The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 27 areas representing different biogeographic regions of the United States that are protected for long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education and coastal stewardship. Established by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, the reserve system is a partnership program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the coastal states. NOAA provides funding, national guidance and technical assistance. Each reserve is managed on daily basis by a lead state agency or university, with input from local partners. Information is required from states proposing designation and from existing reserves regarding development of management plans, ecological characterizations,and grant awards.
US Code:
16 USC 451
Name of Law: Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
Adjustments:
Reserves submit a revised management plan every five years. Given the number of reserves with updated plans and the time schedule to accommodate future plan updates, the number of plans reviewed per year has been reduced to four. With the ability to provide management plans, site profiles and supplementary award information electronically, the production and distribution of paper copies has been reduced.
There is likely to be none or one site nomination document submitted during this period given that the system has covered many of the biogeographic regions outlined within the regulations (15 CFR 921 Appendix I). Site nomination documents are reproduced by the federal government, alleviating the need for the respondent to produce copies.
Site profiles have been reduced to one, given that most reserves, with the exception of four, have completed this task. Additionally, the annual report required in addition to standard award reporting is no longer in place and hence has been removed from this submission. These changes resulted in fewer burden hours and reduced respondent costs by 6,025 hours and $12,894 respectively.
Program changes:
The annual reports are no longer covered under the PRA requirement as they are now required in the standardized format; that is, covered by one of the standard grant documents.
Copying charges have been eliminated for some submissions, as the government now makes the copies for distribution. Postage charges have been eliminated for the same programs, as there is now an electronic submission option.
Net burden adjustment: 5,331. Net cost adjustment: $9,105.
Net burden program change: 2,207. Net cost program change: $3,989.
NOTE: These figures are distributed differently between Âprogram change and Âadjustment in ROCIS, as previously, we had done separate nonprofit and government ICs for applications and management plans, but as there is now only one estimated management plan per year, one of those two ICs had to be removed. To be consistent, we removed the separate applications IC as well.
$85,000
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Erica Seiden 301 563-1172
Reginfo record details
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
0121 SS_081210rev2.pdf
NERRS site profiles