USGS Water Resources Research Act Program Collection Notice Comment Period

Detected March 25th, 2026

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is seeking public comment on the renewal of an information collection related to the Water Resources Research Act Program. The comment period closes on April 24, 2026, as part of the Paperwork Reduction Act process.

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What changed

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has issued a notice requesting public comment on the proposed renewal of an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This notice follows an earlier Federal Register publication on January 22, 2026, and specifically solicits feedback on the necessity, accuracy, utility, and clarity of the information collection, as well as methods to minimize respondent burden.

Regulated entities and interested parties should submit comments by April 24, 2026, via the Regulations.gov portal by searching for Docket No. USGS-2025-0237, or by mail. The USGS is particularly interested in comments addressing the practical utility of the information, the accuracy of burden estimates, and potential methods for electronic submission to reduce reporting burdens. Personal information submitted in comments may be made public.

What to do next

Submit comments on the proposed information collection renewal by April 24, 2026.
Review the information collection requirements for necessity, accuracy, and utility.
Consider methods to minimize reporting burden, including electronic submission options.

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information
collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 24, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by one of the following methods:

Internet: https://www.regulations.gov. Search for and submit comments on Docket No. USGS-2025-0237.

U.S. Mail: USGS, Information Collections Clearance Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christian Schmidt by email at gs-w.wrri.web.team@usgs.gov, or by telephone at 208-861-2866. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or Tele Braille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the
United States. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the PRA of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements
and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and
provide the requested data in the desired format.

A
Federal Register
notice with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on January
22, 2026 (91 FR 2795). The following comment was received: “mkp-xex8-y7jo”

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public
and other Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comments addressing
the following:

(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility.

(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used.

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) How the agency might minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including using
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of response.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including
your PII—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Abstract: The Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended (42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), authorizes a research institute water resources or center in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands, and American
Samoa. There are currently 54 such institutes, one in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
and Guam. The institute in Guam is a regional institute serving Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands. The institute in Hawaii is also a regional institute serving Hawaii and American Samoa. Each
of the 54 institutes submits an annual application for an allotment grant and provides an annual report on its activities
under the grant. The State Water Resources Research Institute Program issues an annual call for applications from the institutes
to support plans to promote research, training, information dissemination, and other activities meeting the needs of the States
and Nation. The program also encourages regional cooperation among institutes in research into areas of water management,
development, and conservation that have a regional or national character. The U.S. Geological Survey has been designated as
the administrator of the provisions of the Act.

Title of Collection: Annual Fiscal Year Reports.

OMB Control Number: 1028-0097.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: The state water resources research institutes authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended, and listed
at http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 54.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 173.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies by activity. We estimate approximately 100 hours per respondent to prepare and submit the annual application; 40 hours
per respondent to complete the annual report; and 40 hours per national competitive grant application.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 10,160.

Each respondent is expected to submit: 1 annual application (104c)—estimated 100 hours; 1 annual report—estimated 40 hours.

National competitive grant applications (104g)—estimated 40 hours each; not all respondents will submit these, but we anticipate
65 responses across the program.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Frequency of Collection: Annually.

Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: 0.

An agency may not conduct, or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.

The authority for this action is the PRA of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

William H. Werkheiser, Associate Director for Water Mission Area. [FR Doc. 2026-05756 Filed 3-24-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4338-11-P