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View ICR - OIRA Conclusion

OMB Control No: 1028-0133	ICR Reference No: 202211-1028-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOI/GS	Agency Tracking No: Darcy McPhee
Title: The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (EARTH MRI) Mine Waste Cooperative Agreements
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 01/31/2023
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 02/09/2023
	Date Received in OIRA: 01/23/2023
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 44 USC 3507(j)(2) as amended and 5 CFR 1320.13, this information collection is approved as an emergency clearance to meet the requirement that MRP funds be obligated by September 30, 2023. If the Agency decides to continue use of the collection past the approved emergency clearance time period, it must resubmit an ICR to OMB under the normal PRA clearance process. Since this is a new collection, when the Agency submits a request for renewal, it must include evidence of consultation with respondents to ensure the supporting statement's accuracy on availability of data, frequency of collection, clarity of instructions, accuracy of burden estimate, relevance of data elements, and similar PRA matters.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2023	6 Months From Approved
Responses	73	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	2,076	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI; https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/earth-mri) is a component of MRP and is a national effort to carry out the fundamental resources and mapping mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals fundamental to national security and the economy. USGS developed a new competitive cooperative agreement program with the State geological surveys to support mine waste activities authorized and funded by the BIL. State geological surveys apply for funds through an annual competitive agreement process. The Earth MRI Mine Waste Cooperative Agreements support three goals of the USGS-Earth MRI effort: 1) building a national mine waste inventory, 2) characterizing mine waste at sites across the nation, and 3) partnering with State geological surveys to plan Earth MRI data acquisition. Individual State projects last for up to two years.

Emergency Justfication: Earth MRI was established in FY2019 in response to Executive Order 13817 ("A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals") at a funding level of $9,600,000 (subsequently increased to $10,600,000 in FY20). In FY2022, Earth MRI was authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which directs the USGS to accelerate efforts to carry out fundamental integrated topographic, geologic, geochemical, and geophysical mapping and provide interpretation of subsurface and above-ground (mine waste) critical mineral resources data at a funding level of $320,000,000 annually for five years (FY22-FY26). The BIL authorized cooperative agreements with State geological surveys to support Earth MRI data collection efforts, and expanded Earth MRI’s scope by providing funding to initiate mine waste research and assessment activities as a means to evaluate the potential for extraction of critical minerals from mine waste materials. The data and expertise at State geological surveys is crucial to this new mine waste critical mineral resource mapping effort at a national scale.

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion
Annual Number of Responses	73	73
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,076	2,076
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: USGS developed a new competitive cooperative agreement program with the State geological surveys to support mine waste activities authorized and funded by the BIL.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $2,002

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Jeffrey Parrillo 202 208-7072 jeffrey_parrillo@ios.doi.gov

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