173039000

Status: Original and derived artifacts are available for this document.

Download: html | pdf

PUBLIC SUBMISSION
As of: 9/17/26, 8:32 AM 
Received: September 15, 2026 
Status: Pending_Post 
Tracking No. mu3-31tu-y859 
Comments Due: September 15, 2026 
Submission Type: Web
Docket: USGS-2026-0298 
USGS-ECO-2026-0004 
Comment On: USGS-2026-0298-0001 
Agency Information Collection Activities; Interior Regional Climate Science Centers 
Document: USGS-2026-0298-DRAFT-0004 
Comment on FR Doc # 2026-14449 

Submitter Information
Name: Krishna patel 
Address: 
Frederick,  MD,  21704
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 5705990123 

General Comment
Public Comment Submission 
Docket ID: USGS-ECO-2026-0004 
OMB Control Number: 1028-0096 
Title: Information Collection Renewal: Department of the Interior Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs)1. Necessity and Practical Utility of Information Collection 
The periodic collection of information for host institution re-competitions and routine performance/financial reporting is essential for maintaining governance and scientific integrity across the National and nine Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs). Standardized reporting ensures that federal research funds yield actionable climate adaptation tools, upholds stewardship of public funds, and provides clear benchmarks across university-hosted partnerships.2. Evaluation of Estimated Burden Hours 
The proposed annual burden of 2,590 total hours across 307 responses provides a baseline, though specific reporting categories warrant administrative re-evaluation:Host Recompete Applications (200 hours/response): This estimate accurately captures the heavy multi-departmental coordination, budgetary modeling, and institutional commitments required of university applicants during competitive cycles.Host & Research Performance Reports (2.5 – 5 hours/response): The 2.5-hour allocation per research report and 5-hour allocation per host report may underestimate real-world effort. Principal investigators (PIs) and institutional staff often spend additional time aggregating interdisciplinary metrics, partner outreach data, and publication tracking. Adjusting research performance estimates to 3.5–4 hours would more accurately reflect operational compliance demands.3. Enhancing Data Quality, Utility, and Clarity 
To maximize the value of collected data for federal agency officials, researchers, and public land managers:Standardize Outcome Metrics: Utilize structured drop-down taxonomies for key performance indicators, such as actionable management decisions, coproduced science deliverables, and student/trainee engagement.Public Repository Integration: Automatically link completed non-proprietary performance outputs to public USGS science portals so research findings reach natural resource managers without redundant dissemination workflows.4. Minimizing Respondent Burden Through Automation 
USGS can streamline administrative requirements for academic and state host institutions through targeted technological enhancements:Unified Online Portal: Transition all host and research reporting into a single web-based portal that pre-populates recurring grant metadata, institutional details, and historical award numbers.System Interoperability: Support direct XML or CSV financial data batch uploads from standard university research administration software to eliminate duplicate manual entry on financial reports.Harmonized Submission Timelines: Align annual host performance/financial reporting deadlines with individual research award schedules to permit single-window institutional review and submission.