Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers, 32238-32239 [2023-10771]

Agencies

• Geological Survey
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32238-32239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10771]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX23EN05ESB0500; OMB Control Number 1028-0096]


Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Please provide a 
copy of your comments by mail to U.S. Geological Survey, Information 
Collections Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 
20192; or by email to [email protected]. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1028-0096 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Beard, Chief of the USGS National 
and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center, by email at 
[email protected] or by telephone at 571-265-4623.
    Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States. You may also view the information collection request 
(ICR) at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and 
other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, 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.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
January 25, 2023 (88 FR 4843). No comments were received.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other 
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are 
especially interested in public comment addressing the following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How the agency might minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    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 identifiable information (PII) in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
PII--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us 
in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) manages nine Regional 
Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs). Each CASC is established 
through a cooperative agreement with a host institution. The host 
institution agreements are periodically re-competed, requiring 
collection of information from potential host institutions. In 
addition, this information collection addresses quarterly and annual 
reporting required of host institutions.
    Title of Collection: Department of the Interior Regional Climate 
Adaptation Science Centers.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0096.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Institutions that may propose to serve 
as CASC host or partner institutions include state, local government, 
and tribal entities, including academic institutions. Existing host 
institutions are state academic institutions.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: The USGS expects to 
request proposals for a maximum of three CASCs in any year, and to 
receive an average of five proposals per CASC-request, for a total of 
fifteen proposals in any single year. The USGS expects to enter into 
hosting agreements with a minimum of nine CASC host institutions.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 124 responses.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Each proposal for CASC 
hosting is expected to take 200 hours to complete. The time required to 
complete quarterly and annual reports

[[Page 32239]]

for any specific host cooperative agreement or research project 
agreement is expected to total 2.5-5 hours per report.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 3,295 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Information will be collected one time 
every five years (approximately) for each CASC, to enable re-
competition of CASC hosting agreements. In addition, host institutions 
are required to fill four quarterly financial statements and one annual 
progress report.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: There are no ``non-hour 
cost'' burdens associated with this collection of information.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, nor is a person required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Olivia E. LeDee,
Deputy Regional Administrator, Midwest Climate Adaptation Science 
Center, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 2023-10771 Filed 5-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P