Notice2026-18252
Agency Information Collection Activities; Terrestrial Analogs Survey Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Terrestrial Analogs Survey
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 8, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentGeological Survey
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 172 (Tuesday, September 8, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 8, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57159-57160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18252]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[Docket No. USGS-2026-0331; GR26ZS00MD86700; OMB Control Number 1028-
0140]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Terrestrial Analogs
Survey Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and
Approval; Terrestrial Analogs Survey
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 of 1995 (PRA),
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information
collection with revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
October 8, 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-2026-0331.
[ssquf] U.S. Mail: USGS, Information Collections Clearance Officer,
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this information collection request (ICR), contact Amber
Gullikson by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6c7c1d3cacacfcdd5c9c8e6d3d5c1d588c1c9d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="214046544d4d484a524e4f61545246520f464e57">[email protected]</span></a> or by phone at 928-556-7009.
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. You may also view the ICR at <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the 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.
A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on
Thursday, July 2, 2026 (91 FR 40553). No comments were received.
As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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 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 might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to respond, including using 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. Before including your
[[Page 57160]]
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: The USGS developed and released a survey to assess the
terrestrial analog needs of the planetary science community. The goal
was to assess the current state of terrestrial analog studies and
determine community needs related to the use of field sites for
training and research, data dissemination and archiving, and sample
collections. The survey was designed to gather feedback from community
members who have a self-described interest in the use of terrestrial
analogs. The web-based questionnaire contained a total of 33 questions
and was designed to take <10 minutes to complete. The questionnaire was
divided into four sections: (1) ``Respondent Details,'' (2) ``Field
Analog Use,'' (3) ``Data Portal Use,'' and (4) ``Geologic Materials
Collection Use.'' Comment boxes were provided for 12 of the 33
questions, which allowed respondents to provide more detailed comments
to individual questions. The questionnaire received a total of 248
responses. We identified 21 notable findings which are matched with one
or more recommendations to be addressed by the planetary science
community. The purpose of the revision is to assess the current
terrestrial analog needs of the planetary science community and
evaluate how well the community perceives the previous survey's
findings, recommendations, and the changes implemented in response to
those needs, to determine whether those changes have been effective or
if additional measures are necessary.
Title of Collection: Assessing Community Needs for Terrestrial
Analog Studies.
OMB Control Number: 1028-0140.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: The planetary science community, which
includes scientists from universities, institutions, government
agencies, and students (both undergraduate and graduate). The
questionnaire received a total of 248 responses.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 223.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 223.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: Average of 12.5 minutes to
complete entire survey.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 112 Hours.
Respondent's Obligation: First ten questions were on demographic
and background information, which were all mandatory. The remaining
sections, that is, Field Analog Use, Data Portal Use, and Terrestrial
Analog Sample Collection Use were all voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Non-hour 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.).
Chris Okubo,
USGS Astrogeology Science Center Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2026-18252 Filed 9-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338-11-P
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