Agency Information Collection Activities; National Ground-Water Monitoring Network Cooperative Funding Application, 20486-20487 [2025-08509]

Agencies

• Geological Survey
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20486-20487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08509]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX25DK20UFD6100; OMB Control Number 1028-0114]


Agency Information Collection Activities; National Ground-Water 
Monitoring Network Cooperative Funding Application

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments. To be 
considered, your comments must be received on or before July 14, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
    [ssquf] Internet: https://www.regulations.gov. Search for and 
submit comments on Docket No. USGS-Water-2025-0002.
    [ssquf] U.S. Mail: USGS, Information Collections Clearance Officer, 
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Fine by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (919) 817-5395. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require 
approval under the PRA. 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.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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.
    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 USGS, 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 USGS 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. 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 personally 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 USGS administers the National Ground-Water Monitoring 
Network (NGWMN) which was developed through work with the Federal 
Advisory Committee on Water Information and its Subcommittee on Ground 
Water. This network is required as part of Public Law 111-11, title IX, 
subtitle F, ``Secure Water,'' section 9507, ``Water data enhancement by 
United States Geological Survey,'' codified at 42 U.S.C. 10367.
    The NGWMN consists of an aggregation of wells and springs from 
existing Federal, State, Tribal, and local groundwater monitoring 
networks. To support data providers for the NGWMN, the USGS will be 
providing funding through cooperative agreements to water-resource 
agencies that collect groundwater data.
    The USGS will be soliciting applications for funding that will 
request information from the agency collecting the data. Elements will 
include contact information (phone number and email address), and a 
proposal describing their proposed work in support of the NGWMN. The 
proposal will describe the groundwater networks to be included in the 
NGWMN, the purpose of the networks, and the principal aquifers that are 
monitored. Proposals may include work to become a new data provider to 
the NGWMN, support for maintaining connections to agency databases, and 
work to enhance NGWMN sites (updating metadata, well maintenance,

[[Page 20487]]

well drilling, and support for continuous water-level monitoring 
equipment). The proposal would require estimates of costs to complete 
the above tasks and a timeline for planned completion. The proposal 
will be reviewed by the USGS and the NGWMN Program Board who will make 
funding recommendations.
    Title of Collection: National Ground-Water Monitoring Network 
Cooperative Funding Application.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0114
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Renewal of a currently approved collection
    Respondents/Affected Public: Multi-state, state or local water-
resources agencies who operate groundwater monitoring networks.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 20.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 20.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 40 hours.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 800 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory to be considered for funding.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Total Estimated Annual Non hour Burden Cost: None.
    The authority for this action is the PRA of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.).

Joseph Nielsen,
Director, Integrated Information Dissemination Division, USGS Water 
Resources Mission Area.
[FR Doc. 2025-08509 Filed 5-13-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338-11-P