Notice2025-17358
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Regional Coastal Observing Systems (RCOS)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 10, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 173 (Wednesday, September 10, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43585-43586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17358]
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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; Regional Coastal Observing Systems (RCOS)
AGENCY: U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of 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 November 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c987868888e7999b8889a7a6a8a8e7aea6bf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d23222c2c433d3f2c2d03020c0c430a021b">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0672 in the subject line of your
comments. All comments received are part of the public record and will
generally be posted on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. 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 Courtney Edwards, IOOS, 1315 East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3282, by phone at (202) 936-5742, or by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ceada1bbbcbaa0abb7e0abaab9afbcaabd8ea0a1afafe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d3b0bca6a1a7bdb6aafdb6b7a4b2a1b7a093bdbcb2b2fdb4bca5">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for reinstatement of a previously approved
information collection. The specific information collected has not
changed since the original collection. The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing
System (IOOS) is a national-regional partnership working to provide new
tools and forecasts to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect
our environment. The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System
Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-11) (ICOOS Act), as amended by the Coordinated
Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (COORA) (Pub. L. 116-271,
Title I) (33 U.S.C. 3601-3610), directed the President, acting through
the National Ocean Research Leadership Council, to establish a National
Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (System). 33 U.S.C.
3603(a). The ICOOS Act directs NOAA, as the lead Federal agency for
implementing and administering the System, to ``promulgate program
guidelines--to certify and integrate regional associations into the
System.'' 33 U.S.C. 3603(c)(3)(C).
In response to the ICOOS Act's mandate, NOAA promulgated final
regulations identifying program guidelines for the compliance
procedures and requirements for certifying Regional Information
Coordination Entities (RICEs), now known as Regional Coastal Observing
Systems (RCOS). 15 CFR 997.1-997.26. The program guidelines identify
the process and requirements for certifying the RCOSs. Submission of an
application by an organization for certification as a RCOS is
voluntary, and there is no deadline for an entity to submit an
application to be certified. The organization's application is used to
collect information required by IOOS's regulations in order for IOOS to
certify the organization as an RCOS and integrate it into the System.
When certified, RCOSs are integrated into the System through a
memorandum of agreement with NOAA and for the purposes of determining
that liability arising from the dissemination and use of observation
data shall be considered part of NOAA, and, with respect to tort
liability, designated employees of the RCOS will be deemed to be an
employee of the Federal government.
RCOSs operate regional observing networks throughout the U.S.,
including the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean, and have implemented
specific practices in regard to data collection, governance, and
management. They must submit rigorous documentation of these practices
to the IOOS offices for review and verification. This vetting process
is thorough and requires a collaborative relationship between the
organization and the IOOS Program staff.
II. Method of Collection
Applications will be submitted electronically.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0672.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission [reinstatement with minor
administrative changes to update the name of the program and
participants].
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government; Federal
government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 11.
Estimated Time per Response: Application: 290 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,160.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. 3601-3610; 15 CFR 997.1-997.26.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit IOOS to: (a) Evaluate
whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper
functions of IOOS, 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
[[Page 43586]]
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 information collection request. 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,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2025-17358 Filed 9-9-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NE-P
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