The 1990 reauthorization of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) authorized an awards program to ''implement a program to promote excellence in coastal zone management by identifying and acknowledging outstanding accomplishments in the field.'' As authorized in Section 314 of the CZMA, the Walter B. Jones Memorial Awards recognize three categories of excellence: Coastal Steward of the Year, Excellence in Local Government, and Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study. The CZMA authorizes NOAA to conduct public ceremonies to acknowledge such awards, which allows NOAA to fund invitational travel and purchase awards for the Jones Awards.
In conjunction with the Walter B. Jones Memorial Awards, NOAA instituted several additional categories of awards, to recognize additional contributions to ocean and coastal resource management, including Volunteer of the Year, Nongovernmental Organization of the Year, Excellence in Promoting Cultural and Ethnic Diversity (in honor of Secretary Ronald Brown), Excellence in Business Leadership, and the Susan Snow Cotter Award for Excellence in Ocean and Coastal Resource (NOAA re-named this award in honor of Susan Snow Cotter in 2007).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.