Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Application for Appointment in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps

The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the general public and other federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 9, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

Title: Application for Appointment in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0047.

Form Number(s): NOAA Forms 56-42 & 56-42a and Form 56-80A.

Type of Request: Regular submission [revision and extension of a current information collection].

Number of Respondents: 300.

Average Hours per Response: 2 hours—Written applications; 5 hours—Interviews; 15 minutes—References; 15 minutes—Aviation Summary.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,550.

Needs and Uses: This is a request for revision and extension of an existing information collection.

The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is the uniformed service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a bureau of the United States Department of Commerce. Officers serve under Senate-confirmed appointments and Presidential commissions (33 U.S.C. chapter 17, subchapter 1, sections 853 and 854). The NOAA Corps provides a cadre of professionals trained in engineering, earth sciences, oceanography, meteorology, fisheries science, and other related disciplines who serve their country by supporting NOAA's mission of surveying the Earth's oceans, coasts, and atmosphere to ensure the economic and physical well-being of the Nation.

NOAA Corps officers operate vessels and aircraft engaged in scientific missions and serve in leadership positions throughout NOAA. Individuals wishing to apply for an appointment in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps must complete an application package, including NOAA Form 56-42, at least three letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. A personal interview must also be conducted. Eligibility requirements include a bachelor's degree with at least 48 credit hours of science, engineering, or other disciplines related to NOAA's mission, excellent health, and normal color vision with uncorrected visual acuity no worse than 20/400 in each eye (correctable to 20/20).

This request is to add a new form to the collection in order to collect information about an applicant's aviation experience. Form 56-80A is included as part of the NOAA Corps Direct-to-Aviation application process. Form 56-80A is specific to those public applicants who wish to follow the Direct-to-Aviation career path.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Frequency: On occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.

Legal Authority:33 U.S.C. chapter 17, subchapter 1, sections 853 and 854.

This information collection request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB Control Number 0648-0047.