The FY 2002 Commerce, Justice, State
Appropriations Act directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish
a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program to protect
important areas that have significant conservation, recreation,
ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened
by conversion, and to issue guidelines for this program delineating
the criteria for grant awards. (16 U.S.C. 1456d.) The guidelines
establish procedures for eligible applicants, who choose to
participate in the program, to use when developing state
conservation plans, proposing or soliciting projects under this
program, applying for funds and carrying out projects under this
program in a manner that is consistent with the purposes of the
program. NOAA also has, or is given, authority under the Coastal
Zone Management Act, annual appropriations or other authorities, to
issue funds to coastal states and localities for planning,
conservation, acquisition, protection, restoration, or construction
projects. This information collection will enable NOAA to implement
the CELCP, under its current or future authorization, and
facilitate the review of similar projects under different, but
related authorities.
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.