a technical 
committee whose members will include representatives from the 
stakeholder community as well as USGS. Water Use Data and Research 
Program funds will be coordinated with a single agency in each State. 
Collaboration and coordination with USGS personnel will be required as 
part of the WUDR program. Data must be stored electronically and made 
available in machine readable formats that can be incorporated into 
USGS databases. Additionally, methods used for data collection 
(estimated values, coefficients, etc.) and a description of data 
quality assurance and control must be provided to the USGS.
    Title of Collection: USGS Water Use Data and Research Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0118.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State water-resource agencies that 
collect water-use data.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: The WUDR program 
estimates that 30 respondents will read the Program Announcement, 14 
respondents will submit applications, and 12 respondents will submit 
semi-annual progress reports and a final technical report.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 14 applications, 24 
progress reports, and 12 final technical reports.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Read Program announcement: 
1 hour; prepare applications: 40 hours; progress reports: 4 hours; 
final technical report: 24 hours.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 974 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory to be eligible to receive 
funding.
    Frequency of Collection: Program Announcements are published 
annually. Proposals are submitted annually by State water-resource 
agencies wishing to compete for funding as related to the annual 
Program Announcement. State water-resource agencies that receive a 
cooperative agreement must submit semi-annual progress reports and a 
final technical report.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: None.
    An agency 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.
    The authorities for this action are the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.).

Melinda S. Dalton,
Program Coordinator, Water Availability and Use Science Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-23320 Filed 10-24-18; 8:45 am]
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