This collection is needed to assist with the administration and evaluation of the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP), which has provided financial assistance on a competitive basis to over 1200 habitat restoration projects since 1996. The information is used to provide accountability for the CRP and NOAA on the expenditure of federal funds used for restoration, contributes to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) "acres restored" measure and to the President's Wetlands Initiative goal of 3 million acres of wetland restoration, enhancement and protection by 2010. Information is required only from parties receiving CRP funds.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would like to make several non-substantive changes to the format of its information collection to make it simpler to understand and use by grantees. In particular, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grantees that have their first semi-annual progress reports due to NOAA in January 2010 should find that the modification to a consolidated format provides some relief from the complex reporting requirements they already face overall.
US Code:
16 USC 661
Name of Law: Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 117
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Adjustment: There are approximately 75 fewer new grantees per year (fewer habitat restoration projects are being supported annually at increased award amounts), and a related reduction in responses from 800 to 500. The estimated total annual burden hours for this information collection is reduced by approximately half of that previously estimated, from 8,240 to 4,145. This reduction is due to : 1) the decrease in annual responses as well as to an average of 2 hours reduction in response time for the semi-annual reports, and half an hour for the final reports and 2) recipients successful in competing for larger awards tending to be organizations with more capacity and expertise in handling the reporting requirements, and to be more experienced in carrying out habitat restoration projects and in tracking performance.
Program change: Costs have decreased from $2,940 to zero, based on 100% electronic submission.
$85,000
No
No
Uncollected
Uncollected
No
Uncollected
Robin Bruckner 3017130174 ext. 153
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.