[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11833-11834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7028]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5444-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Ecosystem Monitoring 
Survey

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Ecosystem Monitoring Survey. Before 
submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting 
comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as 
described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 21, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Pacific Northwest Ecorisk Assessment Research Program, 
Western Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects 
Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333. A copy of the 
ICR may be obtained without charge from the contact identified below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul L. Ringold, Ph.D., (503) 754-
4565, FAX (503) 754-4716, EMail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which are involved with the use of monitoring data to support 
natural resource-related decisions in the Pacific Northwest.
    Title: Ecosystem Monitoring Survey.
    Abstract: The primary goal of the survey is to obtain information 
regarding the possible future requirements and applications of natural 
resources monitoring data in the Pacific Northwest. The survey will 
contribute to the process of designing monitoring programs for 
ecosystem management in the region, and will advance the ability of 
scientific and regulatory entities in the region to make informed 
decisions regarding resource management. Results of the survey will be 
used by the EPA in developing an integrated monitoring plan for the 
region. The survey will identify strengths and weaknesses of monitoring 
data, and suggest areas of broad data gaps in monitoring data specific 
to future regional natural resource management issues. The survey is 
targeted at monitoring issues which have not been specifically 
addressed by

[[Page 11834]]
FEMAT. There are three explicit objectives of the survey:
    1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of monitoring programs or 
data used in conjunction with one past natural resource-related 
decision.
    2. Identify two of the most important future issues or decisions 
that could substantially affect natural resources in the region and 
identify monitoring data needs pertinent to each decision.
    3. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing monitoring 
programs and data available to support these future decisions.
    The survey is exploratory, and is not designed for statistical 
analysis of how monitoring data is used, or a critical evaluation of 
any specific monitoring program or system. The survey is voluntary, and 
although a list of interviewed individuals will accompany the published 
report, these individuals or organizations which they represent will 
not be associated with specific comments. The survey involves one and 
one-half hour interviews with approximately 30 persons representing 
State and local governments or other resource management entities in 
western Oregon and Washington. The information collection method will 
be personal interviews to maximize the likelihood of frank, informal 
perceptions of future resource issues and evaluations of monitoring 
programs, and longer responses containing valuable anecdotal 
information in regards to monitoring data supporting past decisions. 
The basic assumption is that the length and complexity of responses 
will be maximized in an interview situation where someone will be there 
to listen to respondent's ideas rather than read them later at some 
undetermined time, although respondents are encouraged to bring 
supporting materials to the interview if desired. Interviews will be 
tape recorded to minimize use of the respondent's time, and respondents 
will be offered the opportunity to review a summary of the interview 
before publication. 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 OMB control numbers 
for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 
15. The EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: Burden means the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or 
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This 
includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, 
install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of 
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and 
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; 
adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable 
instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review 
the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the 
information.
    Estimates of the projected cost and hour burdens for this ICR are 
as follows.:
    Hour burden (survey respondents): The public reporting burden (no 
recordkeeping is involved) for this one-time collection of information 
is estimated to average 2 hours and 40 minutes, comprised of the 
following components:
    (i) 10 minute telephone contact to set up interviews (using a 
response rate of 50%, 60 persons will be contacted to arrange 30 
interviews);
    (ii) 30 minute review of background information and interview 
script;
    (iii) 1.5 hour interview for 30 individuals; and
    (iv) 30 minute review of interview summary (this is optional).
    Total hour burden for survey: 2 hours and 40 minutes per respondent 
x 30 respondents = 80 hours, plus 5 hours (10 minutes x 30 persons) for 
persons who are contacted but choose not to participate in a personal 
interview, for a total of 85 hours.
    Cost burden: There is no additional financial burden to respondents 
in the disclosure of information for this survey.

    Dated: March 5, 1996.
Paul L. Ringold,
Ecologist, Regional Ecology Branch.
[FR Doc. 96-7028 Filed 3-21-96; 8:45 am]
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