Nov 16 -- This notice identifies an information collection activity that the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Availability and Use Science Program plans to ask OMB for approval to collect information on the use of water resources in the United States. USGS invites public comment by January 16, 2024.
The information is used by USGS scientists to estimate water use in several categories including (but not limited to) public-supply, domestic, irrigation, thermoelectric-cooling, industrial, mining, aquaculture, and livestock applications. USGS national water-use estimates are disseminated to stakeholders and the general public on an ongoing basis and fulfill requirements of the SECURE Water Act. The information also supports regional and national water-availability studies in the United States. The USGS has produced estimates of annual water use by category aggregated at the county- and state level every five years since 1950. Models are used to produce the estimates and they will be made at a higher temporal and spatial resolution than previous years' estimates. Model estimates are dependent on validation using the data collected nationally for specific water-use facilities. USGS water-use specialists will request reported water-use data annually from non-federal agencies. This collection also aims to request data from facilities on an ad hoc basis to acquire data for categories of use or locations where state-reported data are not sufficient for estimating water use. Respondents can provide relevant data in a variety of electronic formats, usually via websites, file sharing, or email. Information will also be gathered on the water-use data-delivery needs of USGS water-use stakeholders and other end users.
USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program:
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/water-availability-and-use-science-program
National Water Census:
https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/water-use and
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/water-availability-and-use-science-program/national-water-census
Draft data collection instruments and technical documentation requested from USGS by AEAStat.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-25249
