[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7661-7662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3656]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) will submit the 
collection of information described below to OMB for renewal under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You may obtain 
copies of specific information collection requirements, related forms 
and explanatory material by contacting the Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer at the address and/or phone numbers listed 
below.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and suggestions on specific requirements to 
the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, MS 222 ARLSQ 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Staller, Chief, Branch of Visitor 
Services, Division in Refuges, 703/358-2029 or Dr. Jonathan G. Taylor, 
Research Social Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO 
970/226-9438.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We propose to submit the following 
information collection clearance requirements to OMB for renewal under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. We invite 
comments 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 our estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the 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 Pub. 
L. 104-134. We were one of the four agencies mandated to implement the 
program and evaluate its impact on the visiting public. This study will 
scientifically evaluate visitor reactions and impact of the fees on 
visitation to the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). The U.S. 
Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Social Economic and 
Institutional Analysis Section in Fort Collins, Colorado will conduct 
the study under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
    Although we planned to end this survey on December 15, 1998 with a 
joint report issued on March 31, 1999, a November, 1998 GAO report 
(GAO-RCED-99-7) recommended that only one year of data collection for 
the recreation fee demonstration program was insufficient. GAO 
concluded that this collection should continue for further evaluation. 
Section 328 of H.R. 4193 (subsequently in FY 1999 Interior 
appropriations) authorized extension of the program through FY 2001.
    To represent the various types of fee changes, as well as fee 
demonstration refuges, six distinct fee programs and nine 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 (Chincoteague NWR, VA 
and Crab Orchard NWR, IL); (4) new hunt fees (St. Catherine's Creek 
NWR, MS and Balcones Canyonlands NWR, TX); (5) non-hunt use permits 
(Buenos Aires NWR, AZ) and (6) non-fee adjustments (Piedmont NWR, GA). 
We will survey random samples of individuals using these refuges. We 
plan to use as part of the evaluation process a survey questionnaire to 
assess the different fee programs. We will distribute an on-site 
questionnaire during the peak season to a random sample of the visiting 
public and obtain a minimum of 400 completed surveys for each fee type. 
We will obtain additional information from Sacramento NWR to allow for 
examination of credit card entrances as well as new entrance fees in 
general. We will ask no questions of the participants, simply note 
payment by credit card. Overall, this will result in a total sample of 
2,400 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 viability of the fee program among the 
visiting public. The lead project officer is Dr. Jonathan G. Taylor,

[[Page 7662]]

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 for number: None.
    Frequency of collection: On occasion.
    Description of the respondents: Individuals and households.
    Number of respondents: 2,400.
    Estimated completion time: 10 minutes.
    Burden estimate: 400 hours.

    Dated: February 10, 1999.
Paul R. Schmidt,
Acting Assistant Director for Refuges and Wildlife.
[FR Doc. 99-3656 Filed 2-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M