[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 71425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33064]



[[Page 71425]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 121599D]


National Marine Sanctuaries-Socioeconomic Impacts of Marine 
Reserves

AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 22, 
2000.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via 
Internet at LE[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Dr. Vernon R. Leeworthy, NOS/Special Projects 
Office, 1305 East West Highway, SSMC 4, 9th Floor, Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910 (301-713-3000, ext. 138) or via Internet at 
Bob.L[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The purpose of this information collection is to give users of 
National Marine Sanctuaries fair representation in the process of 
creating a marine reserve (no-take zone). This will be accomplished by 
collecting socioeconomic information and incorporating the information 
into a geographical information system (GIS) that will support 
socioeconomic impact analyses. Socioeconomic Impact Analyses attempt to 
show who might be impacted by a marine reserve (i.e., who benefits and 
who suffers potential costs). Impacts are measured not only on direct 
users that would be displaced but also the secondary impacts such as 
income and employment in the local and regional economies and to 
consumer's through either higher prices for commercial fishing products 
or lower quantity and quality of recreational experiences. In FY 2000, 
NOAA plans to apply the information collection and analyses to the 
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, which is revising its 
management plan and will propose the creation of a marine reserve.
    One set of respondents would be commercial fishermen. Interviews 
would gather information on socioeconomic factors for developing 
profiles of the commercial fishermen such as age, sex, education level, 
household income, marital status, number of family members, race/
ethnicity, percent of income derived from fishing, percent of income 
derived from study area, years of experience in fishing and years of 
fishing experience in the study area. Total catch, effort and revenue, 
by major species and by geographical areas, will also be compiled. 
Information on costs of operation and investment in the fisheries will 
also be obtained. Detailed maps will be used in working with fishermen 
to allocate their catch and effort geographically.
    A second set of respondents would be Wholesale Processors. Personal 
interviews will be conducted with wholesale processors of commercial 
fishing catch to determine the disposition of catch (e.g. how much is 
exported out of the local area, how much is sold to local retail 
markets, and how much is sold to restaurant markets) and the price 
mark-ups at each market level.
    The third set of respondents would be Recreational For-Hire 
Businesses. Personal interviews would be conducted with for-hire 
charter and party (head-boats) boat operations that take recreational 
fishermen, divers, and wildlife viewers to the Channel Islands National 
Marine Sanctuary. As with commercial fishing operations, maps will be 
used to allocate activity by geographic area. Information on number of 
passengers (normalized to person-days of activity), operating revenues, 
cost and profits will be obtained.

II. Method of Collection

    Personal interviews.

III. Data

     OMB Number: None
     Form Number: None
     Type of Review: Regular submission
     Affected public: Business or other for-profit
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 665
     Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours
     Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,330
     Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and /or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 10, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-33064 Filed 12-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE