[Federal Register: August 26, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 166)]
[
Notices]
[Page 50341-50342]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26au08-81]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Geological Survey
Agency Information Collection: Comment Request
AGENCY: United States Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of a new collection.
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we
are notifying the public that we will submit to OMB a new Information
Collection Request (ICR) for approval of the paperwork requirements for
the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program--EDMAP (NCGMP-EDMAP).
This notice provides the public an opportunity to comment on the
paperwork burden of this collection.
DATES: You must submit comment on or before October 27, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments to the IC to Phadrea Ponds, Information
Collections Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 2150-C Center
Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (mail); (970) 226-9230 (fax); or
pponds@usgs.gov (e-mail). Please reference Information Collection
1028--NEW, NCGMP-EDMAP.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randall Orndorff, Associate Program
Coordinator (STATEMAP and EDMAP), National Cooperative Geological
Mapping Program, USGS Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS
908 (mail); at 703-648-4316 (telephone); or rorndorff@usgs.gov (e-
mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program--EDMAP (NCGMP-
EDMAP).
OMB Control Number: 1028--NEW.
Correction: This notice was originally published on August 19,
2008, Volume 73, number 161, pages 48388-48389. The corrections are as
follows: the day to submit comments was incorrect and should have given
the public 60 instead of 30 days to respond to this notice. The second
correction further justified the estimate burden for the project added
the estimated number of grant recipients and that the overall burden
would not be increased because the recipients will not prepare final
reports as a requirement of this award.
Abstract:
EDMAP is the component of the NCGMP that trains the next generation
of geologic mappers. The NCGMP allocates funds to colleges and
universities in the United States and Puerto Rico through an annual
competitive grant process. Every Federal dollar that is awarded is
matched with university funds. Geology professors, who are skilled in
geologic mapping, request EDMAP funding to support undergraduate and
graduate students at their college or university in a one-year mentored
geologic mapping project that focuses on a specific geographic area.
Since 1996, more than $4 million from the NCGMP have supported
geologic mapping efforts of more than 600 students working with more
than 214 professors at 131 universities in 44 states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Funds for graduate projects are limited to
$15,000 with undergraduate project funds limited to $7,500. These funds
are used to cover field expenses and map production, but not faculty
salaries. The college or university matches the EDMAP funding. The
authority for the program is listed
[[Page 50342]]
in the National Geologic Mapping Act (Pub. L. 106-148).
We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and under regulations at 30
CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to the public
or for limited inspection.'' Responses are voluntary. No questions of a
``sensitive'' nature are asked.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary (necessary to receive benefits).
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents; Approximately 60
University/College Professors or faculty advisors annually.
Annual Burden Hours: 1,100 hours.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We
expected to receive approximately 55 applications taking each applicant
approximately 20 hours to complete, totaling 1,100 hours. This includes
the time for project conception and development, proposal writing and
reviewing, and submitting project narrative through Grants.gov. We
expect to issue 40 grants per year. The grant recipients are not
required to submit final technical reports; therefore there are no
additional burden hours for the grant recipient.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'': We
have not identified any ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this
collection of information.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.)
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection
of information, you are not obligated to respond.
Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 3506(c) (2)
(A) (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) requires each agency `` * * * to provide
notice * * * and otherwise consult with members of the public and
affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of information *
* *'' Agencies must specifically solicit comments. We invite comments
concerning this information collection on:
(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary,
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection
of information;
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents.
Please note that the comments submitted in response to this notice
are a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail 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 can ask OMB in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that it will be done. To comply with the public process, we
publish this Federal Register notice announcing that we will submit
this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60 day
public comment period.
USGS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Phadrea D. Ponds,
970-226-9445.
Dated: August 19, 2008.
Randall Orndorff,
Assistant Program Coordinator, National Cooperative Geographic Program.
[FR Doc. E8-19730 Filed 8-25-08; 8:45 am]
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