The National Estuarine Research
Reserve System is a network of 27 areas representing different
biogeographic regions of the United States that are protected for
long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education and coastal
stewardship. Established by the Coastal Zone Management Act of
1972, as amended, the reserve system is a partnership program
between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the
coastal states. NOAA provides funding, national guidance and
technical assistance. Each reserve is managed on daily basis by a
lead state agency or university, with input from local partners.
Information is required from states proposing designation and from
existing reserves regarding development of management plans,
ecological characterizations,and grant awards.
US Code:
16
USC 451 Name of Law: Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
Adjustments: Reserves submit a
revised management plan every five years. Given the number of
reserves with updated plans and the time schedule to accommodate
future plan updates, the number of plans reviewed per year has been
reduced to four. With the ability to provide management plans, site
profiles and supplementary award information electronically, the
production and distribution of paper copies has been reduced. There
is likely to be none or one site nomination document submitted
during this period given that the system has covered many of the
biogeographic regions outlined within the regulations (15 CFR 921
Appendix I). Site nomination documents are reproduced by the
federal government, alleviating the need for the respondent to
produce copies. Site profiles have been reduced to one, given that
most reserves, with the exception of four, have completed this
task. Additionally, the annual report required in addition to
standard award reporting is no longer in place and hence has been
removed from this submission. These changes resulted in fewer
burden hours and reduced respondent costs by 6,025 hours and
$12,894 respectively. Program changes: The annual reports are no
longer covered under the PRA requirement as they are now required
in the standardized format; that is, covered by one of the standard
grant documents. Copying charges have been eliminated for some
submissions, as the government now makes the copies for
distribution. Postage charges have been eliminated for the same
programs, as there is now an electronic submission option. Net
burden adjustment: 5,331. Net cost adjustment: $9,105. Net burden
program change: 2,207. Net cost program change: $3,989. NOTE: These
figures are distributed differently between program change and
adjustment in ROCIS, as previously, we had done separate
nonprofit and government ICs for applications and management plans,
but as there is now only one estimated management plan per year,
one of those two ICs had to be removed. To be consistent, we
removed the separate applications IC as well.
$85,000
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Erica Seiden 301
563-1172
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.
0121 SS_081210rev2.pdf
NERRS site profiles