Notice2026-05258
Agency Information Collection Activities; Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) Competitive Cooperative Agreement Program With State Geological Surveys
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
March 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentGeological Survey
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information collection.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13051-13052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05258]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[Docket No. USGS-2026-0034; OMB Control Number 1028-0133;
GX26GB00H7G3D00]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Earth Mapping Resources
Initiative (Earth MRI) Competitive Cooperative Agreement Program With
State Geological Surveys
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995,
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information
collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
May 18, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
[ssquf] Internet: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. USGS-2026-0034.
[ssquf] U.S. Mail: USGS, Information Collections Clearance Officer,
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Hamalak by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#14717566607c79667d54616773673a737b62"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="593c382b2d31342b30192c2a3e2a773e362f">[email protected]</span></a>, or by telephone at 303-236-5766. Individuals in the
United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require
approval under the PRA. An agency may not
[[Page 13052]]
conduct or sponsor, nor is an individual required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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 especially interested in public comments addressing the
following:
(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether or not the information will have practical utility.
(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection
of information, including the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used.
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
(4) How the agency might minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of response.
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 personally identifiable information
(PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your PII--may be made publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review,
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Abstract: Public Law 117-58, Section 40201, ``Earth Mapping
Resources Initiative'' contained in the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (IIJA) authorizes and accelerates the mapping efforts of the
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI).
Earth MRI is a component of the USGS Mineral Resources Program and
is a national effort to carry out the fundamental resources and mapping
mission of the USGS. The goal of Earth MRI is to modernize the surface
and subsurface geologic mapping of the United States, with a focus on
identifying areas that may have the potential to contain mineral
resources.
The IIJA directed the USGS to accelerate efforts to carry out
fundamental integrated topographic, geologic, geochemical, and
geophysical mapping and provide interpretation of subsurface and above-
ground (mine waste) critical-mineral resources data at a funding level
of $320,000,000 annually for five years (FY2022-FY2026). Additionally,
Executive Order 14154, ``Unleashing American Energy'' (January 20,
2025), directed the Department in section 9(d) to ``accelerate the
ongoing, detailed geological mapping of the United States, with a focus
on locating previously unknown deposits of critical minerals.''
IIJA Section 40201 stipulates that the USGS may enter into
cooperative agreements with State geological surveys to carry out the
efforts of Earth MRI. The USGS developed a new competitive cooperative
agreement program with the State geological surveys to support mine-
waste activities authorized by the IIJA. State geological surveys apply
for funds through an annual competitive agreement process. Individual
State projects last for up to two years.
The IIJA requires the USGS to collect information necessary to
ensure that cooperative-agreement funds authorized by this legislation
are used in accordance with the IIJA and Federal assistance
requirements under 2 CFR 200. Information collected by Earth MRI as
part of the consolidated workplan is described below. The USGS seeks
Office of Management and Budget approval to continue to collect this
information to manage and monitor cooperative agreement awards and
comply with the IIJA and Federal assistance requirements.
Title of Collection: Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
Competitive Cooperative Agreement Program with State Geological
Surveys.
OMB Control Number: 1028-0133.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State Geological Surveys.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 25.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 125.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: Applications: 25 x 60 hrs.
= 1,500 hrs.
Progress Reports: 25 recipients x (3 reports x 8 hrs.) = 600 hrs.
Final Reports: 25 x 20 hrs. = 500 hrs.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,500 + 600 + 500 =
2,600 hrs.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Alicia Lindauer,
Acting Associate Director of Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission
Area, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 2026-05258 Filed 3-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4388-11-P
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