The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (EARTH MRI) Mine Waste Cooperative Agreements

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
1028-NEW - Earth MRI Emergency Supporting Statement A (508).docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2023-01-23	Repair queued
1028-NEW - Earth MRI Published Notice - 88 FR 3755 - 01202023.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2023-01-23	Repair queued
WGS0000353_Earth MRI Emergency Clearance Request to OMB_USGS Mine Waste Cooperative Agreements_SIGNED.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2023-01-23	Repair queued
PLAW-117publ58.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2023-01-23	Repair queued
FY2023 MRP MineWasteCoops_NOFO_8Nov2022.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2023-01-23	Repair queued

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
258015	Final Technical Report	Other-NOFO	New
258013	Monthly Progress Reports	Other-NOFO	New
258011	Application	Other-NOFO	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1028-0133	ICR Reference No: 202211-1028-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOI/GS	Agency Tracking No: Darcy McPhee
Title: The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (EARTH MRI) Mine Waste Cooperative Agreements
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 01/31/2023
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 02/09/2023
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 01/23/2023
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 44 USC 3507(j)(2) as amended and 5 CFR 1320.13, this information collection is approved as an emergency clearance to meet the requirement that MRP funds be obligated by September 30, 2023. If the Agency decides to continue use of the collection past the approved emergency clearance time period, it must resubmit an ICR to OMB under the normal PRA clearance process. Since this is a new collection, when the Agency submits a request for renewal, it must include evidence of consultation with respondents to ensure the supporting statement's accuracy on availability of data, frequency of collection, clarity of instructions, accuracy of burden estimate, relevance of data elements, and similar PRA matters.

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2023	6 Months From Approved
Responses	73	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	2,076	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI; https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/earth-mri) is a component of MRP and is a national effort to carry out the fundamental resources and mapping mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals fundamental to national security and the economy. USGS developed a new competitive cooperative agreement program with the State geological surveys to support mine waste activities authorized and funded by the BIL. State geological surveys apply for funds through an annual competitive agreement process. The Earth MRI Mine Waste Cooperative Agreements support three goals of the USGS-Earth MRI effort: 1) building a national mine waste inventory, 2) characterizing mine waste at sites across the nation, and 3) partnering with State geological surveys to plan Earth MRI data acquisition. Individual State projects last for up to two years.

Emergency Justfication: Earth MRI was established in FY2019 in response to Executive Order 13817 ("A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals") at a funding level of $9,600,000 (subsequently increased to $10,600,000 in FY20). In FY2022, Earth MRI was authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which directs the USGS to accelerate efforts to carry out fundamental integrated topographic, geologic, geochemical, and geophysical mapping and provide interpretation of subsurface and above-ground (mine waste) critical mineral resources data at a funding level of $320,000,000 annually for five years (FY22-FY26). The BIL authorized cooperative agreements with State geological surveys to support Earth MRI data collection efforts, and expanded Earth MRI’s scope by providing funding to initiate mine waste research and assessment activities as a means to evaluate the potential for extraction of critical minerals from mine waste materials. The data and expertise at State geological surveys is crucial to this new mine waste critical mineral resource mapping effort at a national scale.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 117 - 58 3684 Name of Law: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 3755	01/20/2023
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application
Final Technical Report
Monthly Progress Reports

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	73	0	0	73	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,076	0	0	2,076	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: USGS developed a new competitive cooperative agreement program with the State geological surveys to support mine waste activities authorized and funded by the BIL.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $2,002

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 01/23/2023

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