[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41658-41661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17663]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of New Information Collection Survey.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (PRA), we are inviting comments on an information collection 
request (ICR) to conduct a new survey on Potential Impacts of OCS 
Activities on Bowhead Whale Hunting Activities in the Beaufort Sea. We 
are preparing an ICR that we will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

DATE: Submit written comments by September 12, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Processing 
Team; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Arlene Bajusz, Rules 
Processing Team, telephone (703) 787-1600, to obtain a copy of the 
survey instruments. For more information on the survey itself, contact 
Dr. Dee Williams in the MMS Alaska Regional Office, telephone (907) 
271-6680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Survey Instruments--Quantitative Description of Potential 
Impacts of OCS Activities on Bowhead Whale Hunting Activities in the 
Beaufort Sea.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-NEW.
    Abstract: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the U.S. 
Department of the Interior (USDOI) is responsible for oil and gas 
leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) under the OCS Lands Act of 
1953, the OCS Lands Act Amendments of 1978 (OCSLA), and the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. OCSLA and NEPA require 
assessment of the effects of OCS oil and gas activities on adjacent 
human and physical environments. Therefore, USDOI/MMS acquires and 
analyzes and/or oversees collection and analysis of environmental, 
socio-economic, and socio-cultural information relevant to OCS 
decisions and uses that information in Environmental Assessments (EA) 
and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).
    This study is responsive to concerns among North Slope Borough 
(NSB) residents that oil exploration and development activities in 
general, and OCS activities in particular, are having an adverse effect 
on whale hunting and I[ntilde]upiat life. There are three general areas 
of concern. First are the worries over the physical effects of seismic 
testing; the movement of barges, aircraft, and other transport vessels; 
and the erection of platforms. Many think these disruptions alter the 
feeding and migration patterns of bowhead whales

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and other marine mammals. The result is that fall whaling crews must 
move further out to sea, thereby increasing both the danger and the 
costs of the hunt. There is also considerable anxiety over the 
contamination of wild foods and the environment from drilling cuts, 
mudflows, and production water wastes and petroleum discharges. Many of 
the residents in the smaller villages question the long-term 
consequences of altering freshwater habitats by draining lakes to build 
ice roads; the interference of oil well structures, fences, and 
pipeline on caribou crossings and the behavior of other land mammals; 
or the ability of local residents to access marine and land mammals.
    The social, cultural, and economic impact of energy development is 
a second area of interest and apprehension. There are the direct 
benefits of economic growth that many look forward to, such as more 
employment opportunities, more discretionary income, and improved 
public services. There are also negative trends associated with 
industrialization, such as general anomie, excessive alcohol and drug 
use, abusive and self-destructive behavior, higher accident rates, loss 
of territory, restrictions on land use, loss of language and 
subsistence skills, dissolution of family relations, decline in 
community rituals and festivities, and the dilution of cultural values 
such as sharing, reciprocity, respect for others, and consensual 
decision making.
    There is another, more intangible, worry about what some social 
scientists call an ``opportunity-threat impact'' or fears about what 
might happen to the health and well-being of one's family and 
community. The implications of economic and social change in the Arctic 
are not fully understood. Some welcome the transformation of the 
community and the availability of freshwater, sewers, and better 
housing. According to others, I[ntilde]upiat peoples have ``over 
adapted'' to the new industrial economy, which can threaten the long-
term survival of cultural traditions and a distinctive way of life.
    Whether the changes that accompany economic development are 
positive or destructive depends heavily on the regulatory regimes and 
mitigation measures that are in place, a final area of contention. 
Here, complaints have been voiced about the pressure on the NSB to deal 
with the accidents and the damages tied to development for which it is 
not responsible. This puts added stress on the capacity of the NSB to 
serve the needs of residents and is particularly troublesome in a time 
of declining revenues and personnel layoffs.
    The MMS proposes to collect the information in this study (1) to 
describe participation in bowhead whale hunting and its importance to 
and relationship with other traditional activities in three 
I[ntilde]upiat communities on Alaska's North Slope and one control 
community of similar size in the western part of the State; (2) to 
describe and analyze community assessments of the effects of oil and 
gas development and modernization on participation in traditional 
activities, especially bowhead whale hunting; (3) to describe and 
analyze community assessments of desired future conditions for whale 
hunting and related traditional activities; and (4) to describe how oil 
and gas development and other forces of modernization influence these 
desired future conditions for whaling and other traditional activities. 
The information collected will be used in regional EAs and EISs and 
will be used to make decisions on future oil and gas lease sales in the 
Beaufort Sea, currently scheduled for 2005 and 2007.
    Survey Instruments: An integral aspect of the research effort is 
the development and administration of three survey instruments that 
will collect information about the North Slope communities of Barrow, 
Kaktovik, and Nuiqsut and the ``control community'' of Savoonga on St. 
Lawrence Island in the Bering Straits. The survey data are divided into 
five broad categories: demographic and economic characteristics; 
quantitative and qualitative summaries of participation in bowhead 
whaling and other subsistence activities; an assessment of residents' 
perceptions of the potential threats and benefits of OCS development to 
subsistence and other traditional activities, especially bowhead 
whaling; changes in the quality of life in each community, measured in 
both economic and cultural terms; and the way residents view the likely 
future of their communities.
    The information under this proposed collection will be obtained 
through personal interviews with three distinct groups: whaling 
captains, adult-headed households and elders, and high school juniors 
and seniors. A separate survey, based on previous studies, has been 
developed for each of these groups.
    The Whaling Captain Survey focuses on the patterns of participation 
in whale hunting activities and the possible impact of OCS development 
on these patterns. Demographic questions about age, length of time in 
the community, education, gender, shareholder status in village and 
regional corporations, and family relations will reveal, in part, a 
captain's experience, understanding, and perspectives on social change 
and resource development. The Household Survey focuses on the effects 
of offshore oil industry activities on individual residents, 
households, and groups in each community. Population characteristics 
such as age, number, and relationships of people in the household and 
level of education are related to changes in employment, income, and 
economic opportunity. Gender, ethnic background, length of residency, 
and corporate membership can also result in divergent views about 
subsistence, development, language, and many other factors. The Student 
Survey focuses on perceptions about the effects of OCS oil and gas 
activities, documents student attitudes about I[ntilde]upiat 
traditions, and tracks changes in student behaviors that help assess 
inter-generational continuities. Responses may vary depending on age, 
ethnicity, and gender.
    It is assumed in all three surveys that Native ancestry is 
predictably tied to participation in subsistence and other traditional 
cultural activities. Since only coastal Alaskan Natives can legally 
hunt bowhead whales and other marine mammals, the survey will include 
only Native residents. Variation in participation in subsistence and 
other traditional activities among groups, as well as over time, will 
be a key analytical focus.
    Interview Methods: The interviews for each survey will be done face 
to face in a setting that is most comfortable for the respondent. This 
personal method is more expensive and time consuming for the 
researchers, but these drawbacks are outweighed by improvements in the 
quality of information obtained and the rapport established between the 
surveyor and the person interviewed. Telephone interviews have not been 
successful on the North Slope.
    Households in Barrow, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, and Savoonga (control 
village) will be randomly chosen for interviews. To achieve the desired 
statistical confidence level, smaller communities are sampled at a 
higher rate than are larger ones. Respondents will be paid for taking 
part in the survey.
    Frequency: One-time survey.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 614 
respondents from Alaska's North Slope communities and a control group 
in western Alaska.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: All three 
surveys together are estimated to involve about 474 total burden hours, 
as described in the following chart.

