Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Planning, Protection or Restoration
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The NOAA wants to know what people think about their plan to gather information on how to take care of beaches and waterways. They want folks to share their thoughts on whether this plan is useful and how it can be made easier for people to help out.
Summary AI
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is inviting public comments on a proposed information collection related to coastal and estuarine land conservation. This collection is conducted under the Coastal Zone Management Act to support activities like land acquisition and restoration. The public has 60 days to submit their input, either electronically or by mail, on aspects such as the collection's necessity, accuracy, and ways to reduce reporting burdens. The NOAA intends to use this information to evaluate project proposals and ensure compliance with environmental laws.
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register titled "Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Planning, Protection or Restoration" involves a request for public input by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This request relates to an information collection process necessary to support coastal and estuarine land conservation programs under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). The purpose of this exercise is to ensure these programs operate effectively while managing the public's reporting burdens.
Summary of the Document
The NOAA is seeking comments from the public and other federal agencies on their collection of information for coastal and estuarine conservation efforts. This request is framed under the Paperwork Reduction Act, which aims to ascertain the practicality and minimize the burden of data collection for various stakeholders. NOAA will use the collected data for evaluating project proposals related to coastal land conservation, which involves planning, land acquisition, and restoration activities. The comment period is set for 60 days, ending on February 18, 2025. Comments can be submitted electronically or in paper format, providing feedback on the necessity, accuracy, and any potential burdens of the proposed data collection.
Significant Issues and Concerns
While the document invites public participation, there are notable issues regarding the clarity and transparency of the proposed information collection. It does not specify the criteria or metrics to be used in evaluating the necessity and utility of the data, which may lead to ambiguity in assessing project proposals. Moreover, while estimating the time and effort required for response, the document does not disclose the methodology or assumptions underpinning these figures, potentially causing misunderstandings about the reporting burden.
Another significant concern pertains to the protection of personal information. Although the document acknowledges that personal information may be made publicly available, it does not clearly describe measures to safeguard such information or if anonymization techniques will be applied.
Additionally, while efforts to minimize the reporting burden are mentioned, the document lacks detail regarding specific methods or tools to achieve this reduction, making it hard for respondents to gauge how compliance will be facilitated. Furthermore, references to various legal provisions (e.g., CZMA sections 307A, 315, 306A) could be confusing to those outside the sector due to undefined technical jargon.
Broad Public Impact
The document impacts the public by potentially altering the way information is collected for land conservation projects. By soliciting feedback, it offers an opportunity for individuals and organizations to influence how data is gathered and utilized, possibly shaping conservation policy and funding distributions.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For government bodies and non-profit institutions engaged in land conservation, this notice could have significant implications. These stakeholders will need to weigh in on the collection requirements, potentially influencing the administrative burden they face. Tribal organizations and local agencies prominently involved in conservation projects are particularly affected, as their responses to this request might shape the procedural dynamics of planning and reporting in future conservation projects.
On the positive side, transparent and efficient information collection can facilitate more effective conservation efforts, ensuring better environmental stewardship while aligning with legislative requirements. However, if concerns, particularly around data privacy and reporting efficacy, are not adequately addressed, these stakeholders might face increased administrative obstacles without a corresponding benefit in conservation outcomes.
Overall, while the NOAA's initiative to gather public input is commendable, ensuring clarity, transparency, and reassurance around data privacy and reporting methodologies will be crucial in achieving the desired outcomes and gaining broad-based support for the endeavor.
Financial Assessment
The Federal Register document under review discusses the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) request for comments on an information collection related to coastal and estuarine land conservation. Financial references made in the document offer insight into the economic impacts associated with this process.
Estimated Costs to the Public
The document specifies that the estimated total annual cost to the public is $55 in recordkeeping and reporting costs. This cost is notably low compared to what might be expected for a federal information collection effort that involves multiple types of data submission and compliance with environmental laws. This suggests that most of the financial burden of data management and processing is likely absorbed by the NOAA or other governmental entities rather than the participating institutions or individuals.
Relation to Identified Issues
One of the issues identified is the lack of explanation regarding the methodology or assumptions used to calculate the burden hours and costs. The document states that the estimated time per response includes 120 hours to develop plans, 35 hours to revise or update them, and 20 hours for project applications and checklists, with 5 hours for semi-annual and annual reporting each. Despite these time commitments, the $55 total cost implies that any direct out-of-pocket expenses for the participating entities are minimal. However, without further detail on how this low-cost estimate was determined, there is potential for misunderstandings or discrepancies, particularly for those unfamiliar with federal reporting processes.
Assessment of Cost-Effectiveness
Given the $55 figure for recordkeeping and reporting, it appears that NOAA has kept the direct financial impact on public and governmental entities participating in these collection activities to a minimum. However, the document does not address whether there are indirect costs or whether public institutions may bear additional hidden expenses, such as the labor costs of staff dedicating time to meet these requirements. Therefore, stakeholders might benefit from more transparency and detail concerning the calculation methods and whether other non-monetary costs could arise from this reporting obligation.
In conclusion, while the financial burden on participants in terms of direct costs seems negligible, further clarification on the assumptions used for this financial estimation, as well as potential hidden or indirect costs, would be beneficial for a clearer understanding of the economic implications of this information collection activity.
Issues
• The document does not specify the criteria or metrics used to evaluate the necessity and utility of the information collection, potentially leading to ambiguity in assessment processes.
• The document describes estimated time per response and burden hours but does not explain the methodology or assumptions used, which could lead to misunderstandings or discrepancies in reporting.
• It is not clear how the administration ensures that the collected personal information will be protected and whether any steps are taken to anonymize or safeguard it given the advisory that personal identifying information may be made publicly available.
• The notice does not provide specific details about the methods to minimize the reporting burden, which could make it difficult for respondents to understand how their efforts to comply will be facilitated.
• While the notice invites comments from the public, it does not describe the process for reviewing and addressing these comments, leaving ambiguity as to how feedback is incorporated.
• The document includes technical jargon and references to legal sections (e.g., CZMA section 307A, 315, 306A) without explanations, which may not be easily understood by all stakeholders, particularly those outside of governmental or environmental sectors.