[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 11449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5999]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Information Collection Submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The information collection requirements to evaluate visitor 
response to the recreation fee demonstration program in the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Refuges has been submitted to 
OMB for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions on specific requirements should be 
sent directly to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Department of the 
Interior Desk Officer, 725--17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503; and 
a copy to the Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, [MS 222 ARLSQ], 1849 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephens R. Vehrs, Refuge Specialist, Division of Refuges, 703/358-
2397; or Phadrea Ponds, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, 
Fort Collins, CO, 970/226-9445.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service submitted the following proposed 
information collection clearance requirement to OMB for review and 
approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
Comments are invited on (1) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and, (4) ways 
to 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.
    Congress authorized a recreation fee demonstration program in 
Public Law 104-134. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was one of the 
four agencies mandated to implement the program and evaluate its impact 
on the visiting public. This study is designed to scientifically 
evaluate visitor reactions impact of the fees on visitation to the 
national wildlife refuges (NWR); it will be conducted by the U.S. 
Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Social Economic and 
Institutional Analysis Section in Fort Collins, Colorado under a 
cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    To represent the various types of fee changes, as well as fee 
demonstration refuges, six distinct fee programs and ten refuges were 
selected for inclusion in the study. These include (1) new entrance 
fees (Sacramento NWR, CA and Aransas NWR, TX); (2) increased entrance 
fees (Dungeness NWR, WA); (3) new annual passes (Chincoteaque NWR, VA 
and Crab Orchard NWR, IL); (4) new hunt fees (St. Catherine's Creek 
NWR, MS and Balcones NWR, TX); (5) non-hunt use permits (Buenos Aires 
NWR, AZ and Fort Niobrara NWR, NE), and (6) non-fee adjustments 
(Piedmont NWR, GA). Random samples of individuals using these refuges 
will be surveyed.
    The Service plans to use as part of the evaluation process a survey 
questionnaire to assess the different fee programs. An on-site 
questionnaire will be distributed during the peak season to a random 
sample of the visiting public. A minimum of 400 completed surveys will 
be obtained for each fee type. An additional 200 surveys will be 
obtained from Sacramento NWR to allow for generation of a statistic on 
credit card entrances. Overall, this will result in a total sample of 
2,600 respondents. The margin of error for each fee type is 
5% at the 95% confidence level. The information gained from 
this survey will provide a scientific basis for evaluating the 
viability of the fee program among the visiting public. The lead 
project officer is Dr. Jonathan G. Taylor, Research Social Scientist, 
phone 970-226-9438, 4512 McMurry Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525-3400.
    Title: Evaluation of visitor responses to recreation fee 
demonstration program.
    Bureau form number: None.
    Frequency of collection: Annual.
    Description of respondents: Individuals and households.
    Number of respondents: 2,600.
    Estimated completion time: 10 minutes.
    Burden estimate: 433 hours.

Paul R. Schmidt,
Acting Assistant Director for Refuges and Wildlife.
[FR Doc. 98-5999 Filed 3-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M