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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 25193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10177]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey

[GX12GB009PAMR00]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of an extension of an information Collection (1028-
0089), Mineral Resources Program's (MRP) Mineral Resource External 
Research Program (MRERP).

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SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) will ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) 
described below. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) 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 IC. This IC is 
scheduled to expire on August 31, 2012.
    To submit a proposal for the MRERP a project narrative must be 
completed and submitted via Grants.gov. Furthermore, for multi-year 
projects, an annual progress report must be completed, and for all 
projects, a final technical report is required at the end of the 
project period. The narrative and report guidance is available at 
http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/Minerals/index.html.

DATES: Submit written comments by June 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this information collection to 
the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648-
7199 (fax); or [email protected] (email). Use Information Collection 
Number 1028-0089 in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff L. Doebrich at 703-648-6103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Mineral Resource External Research Program (MRERP).
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0089.
    Form Number: Project narrative and report guidance posted on 
Grants.gov.
    Abstract: Through the MRERP, the MRP of the USGS offers an annual 
competitive grant and/or cooperative agreement opportunity to 
universities, State agencies, Tribal governments or organizations, and 
industry or other private sector organizations. Applicants must have 
the ability to conduct research in topics related to nonfuel mineral 
resources and that meet the goals of the MRP. The MRERP will consider 
all research-based proposals that address one of the MRP's long-term 
goals. The long-term goals of the MRP, as described in its strategic 
plan (http://minerals.usgs.gov/plan/2006-2010/2006-2010_plan.html) 
are (1) Ensure availability of up-to-date quantitative assessments of 
potential for undiscovered mineral deposits, (2) ensure availability of 
up-to-date geoenvironmental assessments of priority Federal lands, (3) 
ensure availability of reliable geologic, geochemical, geophysical, and 
mineral locality data for the United States, and (4) ensure 
availability of long-term data sets describing mineral production and 
consumption. Furthermore, annual research priorities are provided as 
guidance for applicants to consider when submitting proposals. Annual 
research priorities are determined by USGS MRP management. Since its 
initiation in 2004, the MRERP has awarded more than $2.8 million to 48 
different research projects across the country.
    We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and 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. We intend to release the project 
abstracts and primary investigators for awarded/funded projects only.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Annual Number and Description of Respondents: 
Approximately 500 research scientists from universities, State 
agencies, Tribal governments or organizations, and industry or other 
private sector organizations.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 25.
    Estimated Annual burden hours: 1125.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We 
estimate the public reporting burden averages 45 hours per response. 
This includes the time for (1) Project conception and development, 
proposal writing and reviewing, and submitting project narrative 
through Grants.gov, (2) preparation of annual progress report, and (3) 
preparation of final technical report.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There are no ``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.
    Comments: We are soliciting comments as to: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) how to enhance the quality, usefulness, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize 
the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Please 
note that the comments submitted 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 IC. 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 OMB in your comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that it will be done.

    Dated April 13, 2012.
Ione Taylor,
Associate Director, Energy and Minerals, and Environmental Health.
[FR Doc. 2012-10177 Filed 4-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4311-AM-P
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