Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Bay Watershed Education and Training Program National Evaluation System
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Issuing agencies
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 26 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7157-7158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02603]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Bay Watershed Education and Training Program National
Evaluation System
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before April 11, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d799989696f987859697b9b8b6b6f9b0b8a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6a24252b2b443a382b2a04050b0b440d051c">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0658 in the subject line of your
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Bronwen Rice, B-WET National Coordinator, NOAA Office of Education,
1401 Constitution Ave. NW, #6863, Washington, DC 20230, 202-604-1388,
and <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7133031e1f06141f5f23181214311f1e10105f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a586875746d7f74344873797f5a74757b7b347d756c">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for an extension of an existing information
collection.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office
of Education is sponsoring data collection efforts on its Bay Watershed
Education and Training (B-WET) program. The NOAA B-WET program is
authorized under 33 U.S.C. 893a(a), the America COMPETES Act. The
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is
authorized to conduct, develop, support, promote, and coordinate formal
and informal educational activities at all levels to enhance public
awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and
atmospheric science and stewardship by the general public and other
coastal stakeholders, including underrepresented groups in ocean and
atmospheric science and policy careers. B-WET advances NOAA's mission
by awarding education grants that foster an environmentally literate
citizenry who have the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to
protect watersheds and related ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
ecosystems. B-WET currently funds projects in seven regions
(California, Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, New
England, and the Pacific Northwest).
To ensure that educational activities funded by B-WET are of the
highest quality, and maximize federal resources,
[[Page 7158]]
B-WET has created an across-region, internal evaluation system to
provide ongoing monitoring of program implementation and to identify
opportunities for improved program outcomes. The evaluation system is
maintained by B-WET staff with occasional assistance from an outside
contractor. The evaluation system collects information from B-WET
program-funded project participants.
B-WET awardees of grants or cooperative agreements, and the
awardees' teachers who attend professional development programs
provided by the awardees, are asked to voluntarily complete online
survey forms to provide data for the evaluation system. Information
collected from awardees includes program elements such as program
duration, format, audience, location, support and/or materials offered,
and topics covered. Information collected from teacher professional
development participants includes teaching methodologies, program
satisfaction, program coverage, suggestions for improvement, and
teaching confidence. Information collected from teachers at the end of
the school year following their participation in a professional
development program includes time spent teaching topics covered in the
professional development program, types of activities used with their
students, teachers' perceptions of student learning, and teaching
practices utilized. One individual from each awardee organization is
asked to complete a survey once per year of the award, and the teacher
participants are asked to complete one survey at the end of their
professional development program and another survey at the end of the
following school year. Responses to the survey questions are aggregated
and analyzed as part of ongoing evaluation efforts.
Based on a review of annual evaluation system results, B-WET has
made program improvements by adjusting its Federal Notice of Funding
Opportunities and program guidelines. On-going data collection enables
NOAA to monitor program implementation and outcomes on a regular basis
and supports adaptive management of the program.
II. Method of Collection
Respondents submit their information electronically using a survey
collection platform.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0658.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current
information collection.
Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations; not-
for-profit institutions; state, local or tribal government; individuals
or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: Given the funding levels of the
past three fiscal years, NOAA B-WET estimates that approximately 165
awardees and 3,374 teachers will be invited to respond each year.
Estimated Time per Response: Awardee-respondents will complete an
online survey in 60 minutes and teacher-respondents will complete two
online surveys in 30 minutes each.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,539.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. 893a(a), the America COMPETES Act.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms 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 may ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-02603 Filed 2-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-P
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