Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Chesapeake Bay Watershed Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2016)

Federal Register Volume 81, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2016)

Notices

Pages 93666-93667

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2016-30757

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Chesapeake Bay Watershed Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to

Page 93667

take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Shannon Sprague, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 207, Annapolis, MD 21403, 410-267-5664 or shannon.sprague@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Abstract

   This request is for a new information collection.

   The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement of 2014 requires monitoring of progress towards the environmental literacy goal: ``Enable students in the region to graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to act responsibly to protect and restore their local watersheds.'' NOAA, on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Program, will ask the state education agencies for Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to survey their local education agencies (LEAs) to determine: (1) LEA capacity to implement a comprehensive and systemic approach to environmental literacy education, (2) student participation in Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences during the school year, (3) sustainability practices at schools, and (4) LEA needs for improving environmental literacy education programming. LEAs (generally school districts, in some cases charter school administration) are asked to complete the survey on the status of their LEA on a set of key indicators for the four areas listed above. One individual from each LEA is asked to complete this survey once every two years.

2. Method of Collection

   Respondents will submit their information electronically on web-

   based survey forms.

3. Data

   OMB Control Number: 0648-xxxx.

   Form Number(s): None.

   Type of Review: Regular (request for a new information collection).

   Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal government (local education agencies); Not-for-profit organizations (charter schools).

   Estimated Number of Respondents: The survey will be distributed to approximately 983 local education agencies.

   Estimated Time per Response: 1.5 hours.

   Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,106 hours.

   Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/

   reporting costs.

4. Request for Comments

   Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

   Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

   Dated: December 16, 2016.

   Sarah Brabson,

   NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.

   FR Doc. 2016-30757 Filed 12-20-16; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 3510-12-P