SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request seeks a revision and extension of a currently approved information collection. To enhance efficiency, reduce the reporting burden on respondents, and improve the usefulness of information collected for NOAA, some questions will be eliminated or consolidated and others will be rewritten to improve the usefulness of information collected.

The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (CZMA; 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), requires the periodic evaluation of state coastal management programs and National Estuarine Research Reserves developed in accordance with the CZMA and approved by the Secretary of Commerce. This request facilitates information collection for these evaluations. NOAA's Office for Coastal Management conducts these periodic evaluations of the 34 coastal management programs and 30 research reserves and produces written findings for each evaluation. While the office has access to documents submitted in cooperative agreement applications, performance reports, and certain documentation required by the CZMA and its implementing regulations, additional information is needed from each coastal management program and research reserve, as well as program and reserve partners and stakeholders, to assess compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Different information collection subsets are necessary for (1) coastal management programs, (2) the coastal programs' partners and stakeholders, (3) research reserves, and (4) the research reserves' partners and stakeholders.

This submission would modify a few questions to clarify the information requested from coastal program and reserve managers. Some questions may be consolidated to streamline data collection, while others may be eliminated due to relevancy.

Over the next three years, the Office for Coastal Management anticipates staff capacity to conduct evaluations will remain stable, with an average of 12 CZMA programs evaluated annually.

II. Method of Collection

Coastal program and reserve managers will receive information requests and questionnaires via email, and their responses will be submitted via email. Partners and stakeholders of coastal programs and reserves will receive a link to a web-based survey tool to provide their responses.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0661.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a current information collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; state, local, or tribal governments; federal government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 221.

Estimated Time per Response: 60 hours per CZMA program manager's evaluation; 15 minutes per partner or stakeholder response.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 771

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/reporting costs.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory for CZMA programs; voluntary for program partners and stakeholders.

Legal Authority: Sections 312 and 315(f) of the Coastal Zone Management Act, as amended ( 16 U.S.C. 1458, 1461(f)). ( printed page 56641)

IV. Request for Comments

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms 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 information collection request. 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.

91 FR 56640