0047 ss 061209rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT IN THE NOAA COMMISSIONED
OFFICER CORPS
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0047

A.

JUSTIFICATION

This request is for renewal/revision: two essay questions have been added to the application, and
all applicants are now required to complete an interview.
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps
(NOAA Corps) is the uniformed service of NOAA, a bureau of the Department of Commerce.
The NOAA Corps provides a cadre of professionals trained in engineering, earth sciences,
oceanography, meteorology, fisheries science, and other related disciplines who serve their
country by supporting NOAA's mission of surveying the Earth's oceans, coasts, and atmosphere
to ensure the economic and physical well-being of the Nation.
The statutory authority for this information collection is 33 USC Chapter 43, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. NOAA Corps officers serve
under Senate-confirmed appointments and Presidential commissions. The current authorized end
strength of the NOAA Corps is 321 commissioned officers on the active duty list. Officers may
resign their commissions, or may request voluntary retirement when eligible. Each resignation
or retirement creates a vacancy on the list of active duty officers. Additionally, legislation is in
place (via the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act) to begin increasing the authorized
strength of the NOAA Corps to 379 starting in Fiscal Year 2010. A regular recruiting effort is
required to simply maintain the strength of the NOAA Corps. To increase the number of
qualified commissioned officers in upcoming years, an even greater recruiting effort will be
necessary.
The collection of appropriate personal, educational, and professional qualifications information
is critical in order to identify those applicants with the educational background, intelligence, high
moral standards, and strong leadership potential required to serve the Nation as a member of this
uniformed service.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be
used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support
information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection
complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
Application information may be submitted on a year round basis, but the primary periods of
collection are immediately preceding summer and winter college graduations. This information
is used by the NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center to assess whether an applicant meets or
exceeds the statutory minimum appointment qualifications and other legal obligations of
citizenship. Completed applications are examined by the NOAA Officer Personnel Board in

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order to rate and/or assess the level of qualification, suitability, and availability of candidates for
appointment.
The expiring application consisted of three forms (56-42, 56-42A, and 56-42D), but the proposed
revisions reduce this collection to two forms (56-42, a combination of the former 56-42 and 5642A (instructions) and 56-42A, formerly 56-42D). This proposal is the result of efforts to reduce
paperwork, clarify the collection process and improve the quality of applicant responses.
As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the information gathered has utility. The NOAA
Corps Commissioned Personnel Center will retain control over the information and safeguard it
from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for
confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response to Question 10 of this
Supporting Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. The information
collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines.
Although the information collected is not expected to be disseminated directly to the public,
results may be used in scientific, management, technical or general informational publications.
Should the Director, NOAA Corps decide to disseminate the information, it will be subject to the
quality control measures and pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law
106-554.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of
information technology.
The primary means of information gathering is through fillable electronic forms that are
downloaded from the NOAA Corps website. Paper forms are available upon request. Currently,
forms must be printed, signed, and submitted in hard copy due to a lack of infrastructure to
support secure digital submissions.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
This is a unique application and there is no duplication with other efforts.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
N/A.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The information collected is used for identifying both minimum eligibility and level of
qualification of applicants for the NOAA Corps. Reducing or eliminating this collection would
severely hinder the ability of the NOAA Corps to recruit officer candidates with the educational
background, intelligence, high moral standards, and strong leadership potential required to serve
the Nation as a member of this uniformed service.

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7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
None.
8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments
on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments
received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response
to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to
obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of
instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data
elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
A Federal Register Notice published on February 4, 2009 (74 FR 6016) solicited public
comment on this collection. No comments were received.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
None.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
This information collection is a Privacy Act Systems of Records, COMMERCE/NOAA-1,
Applicants for the NOAA Corps. The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, is the statutory
authority for confidentiality of this information collection, and assurance of confidentiality citing
this authority is provided on the information collection forms.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered
private.
None.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Estimated total burden hours to the public has been increased by 1,245% due to: 1) a recent
increased number of applicants and the expectation of further increases with the hiring of an
additional recruiting officer, 2) the addition of two essay questions to NOAA Form 56-42,
3) underestimation of time required to complete the previous version of the form and
4) procedural changes that now require all applicants to complete an interview.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2475
300 applications x 2 hours/applicant for paperwork = 600 hours
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300 applications x 5 hours/applicant for interviewing = 1500
300 applications x 5 references x 15 minutes/reference = 375 hours.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question
12 above).
Estimated total annual cost to the public has increased by 340% due to an increased number of
applicants, increased postage costs, and previously omitted costs for travel.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $21,750
300 applicants x $10/applicant postage or delivery charge = $3,000
300 applicants x $10/applicant college transcripts = $3,000
300 applicants x $50/applicant transportation to interview = $15,000
1500 references x $0.50/letter postage or delivery charge = $750.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
Excluding salaries for NOAA personnel, which have been accounted for elsewhere, additional
costs pertaining specifically to this application process include travel for Officer Personnel Board
members to attend board meetings.
Total annualized cost for recruiting/selection effort: $6,000.00
Salaries for NOAA personnel (accounted for elsewhere) = $0.00
Officer Personnel Board member travel (2 meetings/year) = $6,000.00
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or
14 of the OMB 83-I.
Significant changes have been made to both estimated total burden hours and estimated total cost
to the public.
Estimated total burden hours to the public have been increased by 1,245 percent. This increase
reflects two adjustments and two program changes:
Adjustments: a trend of increasing numbers of applicants as well as increased recruiting
efforts, and correction of the underestimation of time required to complete the previous
version of the form
Program changes: the addition of two essay questions to NOAA Form 56-42, 3), as well
as a requirement that all applicants to complete an interview.
Estimated total annual cost to the public has been increased by 340 percent. This is also a
reflection of the trend of increasing numbers of applicants and increased recruiting efforts. It
also accounts for a general increase in postage costs, and costs for each applicant’s travel (this

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last related to the program change, the requirement to complete an interview with an appropriate
NOAA Corps officer).
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
N/A.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
N/A.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the
OMB 83-I.
N/A.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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