Search Results for agency_names:"Agency Information Collection Activities

The Department of Commerce, alongside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection activity. This involves a new registration form for workshops focused on the safe handling, release, and identification of protected species in the Hawaii and American Samoa longline fisheries. Participation in these workshops is essential for vessel operators to comply with regulations and maintain their fishing permits. The public has 60 days to comment on the necessity and impact of this information collection process before it is formally submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking public comments on its information collection for the Patents for Humanity Program and Trademarks for Humanity Program, which are initiatives aimed at encouraging the use of patents and trademarks to address humanitarian issues. The Patents for Humanity Program incentivizes patent holders to distribute technology for humanitarian purposes, offering award certificates that can accelerate patent matters. In 2023, the USPTO introduced the Trademarks for Humanity Program, which recognizes brand owners using trademarks to tackle societal challenges. Public comments are invited on these programs to help the USPTO assess and reduce reporting burdens.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA), part of the Department of Commerce, is inviting public comments on its information collection practices as part of the Paperwork Reduction Act. They are seeking feedback to help assess and improve their processes, reduce the public's reporting burden, and evaluate the necessity and utility of the information collected. This notice allows for 60 days of public comment before the collection submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments need to be submitted by February 3, 2025.

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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on the renewal of the information collection request (ICR) related to the Clean Water Act Section 404 State-Assumed Programs. This ICR is under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is set to expire on February 28, 2025. The document outlines the responsibilities of states and tribes in managing the Section 404 permit program, which regulates discharges into US waters. The EPA estimates that three states will administer the program during the next three years, affecting about 15,237 permit applicants, with total annual costs of approximately $6.6 million.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted a request to renew the information collection for asbestos worker protection, which is currently valid until January 31, 2025. This collection involves reporting and recordkeeping requirements for the protection of state and local government employees working with asbestos. Public comments on the renewal can be submitted until January 10, 2025. The estimated annual burden for respondents is 358,049 hours with a total cost of $21,175,968. There has been a notable reduction in burden hours due to fewer states being subject to the rule.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection related to its Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program. This program, part of the Department of Commerce, aims to improve ocean and coastal environmental understanding through education grants. To achieve this, NOAA is extending its existing data collection efforts to monitor and improve B-WET activities by gathering feedback from grant recipients and teachers. Comments on the proposal are invited until February 18, 2025, to help evaluate and enhance the program’s effectiveness.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted a request to renew the information collection for the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) related to polymeric coating at supporting substrates facilities, extending its approval until December 31, 2024, under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This notice was published to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. The rules apply to 74 facilities, requiring responses initially, quarterly, and semiannually, with an estimated total burden of 16,400 hours and a cost of $3,330,000 annually. No changes in the regulations or burden are anticipated in the next three years.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted a request to extend the information collection on the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for facilities involved in the solvent extraction process for vegetable oil production. This extension is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval and seeks public comments until May 28, 2025. The proposed standards apply to facilities that significantly emit hazardous air pollutants and require these entities to comply with various reporting and recordkeeping obligations. The estimated burden on the affected facilities is about 33,000 hours annually, with costs amounting to $4,520,000 each year.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the Department of Justice is submitting a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a survey about forensic crime laboratories. This survey, called the Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories (CPFFCL), aims to collect data from state and local government agencies, specifically from 350 crime laboratories, on their staffing, budgets, and challenges. Public comments on the survey can be submitted until March 3, 2025, and participation in the survey is voluntary. The collected data will help provide insight into forensic crime laboratories and will be shared in published reports by the BJS.