Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Pool Safely Grant Program Application
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants to hear what people think about their plan to give money to help keep pools safe from drowning accidents. They want to know if the plan is good, if it helps, and how they can make it easier for people to ask for this money.
Summary AI
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is seeking public comments on its proposed collection of information for the Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP) application. This program is designed to provide funding to state, local, and tribal governments to help prevent drowning and drain entrapment in swimming pools and spas. The grants, ranging from $50,000 to $400,000, aim to support education, training, and enforcement of pool safety requirements. The CPSC provided details about the application process, estimated burden, and cost, and invites feedback on the necessity, utility, and ways to minimize the burden of the proposed information collection.
Abstract
As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) requests comments on a request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. The proposed collection is for an application by which potential grant recipients may request funding under CPSC's Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP). The PSGP provides funds for state, local and tribal governments for education, training and enforcement of pool safety requirements intended to save lives from drowning in swimming pools and spas. Before CPSC may collect this information from the public, it must solicit public comment on this proposed collection of information and receive OMB approval. This notice describes the collection of information for which CPSC intends to seek OMB approval.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register, titled "Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Pool Safely Grant Program Application," provides information about the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) intent to collect data for its Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP). This initiative seeks to offer financial assistance to state, local, and tribal governments to promote swimming pool and spa safety, specifically to prevent drowning and drain entrapment incidents.
General Summary
The CPSC proposes a new information collection and is seeking public feedback on its application process for grants that would be awarded under the PSGP. These grants aim to assist in education, enforcement, and training efforts to improve pool safety, with potential awards ranging from $50,000 to $400,000. The document outlines critical details about the application process, including the estimated time and costs involved, and it invites public comments on various aspects, such as the necessity of the information being collected and how the associated burden could be minimized.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One concern that arises from the document is the lack of specific measures to ensure that the funds from the PSGP are used effectively and for their intended purpose. Without clear accountability mechanisms, there might be risks of misuse of funds. Additionally, the language used to explain the burden and costs involved in the grant application process might be too complex for a general audience, potentially limiting the accessibility of this information.
The cost estimates rely on data from September 2024, which may not accurately reflect the current market conditions by the time this document is published, thus affecting the precision of the financial burden calculations. Further, the use of footnotes and cross-references may confuse readers, making it harder for them to follow the content without frequent referencing to the footnotes section.
Additionally, although the CPSC requests suggestions on methods to improve the quality and clarity of the information collected, specific examples or guidelines are not provided, leaving stakeholders without a clear path for offering constructive feedback.
Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders
Broadly, the document's implications extend to various public and governmental sectors. For state, local, and tribal governments, the PSGP represents a valuable opportunity to obtain necessary funding for ensuring community pool safety. If effectively managed, these grants may significantly contribute to reducing the incidents of drowning and injuries related to pool usage.
However, the requirements for the application process, including six specific attachments, may appear burdensome to some applicants. While these might be necessary to ensure thorough evaluation and accountability, a lack of detailed justification or explanation for each requirement could discourage potential applicants due to perceived administrative complexity.
For community members and families, the successful implementation of these grants could enhance safety measures and reduce tragic accidents in public and private swimming settings.
In conclusion, while the PSGP promises substantial benefits through increased safety measures, the delivery and communication of the grant application process could benefit from enhanced clarity and accountability measures. Addressing these issues could ensure a broader and more effective engagement from eligible entities, ideally leading to tangible safety improvements within communities.
Financial Assessment
The document under review outlines the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) request for comments on a new information collection related to their Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP). The primary focus is on funding allocations intended to enhance pool safety and prevent drowning incidents.
Summary of Financial Allocations
The PSGP provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments for programs centered on pool safety education and enforcement. Grant awards range from $50,000 to $400,000 per applicant. These funds are intended to support projects that specifically aim to reduce drownings and drain entrapments in swimming pools and spas.
Estimated Costs and Burdens
The document provides a detailed account of the financial burden associated with the grant application process. It estimates that the total burden for applicants will be 880 hours per year, costing approximately $55,370. This calculation is based on an hourly compensation rate of $62.92, which reflects the average compensation for state and local government workers as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in September 2024.
Financial References and Issues
One of the issues identified in the document is the potential complexity of these calculations. The average reader might find the burden and cost estimate calculations intricate due to the technical language used. Additionally, the compensation rate used might not reflect current market conditions, as it is based on data from the previous year. This could potentially affect the accuracy of the estimated application cost.
Potential Misuse and Oversight
While the grant amounts are clearly specified, there is a notable lack of information regarding safeguards or accountability measures to ensure that the funds are used effectively and appropriately. Without clear oversight mechanisms, funds may not be directed adequately to achieve the intended outcomes of reducing pool-related accidents.
Financial Transparency and Improvements
The document also requests public comment on ways to enhance the quality and utility of information collected, but it does not offer explicit methods or guidelines for achieving these improvements. This could lead to perceptions of administrative burden due to the requirement of detailed attachments in the application process. More transparency and clear guidelines would be beneficial in ensuring funds are allocated effectively and efficiently.
Overall, while the document clearly stipulates the financial budgets associated with the PSGP, it could benefit from additional clarity on how these funds are managed and evaluated to prevent misuse and enhance the effectiveness of the program.
Issues
• The document does not specify any specific measures in place to ensure that funds distributed through the Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP) are utilized effectively and appropriately, which might lead to potential misuse of funds.
• Complex language is used in detailing the burden and cost estimate calculations, which may not be easily understood by all readers without a background in budget evaluation.
• The estimated annual burden cost calculation relies on compensation data from September 2024, which may not reflect current market rates, potentially affecting the accuracy of the cost estimate.
• The string of footnotes and cross-references (e.g., '[4]') might be confusing to readers as they require the reader to frequently jump to the footnotes section for understanding.
• Details about methods for enhancing the quality, utility, and clarity of collected information are requested but no examples or guidelines are provided on how these might be implemented.
• The requirement and justification for six specific attachments in the grant application process are mentioned without a detailed explanation or justification for each, which might appear as an unnecessary administrative burden for applicants.