The Coral Reef Conservation Grant
Program provides funds to a broad-based group of applicants with
experience in coral reef conservation to conduct activities to
protect and conserve coral reef ecosystems. The information
submitted is used to determine: 1) whether the applicant qualifies
for a waiver of matching funds, and 2) if a proposed project is
consistent with the coral reef conservation priorities of
authorities with jurisdiction over the area where the project will
be carried out. Respondents will be applicants to the grant program
and/or reviewers of relevant project proposals.
Numbers of waiver requestors
and proposal commenters increased slightly. Fewer comments in total
are now expected, the major reason being a recent change in the
maritime boundary in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI). Previously, CNMI did not claim a territorial sea,
so Federal waters extended to the shoreline. Now that CNMI has
claimed authority over their 3-mile territorial sea, we no longer
have to seek input from Federal authorities (namely the Western
Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council) on every application
proposing work in coastal CNMI. The reduction in estimated costs
stems from increased use of electronic submission practices and
changes in jurisdictional boundaries. The change from 30 minutes to
2 hours for waiver requests is a correction, as is the change from
1.5 hours to 2 hours for comments.
$35
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Jenny waddel 301 713-3155 ext.
150
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.