1028-0101 SSA Pecora Award-02012021

Supporting Statement A

The William T. Pecora Award Application and Nomination Process

OMB Control Number 1028-0101

Terms of Clearance: None

General Instructions

A completed Supporting Statement A must accompany each request for approval of a collection of information. The Supporting Statement must be prepared in the format described below, and must contain the information specified below. If an item is not applicable, provide a brief explanation. When the question “Does this ICR contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?” is checked "Yes," then a Supporting Statement B must be completed. OMB reserves the right to require the submission of additional information with respect to any request for approval.

Specific Instructions

Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.

In 1974, the William T. Pecora Award was established to recognize the achievements of organizations or individuals that make significant contributions to remote sensing science and technology and/or make significant contributions to society through the application of remote sensing science and data. The award is sponsored jointly by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

With primary administrative responsibility for the Pecora Award, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for managing the Pecora Award website where nomination information, deadlines and contact information is made available to the public. The USGS communicates with the public concerning the nomination process and collects the nominations via email. The nominations contain information required to select finalists and winners of the William T. Pecora Award.

The Pecora Award was established in compliance with the following authorities:

• Department of the Interior's Appropriations Act of 1992 (Sec. 115 of H. R. 2686, Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1992) https://www.congress.gov/bill/102nd-congress/house-bill/2686

• President Obama's "Guidance on the Use of Challenges and Prizes to Promote Open Government" March 8, 2010. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/memoranda_2010/m10-11.pdf

• NASA

  • Agency-Funded and Agency-Administered Prizes:

NASA (42 U.S.C. § 2459f-1) http://history.nasa.gov/spaceact-legishistory.pdf

• 42 U.S.C. º 2457, The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended. http://history.nasa.gov/spaceact-legishistory.pdf

• 42 U.S.C. º 2458, The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended. http://history.nasa.gov/spaceact-legishistory.pdf

• 5 C.F.R. Part 451, Awards. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d87b39c5ab9c4e7f0f3c3600140c6307&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title05/5cfr451_main_02.tpl

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection. Be specific. If this collection is a form or a questionnaire, every question needs to be justified.

The information collected will be used to select the recipients of the annual William T. Pecora Award. Individuals, organizations/ groups can nominate themselves for an award or be nominated by a third party. The nominations are first received by USGS program administrative staff then passed on to the Pecora Nomination Committee (Committee). The Committee is comprised of three senior scientists from DOI, three senior scientists from NASA, the Pecora Award Executive Secretaries from DOI and NASA.

The six senior scientists will review each application to evaluate the relative technical, scientific and societal merits of the nominees using the criteria stated in the Pecora Award eligibility requirements. Upon completion of the review process, final recommendations will be forwarded to the NASA Administrator and the Secretary of the Interior for approval.

Nomination packages will include three sections: (A) Cover Sheet, (B) Summary Statement, (C) Supplemental Materials. Detailed information concerning the content and format of the three sections follow.

Cover Sheet. The name of the nominated individual or organization/ group will be used to identify and to confirm the proper name of the individual or organization/ group and to verify. This information is used in publicizing the award and is printed on all official materials related to the awards. Nominators will submit a cover sheet with the specific information listed below.

NOMINEE: Name Title Employer Business Mailing address Business Telephone Business FAX Business E-mail address NOMINATED BY: Your name Business Mailing address Business Telephone Business FAX Business E-mail address

NOMINEE (Team): Team or Group Name Team or Group Lead Sponsoring Organization(s) Team/Group Lead Business Mailing address Team/Group Lead Business Telephone Team/Group Lead Business FAX Team/Group Lead Business E-mail NOMINATED BY: Your name Business Mailing address Business Telephone Business FAX Business E-mail address

Summary Statement: Nominators will prepare a brief written statement in support of the nomination describing the nominee's contributions to the understanding of the Earth by means of remote sensing.

For individual nominations, the nominators will be asked to describe achievements in the scientific and technical remote sensing community, as well as contributions leading to successful practical applications of remote sensing. Consideration will be given to sustained career achievements or singular contributions of major importance to the field of remote sensing.

For group nominations, nominators will be required to describe a team, a group of individuals, or part of an organization that has made major breakthroughs in remote sensing science or technology or developed an innovative application that has a significant impact on the user community or national/international policies. The Summary Statement will be restricted to 2 pages.

Supplemental Materials: Nominations may include up to 12 pages of supplemental information (resume, publications list, letters of endorsement, etc.). Specific individual and group achievements should be documented in peer-reviewed, industry-recognized and scientifically credible publications.

