[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51368-51369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19821]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX21DK20H2S0000; OMB Control Number 1028-0114]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; National 
Ground-Water Monitoring Network Cooperative Funding Application

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. U.S. 
Geological Survey, Information Collections Officer, 12201 Sunrise 
Valley Drive MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; and by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f382c7236313930003c3033333a3c2b3630312c1f2a2c382c71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eb8c98c682858d84b4888487878e889f82848598ab9e988c98c58c849d">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference OMB Control Number 1028-
0114 in the subject line of your comments. Individuals who are hearing 
or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay

[[Page 51369]]

Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Daryll Pope by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6400140b140124111703174a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f69286998693b683859185d8919980">[email protected]</span></a>, or by 
telephone at (804) 261-2630. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
April 20, 2021. (Federal Register/Vol. 86, No. 74, 20515). No comments 
were received.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other 
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are 
especially interested in public comment addressing the following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How might the agency 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 response.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. 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.
    Abstract: The USGS administers the National Ground-Water Monitoring 
Network which was developed through work with the Federal Advisory 
Committee on Water Information (ACWI) and its Subcommittee on Ground 
Water (SOGW). This network is required as part of Public Law 111-11, 
Subtitle F-Secure Water: Section 9507, 42 U.S.C. 10367, ``Water Data 
Enhancement by United States Geological Survey.'' The NGWMN consists of 
an aggregation of wells and spring from existing Federal, State, 
Tribal, and local groundwater monitoring networks. To support data 
providers for the NGWMN, the USGS will be providing funding through 
cooperative agreements to water-resource agencies that collect 
groundwater data. The USGS will be soliciting applications for funding 
that will request information from the Agency collecting the data. 
Elements will include contact information (phone number and email 
address), and a proposal describing their proposed work in support of 
the NGWMN. The proposal will describe the groundwater networks to be 
included in the NGWMN, the purpose of the networks, and the Principal 
aquifers that are monitored. Proposals may include work to become a new 
data provider to the NGWMN, support for maintaining connections to 
agency databases, and work to enhance NGWMN sites (updating metadata, 
well maintenance, well drilling, and support for continuous water-level 
monitoring equipment). The proposal would require estimates of costs to 
complete the above tasks and a timeline for planned completion. The 
proposal will be reviewed by the USGS and the NGWMN Program Board who 
will make funding recommendations.
    Title of Collection: National Ground-Water Monitoring Network 
Cooperative Funding Application.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0114.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Multi-state, state or local water-
resources agencies who operate groundwater monitoring networks.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 60.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 2 hours to read 40 hours to 
complete application.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 880.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory to be considered for funding.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    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.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Janice Fulford,
Director, USGS WMA Observing Systems Division.
[FR Doc. 2021-19821 Filed 9-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338-11-P


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