[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2011)] [Notices] [Pages 16813-16816] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2011-7112] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [2256-672] Proposed Information Collection; OMB Control Number 1024-0038 AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice, request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 16814]] SUMMARY: We (National Park Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507 et seq.) and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements, and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this information collection. This IC is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2011. We 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. DATES: To ensure we are able to consider your comments on this IC, we must receive them by May 24, 2011. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC to: John W. Renaud, Project Coordinator, Historic Preservation Grants, Heritage Assistance Programs, NPS, 1849 C St., NW., Mailstop 2256, Washington, DC 20240; via fax at 202/371-1961, or via e-mail to [email protected]. Please send a copy of your comments to Rob Gordon, Information Collection Clearance Officer, NPS, 1849 C Street, NW., Mailstop 2605, Washington, DC 20240, or via e-mail at [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John W. Renaud by mail or e-mail (see ADDRESSES) or by telephone at 202/354-2066. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract II. This set of information collections has an impact on State, tribal, and local governments that wish to participate formally in the National Historic Preservation Partnership (NHPP) Program, and State and tribal governments that wish to apply for Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grants. The NPS uses the information collection to ensure compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), as well as government-wide grant requirements OBM has issued and the Department of the Interior implements through 43 CFR part 12. This information collection also produces performance data NPS uses to assess its progress in meeting goals set in Departmental and NPS strategic plans created pursuant to the 1993 Government Performance and Results Act, as amended. This request for OMB approval includes local government burden for information collections associated with various aspects of the Certified Local Government (CLG) program; State government burden for information collections related to the CLG program; the program-specific aspects of HPF grants to States, maintenance of a State inventory of historic and prehistoric properties, tracking State Historic Preservation Office historic preservation consultation with Federal agencies, reporting on other State historic preservation accomplishments, and the State role in the State program review process; and tribal government burden for information collections related to the program-specific aspects of HPF grants to Tribal Historic Preservation Officers/Offices (THPOs). This request includes information collections related to HPF grants to states and to THPOs. Section 101(b) of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 470a(b)), specifies the role of States in the NHPP Program. Section101(c), and section 301 of the Act (16 U.S.C. section 103(c), 470a(c), 16 U.S.C. 470c(c), and 16 U.S.C. 470w), specify the role of local governments in the NHPP program. Section 101(d) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 470a(d)) specifies the role of tribes in the NHPP Program. Section108 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 470h) created the HPF to support activities that carryout the purposes of the Act. Section 101(e)(1) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 470a(e)) directs the Secretary of the Interior through the NPS to ``administer a program of matching grants to the states for the purposes of carrying out'' the Act. Similarly, sections 101(d) and 101(e) of the Act direct a program of grants to THPOs for carrying out their responsibilities under the Act. Each year Congress directs the NPS to use part of the annual appropriation from the HPF for the State grant program and the tribal grant program. The purpose of both the HPF State grants program and the HPF THPO grants program is to assist states and tribes in carrying out their statutory role in the national historic preservation program. HPF grants to states and THPOs are program grants; i.e., each State/THPO selects its own HPF-eligible activities and projects. Each HPF grant to a State/THPO has two years of fund availability. At the end of the first year, NPS employs a ``Use or Lose'' policy to ensure efficient and effective use of the grant funds. All 59 states, territories, and the District of Columbia participate in the NHPP Program. Almost 1,600 local governments have become Certified Local Governments (CLGs) in order to participate in the NHPP program. Approximately 54 local governments become CLGs each year. Fifty-seven Federally-recognized tribes have formally joined the NHPP and have established THPOs and tribal historic preservation offices. Typically, each year five to seven tribes join the partnership. The NPS developed the information collections associated with 36 CFR part 61 in consultation with State, tribal, and local government partners. The obligation to respond is required to provide information to evaluate whether or not State governments meet minimum standards and requirements for participation in the National Historic Preservation Program; and to meet government- wide requirements for Federal grant programs. III. Data OMB Control Number: 1024-0038. Title: Procedures for State, Tribal, and Local Government Historic Preservation Programs; 36 CFR 61. Service Form Number: None. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Description of Respondents: State, tribal, and local governments that wish to participate formally in the National Historic Preservation Program and who wish to apply for Historic Preservation Fund grant assistance. Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit. Frequency of Collection: Annually. Activities, Number of Respondents and Responses, Completion Times, and Annual Burden Hour Estimates: The net number of partners participating in this set of information collections annually is 59 states, 57 Tribes, and 1,554 CLGs. Estimated average number of responses annually: 34,539 (grant and non-grant). This is the gross number of responses for all of the elements included in this set of information collections. Estimated average number of State HPF grant-related applicant responses: 118 per year. Estimated average gross number of State HPF grant-related grantee responses: 400 per year. Estimated average gross number of State HPF grant-related responses for successful Applicants/Grantees: 518 per year. Estimated average number of THPO HPF grant-related Applicant responses: 57 per year. Estimated average gross number of THPO HPF grant-related grantee responses: 171 per year. Estimated average gross number of THPO HPF application plus grant related responses: 228 per year. [[Page 16815]] Estimated average number of State and local CLG program related responses per State/CLG: 42 per year. Estimated average gross number State and local CLG program related responses for all States/CLGs: 2,897 per year. Estimated average minimum number of State inventory responses per State: 78 per year. Estimated average gross minimum number of State inventory responses for all States: 4,602 per year. Estimated average minimum number of State consultation on Federal projects responses per State: 445 per year. Estimated average gross minimum number of State consultation of Federal projects responses for all States: 26,255 per year. Estimated average number of other State performance reports per State: 1 per year. Estimated average gross number of other State performance reports for all States: 25 per year. Estimated average minimum number of State Program Reviews per State: 1 per year. Estimated average gross minimum number of State Program Reviews for all States: 14 per year. Estimated average gross number of responses for all non-grant collections: 33,793 per year. The frequency of response varies depending upon the activity. In the CLG program, States and local governments participate once for the certification process, once per year for the monitoring of each CLG, once every four years for the evaluation of each CLG, and once a year on a voluntary basis for other performance reporting. Each State adds property records to its inventory and tracks the progress of consultation with Federal agencies as the information becomes available. Each State reports once a year on a voluntary basis for other performance reporting. The National Historic Preservation Act requires each State undergo a Program Review every four years. For the program-specific aspects of the HPF grants to States program, the estimated number of responses includes a ``Cumulative Products Table'' of projected performance in summary format, an ``Organization Chart'' showing the availability of appropriately qualified staff, and a (major) ``Anticipated Activities List.'' During the grant cycle, grantees seek NPS approval once for a sub grant (via a project notification) and associated final project report. Each year, every State submits an ``End of Year Report'' that includes the Cumulative Products Table (which compares actual to proposed performance), a ``Sources of Nonfederal Matching Share Report,'' a ``Project/Activity Database Report,'' an ``Unexpended Carryover Funds Table and Carryover Statement,'' and a ``Significant Preservation Accomplishments Summary.'' For the program-specific aspects of the HPF grants to THPOs program, the estimated number of responses includes a grant application scope of work, a ``Grants Product Summary Table,'' an unexpended funds carry-over statement, and a ``THPO Annual Report'' (a narrative summary of important accomplishments). Estimated average time burden per respondent: The NPS estimates that the total public (State plus local) burden for the Certified Local Government (CLG) program averages 36 hours per CLG for the certification, monitoring, and evaluation of each CLG, and 45 minutes for reporting of other CLG accomplishments. The NPS estimates that the total public (State) burden averages10 minutes per Federal agency project tracked, 45 minutes per inventory record, 2 hours per reporting on other State accomplishments, and 90 hours per State Program Review. The NPS estimates the total public burden for collection not directly tied to grants is 129 hours per respondent. NPS estimates that the public burden for the HPF-supported State grant program collections of information will average11 hours per application and 19 hours per grant per year for all of the grant related collections. The combined total public burden for the HPF State grant program-related information collections would average 31 hours per successful applicant/grantee. NPS estimates that the public burden for the HPF supported THPO grant program collections of information will average 7 hours per application and 14 hours per grant per year for all of the grant-related collections. The combined total public burden for the HPF THPO grant program-related information collections would average 21 hours per successful applicant/grantee. These burden estimates are a one-year average for the two-year grants. The combined total public burden for the 36 CFR Part 61-related information collections would average 182 hours per partner. These estimates of burden include time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. Estimated average time burden hours per State HPF grant-related applicant response: 11 hours. Estimated average burden hours per State HPF grant-related Grantee response: 20 hours. Estimated total annual average burden hours per State HPF grant related respondent: 31 hours. Estimated total annual average burden hours for all State HPF grant related responses: 1,568 hours. Estimated average burden hours per THPO HPF grant-related Applicant response: 7 hours. Estimated average burden hours per THPO HPF grant-related Grantee response: 14 hours. Estimated average annual burden hours per THPO HPF grant-related Applicant/Grantee for all responses: 21 hours. Estimated total annual average burden hours for all THPO HPF grant related respondents: 1,217 hours. Estimated average burden hours in the CLG program per response: 50 minutes. Estimated average burden hours in the State inventory program per response: 40 minutes. Estimated average burden hours in the Federal agency consultation tracking program per response: 10 minutes. Estimated average burden hours in other performance reporting per response: 2 hours. Estimated average burden hours in the State Program Review program per response: 90 hours. Estimated average annual burden hours per partner for all non grant related responses: 432 hours. Estimated annual burden on all respondents for all non grant related responses: 33,565 hours. Estimated total annual reporting burden: 36,351 hours per year. Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None. IV. Comments We invite comments concerning this information collection on:Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. 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 [[Page 16816]] to OMB to approve this IC. 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 us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Dated: March 22, 2011. Robert Gordon, Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service. [FR Doc. 2011-7112 Filed 3-24-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P