Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; The William T. Pecora Award: Application and Nomination Process
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The U.S. Geological Survey wants people to share their thoughts on renewing how they collect information for an award about cool space and Earth pictures. They want to make sure it's necessary, asks the right things, and isn’t too hard to fill out.
Summary AI
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), part of the Interior Department, is seeking public comments on a proposal to renew an information collection related to the William T. Pecora Award. This award honors achievements in remote sensing and is co-sponsored by NASA and the Department of the Interior. The agency invites comments, particularly regarding the necessity and accuracy of the collection, methods to reduce respondent burden, and ways to improve the quality of collected data. The collection has an estimated completion time of 6 hours per respondent, involving 12 respondents annually.
Abstract
We, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information collection.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register provides a notice from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is part of the Interior Department. This notice pertains to the renewal of an information collection associated with the William T. Pecora Award. Co-sponsored by NASA and the Department of the Interior, the Pecora Award recognizes outstanding achievements in remote sensing, a field that contributes significantly to understanding Earth’s landscapes, oceans, and atmosphere.
General Summary
The notice invites public comments on the proposed renewal of this information collection, seeking feedback on various aspects, such as its necessity and accuracy, and methods to enhance its efficiency. The USGS aims to ensure that this collection process imposes the least burden on respondents while collecting meaningful data. The application process for the Pecora Award involves submitting nomination packages, including two-page summary statements and supplemental materials. Each response is estimated to take six hours to complete, with around twelve respondents annually.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Financial Details Lacking
The document omits specific financial allocations or funding details regarding the information collection process. Such transparency could help identify areas of potential wasteful spending or investment.
Privacy Concerns
There is some ambiguity around the privacy of submitted comments. While the notice states that personal identifying information from comments could be made public, it could provide clearer terms under which this information could be withheld. This lack of clarity might deter some stakeholders from providing valuable feedback.
Guidance on Electronic Submissions
While modernizing the submission process is vital, the document lacks detailed guidelines on how nominations should be electronically submitted. Clear instructions or supportive infrastructure would streamline this process, ensuring efficiency and accessibility.
Criteria Ambiguity
The absence of specific examples or criteria for what constitutes "outstanding contributions" in remote sensing could lead to uncertainty in the nomination process. Detailed criteria could enhance fairness and clarity for nominators and nominees alike.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, renewing this information collection process could enhance the remote sensing discipline, which benefits various sectors including scientific research, emergency response, and environmental monitoring. The public, in turn, benefits indirectly through improved understanding and management of Earth’s resources. However, ambiguous terms or unclear processes may discourage public engagement, which this renewal process seeks to promote.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Researchers and Scientists
For individuals and teams involved in remote sensing, especially those in academia or research sectors, this award could hold significant prestige. It encourages continued excellence and innovation in their work.
Government Agencies
Federal, state, and local governments, which often rely on remote sensing data for planning and resource management, may benefit from the innovations driven by the award's recognition.
Non-profit Organizations
Non-profits involved in environmental or disaster response initiatives could leverage recognized partnerships or projects to further their missions.
In conclusion, while the initiative to renew the information collection for the Pecora Award is an admirable effort supporting remote sensing advancements, addressing the issues related to privacy, guidance, and criteria clarity would enhance its effectiveness and public engagement potential.
Issues
• The document does not disclose any specific financial allocation or funding details, which could help identify potential wasteful spending.
• The language regarding the privacy of submitted comments could be clearer, specifically about the conditions under which personal identifying information can be withheld from public disclosure.
• The document lacks detailed guidelines regarding how electronic submission of nominations should be conducted, which could clarify and simplify the process for respondents.
• The document doesn't provide specific examples or criteria for judging 'outstanding contributions' in remote sensing, which could lead to ambiguity in the nomination process.