Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS)
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Commerce wants to check how useful their plans for helping communities grow are and make it easier for people to give them information without spending too much time on it. They're asking people to tell them if their ideas make sense and are worth the effort.
Summary AI
The Department of Commerce plans to submit an information collection request related to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. This request is part of their efforts to assess and improve information collection and reduce public reporting burdens. They are seeking comments from the public and other federal agencies on this proposed collection, which is primarily aimed at ensuring compliance with requirements for obtaining Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment assistance. The comment period is open for 30 days, and interested parties can view and comment on the request at www.reginfo.gov.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register outlines a proposed information collection request by the Department of Commerce related to Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS). This request is intended for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The primary purpose is to gather feedback on the proposed data collection processes, which are essential for ensuring compliance with the requirements necessary to receive investment assistance from the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
General Summary
In essence, the document invites public and federal agencies to comment on the proposed information collection concerning the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies. The document emphasizes the importance of public participation in refining the process and reducing unnecessary reporting burdens. It outlines the intention behind the data collection, which is to facilitate EDA investment assistance and to maintain compliance with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several noteworthy issues emerge from the document that may affect stakeholders:
High Burden Hours: The document stipulates a total of 31,640 burden hours required for compliance with the information collection. There is a noticeable absence of any explanation justifying why such a high number of hours is needed. This raises concerns about potential inefficiencies or possibly excessive demands placed on respondents.
Initial CEDS Response Time: The average response time of 480 hours for the initial CEDS submission seems unusually high, yet the document provides no breakdown of tasks or activities that justify these hours. This lack of transparency may lead to questions about the necessity of such extensive time investment.
Lack of Contextual Explanation: References to legal authorities (like 42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) and specific CFR parts and sections are made without context. This could pose comprehension difficulties for stakeholders who lack expertise in legal jargon.
Absence of Proposed Solutions: While the document invites comments to minimize reporting burdens, there are no specific suggestions or proposed actions indicated within the document to address these burdens effectively.
Broader Public Impact
The document’s proposal for public commentary on the information collection is a proactive step towards transparency and participatory governance. However, for the general public, these high burdens and unclear justifications may foster notions of bureaucratic complexity and inefficiency. If not addressed, such perceptions could reduce public willingness to engage actively in the comment process.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Cities, States, and Organizations: Political subdivisions, states, higher education institutions, and non-profit organizations required to comply with these information collection requirements may face significant administrative burdens. For them, the high average hours per response could translate into increased costs and resource allocation challenges, potentially impacting their operation and effectiveness.
Economic Development Districts and Tribes: Entities seeking EDA funds will find adherence to CEDS requirements mandatory. While compliance supports access to federal investment, the perceived complexity may deter some from pursuing these opportunities, especially for smaller organizations or those with limited administrative resources.
In summary, while inviting public feedback is a positive and necessary step, the document lacks clarity and actionable information, which could hinder its effectiveness in reducing the reporting burden and improving compliance processes. Addressing these issues would likely benefit the public and specific stakeholders by simplifying engagement with economic development initiatives.
Issues
• The document does not provide a clear justification for the high number of burden hours (31,640) required for the information collection, which might indicate potential inefficiencies or wasteful spending.
• The average hours per response for the initial CEDS (480 hours) seem exceptionally high without an explanation or breakdown of what these hours entail.
• The language used to describe the legal authority (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) is referenced without context or a brief explanation, which may be unclear to readers without legal expertise.
• The document references several CFR parts and sections (e.g., 13 CFR part 303) without providing summaries or the context of these regulations, which may make it difficult for some stakeholders to fully understand the requirements.
• No specific actions or improvements are suggested to minimize the public's reporting burden, despite inviting comments on the matter.