Search Results for keywords:"Department of Commerce"

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce, is inviting public comments on a new information collection related to U.S. commercial fisheries. The goal is to gather economic data to better manage marine resources and support laws like the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. They aim to collect information about costs, earnings, and other economic factors from various fisheries, focusing on a different set each year to reduce the burden on respondents. This data will help NOAA and other agencies make informed decisions regarding the fishing industry.

The Department of Commerce and NOAA are gathering feedback on their information collection related to 3D elevation data in the United States, under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request is part of the ongoing 3D Nation Elevation Data Requirements and Benefits Study, which aims to improve technology systems and data services by understanding the needs and uses of 3D data. The study invites comments from government, academic, nonprofit, and commercial entities to better shape future programs. Comments are open until March 30, 2021, and participants will provide input through surveys and possible interviews.

The Department of Commerce, through the Census Bureau, is seeking public feedback on its plan to continue the Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) program. This program collects data on the financial status of U.S. corporations, targeting those in manufacturing, mining, and several other sectors. The collected information is crucial for economic analysis and requires the involvement of businesses with significant assets. Comments on the proposed information collection, which aims to minimize the burden on respondents, can be submitted until March 26, 2021.

The Department of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is seeking public comments on its plans to collect information about how people perceive and react to weather warnings. This effort, in line with the Paperwork Reduction Act, aims to get feedback until May 30, 2025, on surveys that will gather data on how the public responds to hazardous weather events like tornadoes and flash floods. The data will help improve NOAA's ability to communicate weather risks effectively. Public participation is voluntary, and the surveys will be web-based, with an estimated 90,000 respondents each spending about 10 minutes to complete them.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the Department of Commerce, announced a pilot program for matching funds to support hydrographic surveys, encouraging partnerships with non-Federal entities like state governments and universities. The program aims to enhance ocean and coastal mapping, contributing to safe navigation, climate adaptation, and more. NOAA will match funds provided by partners and ensure all data collected is publicly accessible. Interested parties must submit proposals by February 26, 2021, highlighting their project plans and funding sources. This initiative is part of NOAA's broader efforts to map U.S. waters by 2040.

The Department of Commerce has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, effective January 15, 2021. This adjustment is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and aims to ensure the penalties continue to serve as a deterrent. The changes will only apply to penalties with a specific dollar amount and will affect those assessed after the effective date. The penalties are adjusted based on the cost-of-living increase from October 2019 to October 2020.

The Department of Commerce is inviting public comments on a new information collection process related to handling informal complaints about employment discrimination at the Census Bureau, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. This notice encourages public input on the proposed "EEO Initial Informal Complaint Contact Sheet Common Form" before it is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. The form will help collect necessary information to address claims of discrimination based on factors such as race, gender, or age. Feedback is sought to optimize the form's utility, accuracy, and efficiency, and comments will be publicly accessible.

The Department of Commerce has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation as mandated by federal law. This rule applies to CMPs with specific dollar amounts and is set to become effective on January 15, 2025. The adjustments are based on the Consumer Price Index changes from October 2023 to October 2024, ensuring that penalties keep their deterrence value. These changes apply only to penalties assessed after the rule's effective date and do not involve prior public notice or comment since the adjustments follow a prescribed methodology.

The Department of Commerce is seeking comments from the public on the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), as they prepare to submit information collection requests to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, gathers important data to estimate the health and wellbeing of children nationwide, focusing on those with special health care needs. There are two modes of data collection: an online survey and a mail-in paper survey. Public comments on this information collection are welcomed to help reduce paperwork burdens and improve the process before the final submission to OMB.

The Department of Commerce is inviting public comments on the necessity and impact of collecting economic data from Gulf and South Atlantic shrimp fishers who hold federal permits. This data collection is part of a larger effort to meet the goals of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The collected information includes shrimp fishers’ revenues, costs, and investments, which will be used to analyze their response to federal regulations. The deadline for submitting comments is May 19, 2025, and the data will be gathered via a mail survey to about 650 participants.