[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47018-47020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21734]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-WSFR-2017-N095; FF09W25000-178-FXGO166409WSFR0; OMB Control
Number 1018-0100]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Administrative
Procedures for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Financial Assistance
Programs
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, Service) is proposing to renew
an information collection with revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
December 11, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request
(ICR) by mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please
reference Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number ``1018-
0100'' in the subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, or by
telephone at (703) 358-2503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired
format.
We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper
functions of the Service; (2) will this information be processed and
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4)
how might the Service enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how might the Service minimize the
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use
of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment
[[Page 47019]]
to withhold your personal identifying information from public review,
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Abstract: Information collection requirements associated with the
administrative processes used to administer Service financial
assistance programs are currently approved under four different OMB
control numbers:
1018-0100, ``Migratory Birds and Wetlands Conservation
Grant Programs, 50 CFR 17 and 23'';
1018-0109, ``Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Grants
and Cooperative Agreements, 50 CFR 80, 81, 84, 85, and 86'';
1018-0123, ``International Conservation Grant Programs'';
and
1018-0154, ``Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project Grant
Program.''
In this revision, we are consolidating all of the information
collection requirements associated with the four OMB Control Numbers
identified above into one control number, OMB Control No. 1018-0100,
with a new title to more accurately reflect the purpose of the
consolidated collection of information. Consolidation of OMB approvals
into a single collection reduces burden on the public by ensuring
consistency in the application and award administration processes
across all Service financial assistance programs. If OMB approves this
request, we will discontinue OMB Control Numbers 1018-0109, 1018-0123,
and 1018-0154.
We issue financial assistance through grants and cooperative
agreement awards to individuals; commercial organizations; institutions
of higher education; non-profit organizations; foreign entities; and
State, local, and Tribal governments. The Service administers a wide
variety of financial assistance programs, authorized by Congress to
address the Service's mission, as listed in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA). The CFDA is a government-wide compendium of
Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide
assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial
and non-financial assistance programs administered by departments and
establishments of the Federal government. The CFDA listing includes
program types and numbers, the specific type of assistance for each
program, and includes the applicable authorities for each program
within the description. A list of currently authorized Service
financial assistance programs can be found at https://www.cfda.gov/?s=agency&mode=form&tab=program&id=000710afb4d72c15f9fc20a83f7319d0.
The Service currently manages the following types of assistance as
categorized by the CFDA:
Formula Grants
Project Grants
Project Grants (Discretionary)
Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)
Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use
Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment
Provision of Specialized Services
Advisory Services and Counseling
Dissemination of Technical Information
Training
Some assistance programs are mandatory and funds are awarded to
eligible recipients according to a formula set by law or policy. Other
programs are discretionary and award funds based on competitive
selection and merit review processes. Mandatory grant recipients must
give us specific, detailed project information during the application
process so that we may ensure that projects are eligible for the
mandatory funding, are substantial in character and design, and comply
with all applicable Federal laws. Discretionary grant applicants must
give us information as dictated by the program requirements and as
requested in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), including that
information that addresses ranking criteria. All recipients must submit
financial and performance reports that contain information necessary
for us to track costs and accomplishments. The rewardees' reports must
adhere to schedules and rules in 2 CFR part 200, Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards, which was effective as of December 26, 2014. Part 200
prescribes the information that Federal agencies must collect, and
financial assistance recipients must provide, and also supports this
information collection.
The Service uses the grant process to provide technical and
financial assistance to other Federal agencies, States, local
governments, Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations,
citizen groups, and private landowners, for the conservation and
management of fish and wildlife resources. The process begins with the
submission of an application. The respective program reviews and
prioritizes proposed projects based on their respective project
selection criteria. Pending availability of funding, applicants can
submit their application documents to the Service through the Federal
Grants.gov Web site, when solicited by the Service through a NOFO.
As part of this collection of information, the Service collects the
following types of information requiring approval under the PRA:
A. Application Package: We use the information provided in
applications to: (1) Determine eligibility under the authorizing
legislation and applicable program regulations; (2) determine
allowability of major cost items under the Cost Principles at 2 CFR
200; (3) select those projects that will provide the highest return on
the Federal investment; and (4) assist in compliance with laws, as
applicable, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the National
Historic Preservation Act, and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and
Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. The full application
package (submitted by the applicant) generally include the following:
Required Federal financial assistance application forms
(SF-424 suite of forms, as applicable to specified project).
Project Narrative--generally includes items such as:
[cir] Statement of need,
[cir] Project goals and objectives,
[cir] Methods used and timetable,
[cir] Description of key personnel qualifications,
[cir] Description of stakeholders or other relevant organizations/
individuals involved and level of involvement,
[cir] Project monitoring and evaluation plan, and/or
[cir] Other pertinent project specific information.
Pertinent project budget-related information--generally
includes items such as:
[cir] Budget justification,
[cir] Indirect cost statement,
[cir] Federally-funded equipment list, and/or
[cir] Certifications and disclosures.
B. Reporting Requirements: Reporting requirements associated with
financial assistance awards generally include the following types of
reports:
Performance reports,
Financial reports, and
Work plan and accomplishment reports.
C. Recordkeeping Requirements: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.333,
financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all
other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be
retained for a period of 3 years after the date of submission of the
final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annually, from the date of the
[[Page 47020]]
submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively,
as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity (in
the case of a subrecipient).
D. Amendments: Most awardees must explain and justify requests for
amendments to terms of the grant. The information is used to determine
the eligibility and allowability of activities and to comply with the
requirements of 2 CFR 200.
Title of Collection: Administrative Procedures for U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Financial Assistance Programs.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0100.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals; commercial organizations;
institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; foreign
entities; and State, local, and Tribal governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 7,110.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 10,745.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 3 hours to 30
hours, depending on the activity.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 189,615.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-21734 Filed 10-6-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P