SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the 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 (91 FR 23301) with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on April 30, 2026, we received the following comment, (summarized). The Northern Alaska Environmental Center (NAEC) supports renewing the USGS information collection for the Evaluation of the Arctic Rivers Project, emphasizing its value for understanding climate-driven changes in Arctic river systems and ensuring project tools remain relevant to Tribes, Indigenous Knowledge holders, and rural communities. The NAEC urges the USGS to refine burden estimates, use clear and purposeful evaluation questions, respect Tribal sovereignty and data protections, and reduce respondent burden through flexible participation options. Continued evaluation is seen as essential for strengthening community-centered science and improving the project's usefulness, accessibility, and accountability.

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 comments 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 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 using 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 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: We will collect information from stakeholders of the Arctic Rivers Project, which include representatives of Indigenous communities in Alaska, representatives of Indigenous organizations, and others regarding the effectiveness of participatory methods and achievement of overall project goals. Evaluation information will be collected via semi-structured interviews, surveys, and polls. Questions will focus on the relevancy of the project to participants, methods used to engage with participants, feedback about project components, input for the direction of the project, preferred communication methods, current and future use of project products. This information will allow for a greater understanding of the effectiveness of community engagement, the co-production process, and participation in the direction of the project. This information will help guide the project through its various phases, and it will help enhance communication and product development.

Title of Collection: Evaluation of the Arctic Rivers Project.

OMB Control Number: 1028-0137.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/Tribal governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 150.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 150.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: 30 minutes.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 75.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Frequency of Collection: One time.

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 authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

91 FR 45280