Justification - COOP

CSC PROJECT 54

Project Title: NWS 62 1 COOP

Program Office Sponsoring or Conducting this CSC Project: NWS Office of Observations

Authority for this CSC Project: OA

Purpose of this CSC Project: This is the oldest weather and climate program in the United States. It is made up of volunteer observers who daily register their data for the climate record based on local observations. Among other things, this project provides information to improve the US Climate Record, weather watches and warnings, drought, fire weather, river forecasts, dam operations, USDA Risk Management Agency Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (RMA PRF) insurance claims, and snow assessments.

Type(s) of Information Collected and From Whom It Is Collected: This project collects fine scale, area specific, daily maximum and minimum temperature and precipitation data from voluntary participants.

Use of the Information: NWS uses that information to improve the US Climate Record, weather watches and warnings, and drought, fire weather, river forecasts. In addition, it assists in dam operations, USDA Risk Management Agency Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (RMA PRF) insurance claims and snow assessments.

Method(s) of Information Collection: Electronically, and phone service

Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for-profit organizations, not-for-profit institutions and State, Local, or Tribal government

Estimated Average Annual Number of Participants: 10,000

Estimated Average Annual Number of Responses per Participant: 192

Estimated Average Minutes per Response: 21

Estimated Average Annual Burden Hours: 672,100

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Participants in this CSC Project: $0

Estimated Average Annual Costs to the Federal Government: $10,444,814

Estimated Average Annual Number of Federal Government Employees (FTEs): 66

Recruitment and Retention Methods for Voluntary Participants (SSA item 1): FTEs supporting COOP recruit new volunteers, to the extent possible, when a site closes. Methods for recruiting include recruiting family members, neighbors, solicitations on social media, a newsletter, and partnering with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) Network.

Gifts or Payments (SSA Item 9): We do not plan to provide payment to the voluntary participants. Award certifications for length of service and meritorious service are provided, along with a nominal gift per 15 USC 325 Chapter 9. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Cooperative Weather Observer Program

Pub. L. 102–567, title I, §101(c), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4270, provided that: "The Secretary of Commerce may use funds otherwise available for conducting weather observations to strengthen the Cooperative Weather Observer Program and encourage public participation in the program. The Secretary may-

"(1) provide distinctive insignia or paraphernalia to Cooperative Weather Observers; and "(2) make awards of nominal value to recognize continued participation in the program by observers or to recognize outstanding achievements by such observers or groups of observers without regard to any law restricting expenditures for such purposes to Federal employees."

Annual and Multi-Year Schedules (SSA Item 16): This is an ongoing program that began in 1890 with no planned completion or end dates. Observations are published daily and monthly, and in publications by NOAA/NCEI.

Display OMB Control No. and Expiration Date (SSA Item 17): Once OMB provides an OMB Control No. and an expiration date, they will be made available to the voluntary participants.

Statistical Methods: This CSC project will not employ statistical methods.

Approval for Pretesting: This CSC project will not require additional pretesting with more than nine members of the public.

Supplemental Documents: The three supplemental documents for this CSC project are as follow:

1. Screenshots from the web based data entry app

2. Information from the COOP website

3. WS Form B-30 Cooperative Agreement with Observer (Note: The volunteer reads and signs this form and would have provided limited information that NWS used to complete the form.)

CERTIFICATION: I certify the following are true.

1. The collection is voluntary.

2. The collection is low-burden for respondents and low-cost for the Federal Government.

3. The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern to other federal agencies.

4. The collection will not include highly influential scientific information, which is information NOAA or OMB determines: (i) could have a potential impact of more than $500 million in any year, or (ii) is novel, controversial, or precedent setting or has significant interagency interest.

5. The collection complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

6. The collection will provide qualitative and quantitative data that help inform scientific research and monitoring, validate models or tools, support STEM learning, and enhance the quantity and quality of data collected to support NOAA’s mission.

Name: Amy Fritz