05982012 SS Part B

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

JONES and NOAA AWARDS NOMINATIONS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0598

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g. establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in the universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The tabulation must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.

The Call for Nominations will be sent to an email list of approximately 750 NOAA constituents, including NOAA leadership, state partner coastal zone and research reserve program agencies, National Marine Sanctuary managers, Sea Grant College Directors, National Estuary Program directors, Members of Congress, Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee members, and other interested individuals. In previous Call for Nomination solicitations, generally fewer than 20 nominations are received in total.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

The target list of respondents is a census of NOAA leadership and constituents at a certain level of each program listed in Question 1. Awards are made based on review of the content of the received nominations, all of which contain the same types of information, following the format of the call. Responses are not expected from all those contacted; awards are made on the basis of nominations received.

3. Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with nonresponse. The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be adequate for the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided if they will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

Following the Call for Nominations email, follow-up emails are sent to group lists. In addition, Call for Nomination notices are placed in such locations as the NOAA website and in weekly/monthly publications of key stakeholders, including Coastal States Organization, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, The Coastal Society, and National Estuary Program.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are encouraged as effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are involved OMB must give prior approval.

Not applicable.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

Patmarie S. Nedelka, NOAA, NOS, OCRM, NPED, 301-563-1127 will collect all responses and analyze reviewers’ comments in order to make winner selections.

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