0022 SS 2011_081711 rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
COOPERATIVE CHARTING PROGRAMS
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0022

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
In accordance with 33 U.S.C Sections 883a and b, NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS)
produces the official nautical charts of the United States. Of prime concern is the safe navigation
on our nation’s waterways, of both commercial as well as recreational vessels. For the last 48
years, NOS has had a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with both the United States Power
Squadrons (USPS) and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGAUX). According to the
terms of these MOAs, members of both organizations voluntarily provide NOS with valuable
chart correction data.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be
used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support
information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection
complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
Members of the USPS and the USCGAUX who observe chart inconsistencies in the field that
should be added, corrected or modified on the navigation charts submit information. Both
natural forces and the activities of man produce the periodic changes that take place. NOS
evaluates the data supplied and uses acceptable data to revise and otherwise change the charts
and related publications.
The NOAA Form 77-5 is used by members of the USCGAUX. Members of the USPS use a
website. The same information is reported; the only difference is how the members are
identified: USPS members are identified by district and squadron, while the USCGAUX
members are identified by member number.
Awards in the forms of plaques, or stars and stripes for USGAUX uniforms, are given to
individuals, squadron and Districts who submitted the most data, evaluated as acceptable, in the
Cooperative Charting programs; an awards ceremony is held as part of an NOS annual meeting
each February. The rankings are determined by a Standard Operating Procedure that provides a
formula in order to calculate the winners.
As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the information gathered has utility. NOAA will
retain control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and
destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic
information. See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on
confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all
applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information will be
subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of
Public Law 106-554.

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3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of
information technology.
The USPS submits their information to the Cooperative Charting Website (CCWEB). The
purpose of this website is to provide a seamless mechanism for handling the field data collected
by the USPS members. The USGAUX uses an Excel form which can be downloaded from the
Coast Guard Auxiliary website, completed and sent as an email attachment, or mailed.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
NOS is the only agency collecting information for its navigational charts.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
Not applicable.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
With the reduction of the presence of NOAA field staff, volunteers from USPS and USCGAUX
provide a very high percentage of the field checking done on our products. This activity helps to
insure that the navigational products produced by NOS are providing accurate and timely
information to navigators of our nation’s waterways. Without this information, NOS could not
fulfill the production of accurate, comprehensive and timely nautical charts, which is one of our
agency’s primary missions.
The frequency of reporting is determined by the respondents.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
The collection is consistent with the OMB guidelines.
8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments
on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments
received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response
to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to
obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of
instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data
elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
A Federal Register Notice published on April 5, 2011 (76 FR 18724) solicited public comments
on the information collection; no comments were received.

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9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are provided (awards are not considered gifts, as they are based on merit).
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
No confidentiality is promised or provided.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered
private.
No sensitive questions are asked.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Based on the response rates of the last few years, NOS expects about 600 USPS and USCGAUX
members to submit a total of 1,200 reports per year. Respondents have indicated that it takes an
average of 2-3 hours to complete all the reporting actions, although this varies by the amount of
information being reported.
(USPS) 530 respondents x 2 responses (average)/year x 2 hours/response = 2,120 burden hours.
(USCGAUX) 70 respondents x 2 responses (average)/year x 3 hours/response = 420 burden
hours.
Broken down by website and form, the responses and burden hours would be:
Respondents

NOAA Form
77-5
(USCGAUX)
NOAA
Website
(USPS)
TOTALS

Total Responses

Time Per
Response

Hours

70

Responses
Per
Respondent
2

140

3 hours

420

530

2

1060

2 hours

2,120

600

1,200

2,540

At an estimate of $20/hour, the cost of respondents’ time would be $50,800.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in #12
above).
There is no cost to the respondent. Virtually all information is emailed or submitted via CCWEB.

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14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
The annualized cost to the Federal Government would be:
Printing, mailing, etc.
$ 500
Associated expenses (stars and patches for the USPS Cooperative Charting
Program, awards and Honor Roll certificates for both programs)
$ 2,000

15% of 1 FTE (GS-13)
TOTAL

$18,000
$20,500

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
The decrease in burden hours from 4,400 to 2,540 is based on fewer responses being received in
the past three years than was estimated in 2007: previous estimated responses of 2,050 minus
current estimate of 1,200 makes a difference of 850 responses – 690 fewer for USPS and 160
fewer for USGAUX. Saving 2 hours each on the 690 responses, and 3 hours each on the 160,
results in a total decrease of 1,380 + 480 = 1,860.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
The information received will be incorporated into revised charts and associated publications,
but is not published separately.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
N/A
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
There are no exceptions.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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