[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40309-40310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20048]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for Office 
of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a new information collection.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Act), the 
Department of the Interior has submitted the new collection of 
information discussed below to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for approval. The Act provides that 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.

DATES: Submit written comments by August 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and suggestions directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-NEW), 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503. Send a copy of your comments to the Minerals 
Management Service, Attention: Rules Processing Team, Mail Stop 4024, 
381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Engineering and 
Operations Division, Minerals Management Service, telephone (703) 787-
1600. You may obtain copies of the supporting statement and collection 
of information by contacting MMS's Information Collection Clearance 
Officer at (202) 208-7744.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Survey--Recreational Usage of Oil and Gas Rigs by Fishermen 
and Divers.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (at U.S.C. 
1346, Environmental Studies), instructs the Secretary of the Interior, 
subsequent to the leasing and developing of any area or region, to 
conduct additional studies to establish environmental information as he 
deems necessary and to monitor the human, marine, and coastal 
environments of such area or region in a manner designed to provide 
time-series and data trend information which can be used for comparison 
with previously collected data for the purpose of identifying any 
significant changes in the quality and productivity of such 
environments, for establishing trends in the areas studied and 
monitored, and for designing experiments to identify the causes of such 
changes.
    Biological studies have shown that there are between 20 and 50 
times more fish found under and near oil platforms than in nearby soft 
bottom areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, in order to make 
decisions regarding the conversion of existing rigs to artificial 
reefs, MMS needs statistically accurate information on the extent to 
which oil and gas structures are used by recreational fishers and 
divers and the economic impact of the continued availability of these 
structures on local communities.
    A data collection survey is being proposed to obtain statistically 
reliable estimates of the level of fishing and diving activity at oil 
and gas structures in the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama through Texas and 
to determine the levels of economic activity associated with this 
fishing and diving.
    Frequency: This is a one time survey. Data collection will occur 
over a one year period (January 1, 1999--December 31, 1999).
    Estimated number and description of respondents and reporting and 
recordkeeping ``hour'' burden: The estimated reporting hour burden is 
shown in parenthesis for each type of respondent in the following list. 
There is no recordkeeping burden.
    Dockside field interviews with 6,513 private boat fishermen 
(individuals who are fishing either from a boat that they own or rent) 
from Alabama through Texas (10 mins.).
    Dockside field interviews with 1,331 charter boat fishermen from 
Alabama through Texas, including fishermen who ``lease'' an entire boat 
for usually a \1/2\-day or a full-day fishing trip. The charter boat is 
normally licensed to carry 6 or less people (10 minutes).
    Dockside field interviews with 400 party boat fishermen from 
Alabama through Texas. Party boats usually take out more than six 
people for a fee and the group consists of individual fishermen buying 
a single spot, not leasing the entire boat (10 minutes).
    Dockside field interviews with 200 divers from Alabama through 
Texas, including snorkelers as well as individuals wearing self 
contained breathing apparatus who may be spear fishing or swimming (10 
minutes).
    Telephone follow-up interviews with 3,255 private boat anglers 
(20.6 minutes), 920 charter boat anglers and 280 party boat anglers 
(12.3 minutes), and 200 divers (20.2 minutes).
    Telephone survey of 200 charter boat operators from Alabama through 
Texas.

[[Page 40310]]

Boat operators are the individuals captaining the vessel (6.2 minutes).
    Telephone interviews with 50 party boat operators from Alabama 
through Texas (6.2 minutes).
    Telephone interviews with 50 dive shop or diving guide service 
providers from Alabama through Texas (2 minutes).
    Estimated reporting and recordkeeping ``cost'' burden: This is a 
one time survey with no cost burden on the respondents to provide this 
collection of information.
    Comments: Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
requires each agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and otherwise 
consult with members of the public and affected agencies concerning 
each proposed collection of information * * *.'' Agencies must 
specifically solicit comments to: (a) evaluate whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the agency to perform its 
duties, including whether the information is useful, (b) evaluate the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, (c) enhance the quality, usefulness, and 
clarity of the information to be collected, and (d) minimize the burden 
on the respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Send your comments directly to the offices listed under the 
addresses section of this notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve 
or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days. 
Therefore, to ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public 
comments by August 27, 1998.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, 
(202) 208-7744.

    Dated: June 17, 1998.
E. P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 98-20048 Filed 7-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P