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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59148-59149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25025]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0659; FRL--9935-10-ORD]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Generic 
Clearance for Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing Projects (New)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Generic Clearance for 
Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing Projects (New)'' (EPA ICR No. 
2521.01, OMB Control No. 2080-NEW) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is 
soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed 
information collection as described below. This is a request for 
approval of a new collection. An Agency 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: Comments must be submitted on or before November 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2015-0659 referencing the Docket ID numbers provided for each item in 
the text, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or 
by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail 
Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Generic Clearance for Citizen Science 
and Crowdsourcing Projects (New), IOAA-ORD, (Mail Code 8101R), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number 202-564-3262; fax number: 202-
565-2494; email address: benforado.jay@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will

[[Page 59149]]

be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR. The 
docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the 
EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-
1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit 
http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
comments and information to enable it to: (i) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of 
the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. EPA 
will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. 
The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and 
approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: EPA relies on scientific information. Citizen science and 
crowdsourcing techniques will allow the Agency to collect qualitative 
and quantitative data that might help inform scientific research, 
assessments, or environmental screening; validate environmental models 
or tools; or enhance the quantity and quality of data collected across 
the country's diverse communities and ecosystems to support the 
Agency's mission. Information gathered under this generic clearance 
will be used by the Agency to support the activities listed above and 
might provide unprecedented avenues for conducting breakthrough 
research. Collections under this generic ICR will be from participants 
who actively seek to participate on their own initiative through an 
open and transparent process (the Agency does not select participants 
or require participation); the collections will be low-burden for 
participants; collections will be low-cost for both the participants 
and the Federal Government; and data will be available to support the 
scientific research (including assessments, environmental screening, 
tools, models, etc.) of the Agency, states, tribal or local entities 
where data collection occurs. EPA may, by virtue of collaborating with 
non-federal entities, sponsor the collection of this type of 
information in connection with citizen science projects. When 
applicable, all such collections will accord with Agency policies and 
regulations related to human subjects research and will follow the 
established approval paths through EPA's Human Subjects Research Review 
Official. Finally, personally identifiable information (PII) will only 
be collected when necessary and in accordance with applicable federal 
procedures and policies. If a new collection is not within the 
parameters of this generic ICR, the Agency will submit a separate 
information collection request to OMB for approval.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Participants/respondents will be 
individuals, not specific entities.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 17,500 (total).
    Frequency of response: The frequency of responses will range from 
once to on occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 295,250 to 313,250 hours (per year). Burden 
is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $9,910,997 to $10,483,217 (per year), 
includes $525,000 annualized capital for operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: This is a new information collection. The 
Agency will make adjustments to the burden numbers as needed.

    Dated: September 21, 2015.
Jay Benforado,
Deputy Chief Innovation Officer, Office of Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2015-25025 Filed 9-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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