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 Department of Commerce wants to collect information to help protect and care for beachy and watery lands, and they need the public's help so it's not too hard for everyone. They are also asking people to share what they think about this plan, but they didn't explain some tricky parts in simple words.
Summary AI
The Department of Commerce plans to submit an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This is related to the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, which involves activities like planning, protection, and restoration of coastal lands. They are asking for public comments to help assess the effects of this data collection and to reduce the reporting burden. Under the Coastal Zone Management Act, this initiative will support various conservation projects with the participation of state, local, and tribal governments.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document is an announcement from the Department of Commerce regarding its plan to submit an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This request relates to the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, which aims to plan, protect, and restore coastal and estuarine lands. The notice encourages public and federal agency comments on the proposed data collection, aiming to minimize public burden and evaluate the impact of the information collection.
Summary of the Document
This notice represents a formal step in the federal regulatory process, where the Department of Commerce seeks approval for the continuation of an existing data collection effort. The program falls under the Coastal Zone Management Act, which provides the legal framework for managing the nation's coastal resources, including the issuance of funds for various conservation projects. The primary respondents involved are state, local, or tribal governments, which are required to engage with this program to obtain benefits.
Significant Issues and Concerns
A few concerns arise from this document:
Transparency of Burden Hours: The document mentions a total annual burden of 1,455 hours without a detailed breakdown of costs. This lack of detail raises questions about the potential for inefficient spending or misallocation of effort.
Distribution of Authority and Funds: There is no explanation of how the authority and funds under the Coastal Zone Management Act are distributed among states or localities, potentially raising concerns about favoritism or unequal resource allocation.
Complexity for General Public: The document assumes familiarity with specific terms and the Coastal Zone Management Act's implications without offering simplified explanations. This could lead to confusion among the general public unfamiliar with these terms, such as "low-cost acquisition and construction program" or "Section 306A."
Emphasis on Public Participation: The call for public comments seems routine and does not emphasize the critical role of public and diverse stakeholders in shaping the policy. This could deter broader public engagement, which is essential for inclusive policy-making.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this document highlights efforts to address conservation and management of coastal lands, which are of national interest given their environmental, economic, and recreational value. Successful implementation can lead to enhanced environmental protection, sustainable land use, and increased resilience against climate change impacts.
Impact on Stakeholders
Specific stakeholders, such as state, local, and tribal governments directly involved in these programs, may benefit from clear guidelines and available funds to support local conservation initiatives. However, lack of clarity in how resources are allocated might result in some stakeholders feeling underserved or overlooked, particularly if they have limited capacity to engage in the data collection process or if the distribution is perceived as inequitable.
In summary, while the document signals a positive step toward the continued support of environmental conservation efforts, it also highlights areas where transparency, clarity, and public engagement can be improved to ensure equitable and effective implementation.
Issues
• The document does not provide a detailed breakdown of how the total annual burden of 1,455 hours is costed, making it unclear whether there might be any wasteful spending associated with this estimate.
• There is no specific information on how the authority and funds under the Coastal Zone Management Act are distributed, which could potentially raise concerns about favoritism towards particular states or localities.
• The document assumes that the public and respondents are familiar with the detailed implication of CZMA and related programs without providing an easy-to-understand summary, which could be seen as overly complex for general public understanding.
• Some terminology like 'low-cost acquisition and construction program', 'due diligence materials', or 'section 306A' may not be clear to all readers without additional context or explanation.
• The call for public comments is seemingly routine without emphasizing the importance or impact of public participation, which might impact the engagement of a diverse respondent pool.