[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 12928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4955]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022601A]


Coral Reefs Economic Valuation Study

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via 
Internet at [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, N/SP3, Room 9124, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (phone 301-713-3000, ext. 138), or via Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The purpose of this data collection would be to provide information 
on the value of coral reef habitats to specific segments of the U.S. 
population. The study will measure nonmarket economic values for coral 
reefs. This effort is designed to provide defensible information for 
both resource managers and damage assessments on the value of coral 
reef habitats and alternative management actions. The project is 
designed as a phased three-year effort to ensure effective use of all 
the available information. This effort will involve development of 
extensive knowledge about how reef habitats are perceived, implication 
of alternative management actions, designing original survey 
instruments, interviewing of a large number of respondents, conducting 
formal statistical analysis of the data, and developing a decision-
support system for resource managers to use.
    For active users of coral reefs, separate surveys of residents and 
visitors will be conducted to estimate the amount of use (measured in 
person-days) of the coral reefs, spending in the local economies while 
undertaking the activities on the reefs, and information that will 
support estimation of nonmarket economic use values using travel cost 
demand models, and discrete choice contingent valuation methods. For 
nonuse or passive use, a nationally-oriented survey will be conducted 
using stated preferences methods.

II. Method of Collection

    Interviews will be conducted. The survey instruments will be 
formulated with the use of focus groups and a pre-test of the 
instrument will be conducted.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,538.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours for a focus group member, 30 
minutes for a pretest, and 30 minutes for the final survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,400.
    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: February 22, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-4955 Filed 2-28-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JS