73 FR 96 pgs. 28502-28504 - MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0170 Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), Revision of a Collection; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 96Pages: 28502 - 28504
Docket number: [Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0025]
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-11003 Filed 5-15-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Interior Department
Sub Agency: Minerals Management Service
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
[Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0025]
MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0170 Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), Revision of a Collection; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request
AGENCY:
Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION:
Notice of a revised information collection (1010-0170).
SUMMARY:
To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to revise an approval of the paperwork requirements that address the MMS's Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) which is a grant program. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these requirements.
DATES:
Submit written comments by June 16, 2008.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments by any either of the following methods listed below.
• Either by fax (202) 395-6566 or e-mail ( OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov ) directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (1010-0170).
• Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. Under the tab "More Search Options," click Advanced Docket Search, then select "Minerals Management Service" from the agency drop-down menu, then click "submit." In the Docket ID column, select MMS-2008-OMM-0025 to submit public comments and to view supporting and related materials available for this rulemaking. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's "User Tips" link. The MMS will post all comments.
• Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference "Information Collection 1010-0170" in your subject line and mark your message for return receipt. Include your name and return address in your message text.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the ICR and the authority that requires the subject collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Coastal Impact Assistance Program.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0170.
Abstract: With the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), the Minerals Management Service (MMS) was given responsibility for the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) through the amendment of section 31 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356a Appendix A). The following requirements from this amendment necessitate the collection of information.
(d) AUTHORIZED USES.-
(1) IN GENERAL.-A producing State or coastal political subdivision shall use all amounts received under this section, including any amount deposited in a trust fund that is administered by the State or coastal political subdivision and dedicated to uses consistent with this section, in accordance with all applicable Federal and State law, only for 1 or more of the following purposes:
(A) Projects and activities for the conservation, protection, or restoration of coastal areas, including wetland.
(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
(C) Planning assistance and the administrative costs of complying with this section.
(D) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan.
(E) Mitigation of the impact of outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects and public service needs.
(2) COMPLIANCE WITH AUTHORIZED USES.-If the Secretary determines that any expenditure made by a producing State or coastal political subdivision is not consistent with this subsection, the Secretary shall not disburse any additional amount under this section to the producing State or the coastal political subdivision until such time as all amounts obligated for unauthorized uses have been repaid or reobligated for authorized uses.
(3) LIMITATION-Not more than 23 percent of amounts received by a producing State or coastal political subdivision for any 1 fiscal year shall be used for the purposes described* * *
In September 2006, CIAP draft guidelines were written which were then amended. As this program has evolved and developed, more information needs to be submitted by the government jurisdictions to meet all the requirements of the CIAP State Plan Guidelines as well as requirements on the procurement contracts. Responses are mandatory or required to obtain or retain a benefit. No questions of a "sensitive" nature are asked. The MMS protects information considered proprietary according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 2).
In order to receive funds, according to the EPAct, the states must submit CIAP State Plans that contain required components including an implementation plan of the state's program and identification of the proposed use of CIAP funds. The identification will be brief descriptions of the proposed projects. Upon approval, recipients will be able to submit grant applications for a project. Applicants submit proposals for funding in response to a Notice of Funding Availability that we publish on Grants.gov and on our program web pages. Proposals are submitted through Grants.gov, e-mail, or mail. An application consists of OMB required forms for grants; a detailed project description or narrative to demonstrate that the project has maintained the integrity of the brief description in the Plan and still meets EPAct criteria; and documentation such as Federal, State, or local government required permits with which the recipient is stating it has met Federal, State, or local laws.
Once an application for a project is approved, the MMS is required to monitor the projects to determine that the CIAP funds are being used for appropriate expenses. The monitoring will be achieved through the grant regulations that require, at a minimum, a recipient to provide an annual progress and financial status reports. Recipients are evaluated by contracting officers via Grants.gov application efforts. The recipients that are determined by the evaluations to likely have difficulties in implementing and managing the CIAP funded projects will be required to submit semi-annual reports. Once the recipient has demonstrated the ability to implement and manage their projects, the requirement can be returned to annual reports.
The MMS needs the information required so that technical experts can determine how well it addresses the requirements identified in the authorizing EPAct legislation and monitor the projects to meet specific requirements.
Frequency: Submissions are annually, bi-annually, or specific to the requirement which is usually on occasion.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 73 total respondents. This includes 6 states and 67 boroughs, parishes, etc.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping "Hour" Burden: The estimated annual "hour" burden for this information collection is a total of 13,339 hours. In calculating the burdens, we assumed that respondents perform certain requirements in the normal course of their activities. We consider these to be usual and customary and took that into account in estimating the burden.
| CIAP reporting and/or recordkeeping requirement | Hour burden | Average No. of annual reponses | Annual burden hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submit Project Narrative. | 42 | 192 projects | 8,064 |
| Submit annual Performance Reports. | 8 | 192 reports | 1,536 |
| Submit bi-annual performance reports | 8 | 192 reports | 1,536 |
| Notify MMS in case of delays, adverse conditions, etc., which impair ability to meet objectives of the award including statement of action take or contemplated or assistance required (included non-construction and construction grants) | 8 | 45 notifications | 360 |
| Request termination and supporting information* | 6 | 7 requests | 42 |
| Retain all records/documentation for 3 years* | .5 | 192 projects | 96 |
| Retain records longer than 3 years if they relate to claim, audit, litigation, etc | Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c) | 0 | |
| Telephone follow-up discussion on Financial Capabilities | 8 | 76 discussions | 608 |
| Develop language and individual signage at CIAP Sites-Estimated 30 construction projects with temp signs initially-permanent signs 2-4years* | 8 | 30 signs | 240 |
| Submission of photographs/cds of projects for tracking purposes* | 4 | 200 projects | 800 |
| Voluntarily submit draft Coastal Impact Assistance Plan with appropriate supporting documentation | 1 | 4 plans | 4 |
| Submit final Coastal Impact Assistance Plan and all supporting documentation (i.e., Governor's certification of public participation; Appendices C, D, and E) | 1 | 4 plans | 4 |
| Request delay by states for submitting final plan, with relevant data | 1 | 1 request | 1 |
| Request minor changes and/or amendments to a plan | 8 | 6 requests | 48 |
| Subtotal | 1,141 Responses | 13,339 | |
| * Initially determined that this will be minimal burden until more respondents are actively involved in a CIAP project. | |||
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping "Non-Hour Cost" Burden: We have identified no paperwork "non-hour cost" burdens associated with the collection of information.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. ) provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor 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: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (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 to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
To comply with the public consultation process, on February 11, 2008, we published a Federal Register notice (73 FR 7759) outlining the collection of information and announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day comment period. We have received no comments in response to this effort.
If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days.
Therefore, to ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments by June 16, 2008.
Public Comment Procedures: 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 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.
MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202) 208-7744.
Dated: April 21, 2008.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-11003 Filed 5-15-08; 8:45 am]
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