80 FR 27291 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Environmental Compliance Questionnaire for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Financial Assistance Applicants

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 92 (May 13, 2015)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27291-27292]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11568]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Environmental 
Compliance Questionnaire for National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Federal Financial Assistance Applicants

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Steve Kokkinakis, (240) 533-9021 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for a revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection. The National Environmental Policy Act 
(``NEPA''; 42 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  4321-4370) requires federal agencies to 
complete an environmental analysis for all major federal actions, 
including funding non-federal projects through federal financial 
assistance awards where Federal participation in the funded activity is 
expected to be significant. This Environmental Compliance Questionnaire 
for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Financial 
Assistance Applicants (Questionnaire) is used by the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collect information about 
proposed activities for NEPA and other environmental compliance 
requirements associated with proposed projects, such as federal 
consultations. The Questionnaire is used in conjunction with NOAA 
Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA). Applicants are required to 
provide only the information from this Questionnaire that is specified 
in the FOA to which they are applying. The FOA may present these 
questions in one of two ways: (1) The applicable questions can be 
inserted directly into the FOA with reference to the OMB Control Number 
(0648-0538) for this form; or (2) The FOA can specify which questions 
(e.g. 1, 2) an applicant must answer, with the entire OMB-approved 
Questionnaire attached to the FOA. This Questionnaire has been revised 
to (1) remove repetitive questions; (2) revise specific questions to 
use plain language instead of NEPA-specific language; and (3) add 
questions that would be helpful to a wider range of NOAA programs. The 
revision reduced the overall number of questions by 22.

II. Method of Collection

    The information may be submitted electronically or on paper (faxed 
or mailed).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0538.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
currently approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; state, local, or 
tribal government; and federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,000 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

[[Page 27292]]

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 8, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-11568 Filed 5-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NW-P