Nominations will be submitted in Portable Document Format (pdf) via email. On an “as needed” basis, nominations may be submitted in alternate formats

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden and specifically how this collection meets GPEA requirements.

Complete nomination packages will be accepted electronically via e-mail to pecora@usgs.gov.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

No other Federal agency is authorized to present a similar award recognizing international and national contributions from government, private and academic sectors. No duplication will occur.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

The collection of information does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

If we cannot collect nominations from non-Federal individuals and organizations, the nominations will be biased by activities and individuals within the Federal sphere of influence. Open nominations empower the remote sensing community to determine who should be considered for the award, thereby adding to the prestige and credibility of the award.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

This request contains no special circumstances.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and in response to the PRA statement associated with the collection over the past three years, and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

The 60-day FRN (85 FR 68593) was published October 29, 2020 at the Federal Register < https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-10-29/pdf/2020-23987.pdf >.

We consulted with the programs listed in the table to obtain their views on the information presented in our instrument. Several modifications to the format and design of the application were suggested during the testing period and these have been incorporated. Format and design modifications included requesting more thorough contact information for both the nominator and nominee on the cover sheet; and requesting additional information within the supplemental section (including approval to extend the page limit from 10 to 12 pages for that section).  Strongly encouraging submission of additional information such as letters of endorsement are beneficial to the review panel in that they can demonstrate a broad, peer-reviewed acceptance within the scientific community, thus presenting a more viable candidate. 

USGS EROS Center Integrated Science and Applications Branch Sioux Falls, SD 57198	USGS EROS Center Office of the Director Sioux Falls, SD 57198
USGS HQ, National Land Imaging Program Reston, VA 20192

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

The respondents will not receive payment for their participating in the nomination process. However, the recipients of the award will receive a citation and plaque, which will be presented at an appropriate public forum determined by the Secretary of the Interior and the NASA Administrator or their representatives. The name(s) of the recipient(s) will be inscribed on permanent plaques, which are displayed by the sponsoring agencies.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

No assurance of confidentiality is given to respondents.

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. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

The nomination process does not require sensitive information. Nominators are specifically instructed not to include social security numbers or any personal contact information in the application.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

Our estimates are based on our own knowledge plus the outreach described in item 8. We typically receive 12 nominations. The nominations take each applicant approximately 6 hours to complete, totaling approximately 72 burden hours. We typically give two awards per year. No additional request of information is made of the recipients or the nominators. We estimate that the total burden for this collection will be $2500.

Activity	Number of Responses	Hours Per Response	Burden Cost Per Hour	Burden Hours	Total Burden
Complete nomination package	12	6	$34.72	72	$2500

Bureau of Labor Statistics New Release USDL-20-0451, March 19, 2020:

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecec_03192020.pdf

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual non-hour cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected in item 12.)

There is no non-hour cost burden to applicants under this collection. There is no fee for application, nor any fees associated with application requirements.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

The cost to the Federal government is $16,433.70. The method used to estimate these costs includes quantification of labor hours to review the submitted nomination packages and then rate their accomplishments to determine the award recipient(s). No operational expenses or any other expenses are incurred in this collection of information. This cost is labor to review submissions and rate the accomplishments.

Position	Grade/Step	Hourly Rate	Annual hrs	Loaded rate	Total Cost
Science Advisor	15/10	82.65	35	132.24	4,628.40
Science Liaison	15/10	82.65	20	132.24	2,644.80
DOI Executive Secretary	12/10	54.32	50	86.91	4,345.50
Senior Scientist	15/10	82.65	20	132.24	2,644.80
Senior Scientist	14/10	67.82	20	108.51	2,170.20

Total Fed. Cost $ 16,433.70

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Pay and Leave Tables

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2021/DCB%20(LEO)_h.pdf and

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2021/RUS_h.pdf (for last entry above)

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments in hour or cost burden.

There are no changes or adjustments.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

Notifications of award recipients and copies of the citations presented at the award ceremony are posted to the Pecora web site. Typically, the Pecora Award follows the following timeline:

• Requests for nominations via email – Late February to early March.

• Deadline for nomination – May 1

• Nomination evaluations and selection – Early to late June

• Review of nominees and citation information – June to early fall

• Award ceremonies – late fall to early winter. Ceremony times depend on venue agreed upon by recipient and Pecora Committee

• Award Announcements, posting of press releases and citations to web – late fall to early winter

• Identification of new committee members – Late winter.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The expiration date will be displayed.

18. Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."

There are no exceptions.

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