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                                                                                                     Estimated
                                                                  Estimated hour     Estimated     annual burden
                      Respondent categories                           burden         number of         hours
                                                                     (minutes)      respondents      (rounded)
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Whaling Captains:
    Barrow......................................................              50              43              36
    Kaktovik....................................................              50              10               8
    Nuiqsut.....................................................              50              10               8
    Savoonga....................................................              50              28              23
                                                                 -----------------
        Subtotal................................................  ..............              91              75
Households:
    NSB.........................................................              45             281             211
    Control Village.............................................              45              70              53
                                                                 -----------------
        Subtotal................................................  ..............             351             264
Elders:
    NSB.........................................................              50              42              35
    Control Village.............................................              50              20              17
                                                                 -----------------
        Subtotal................................................  ..............              62              52
                                                                 -----------------
            High School (total).................................              45             110              83
                                                                 -----------------
                Grand Total.....................................  ..............             614             474
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    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: No 
non-hour cost burden has been identified.
    Protections of Respondent Confidentiality: Prior to every 
interview, an introduction will be read to each respondent explaining 
the voluntary nature of their participation, the right to refuse to 
answer any question, and the measures that are implemented to protect 
their confidentiality. With regard to participation in the Student 
Survey, parents will sign consent forms with an X for minor children 
who agree to be interviewed. Procedures designed to protect 
confidentiality will include the use of coded identification numbers to 
eliminate the use of personal names, reliance upon self-administration 
for the most sensitive component of the surveys, and strict adherence 
to the highest code of ethical conduct, including the framework adopted 
by the U.S. Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee.
    In the Household and Whaling Captain Surveys, there are three 
possible sensitive questions on annual household income, unemployment, 
and household finances. These questions have been used many times in 
past studies with few complaints. During the interviews, respondents 
will be warned that sensitive questions are coming up and that they may 
refuse to answer. The self-administered portion of the Student Survey 
contains sensitive questions about alcohol and drug use and sexual 
activity. The questions come directly from the Centers for Disease 
Control semiannual YRBSS questionnaire. This part of the survey will be 
self-administered, and students may again choose not to answer any 
question. Upon completion, each student will privately place their 
questionnaire in a sealed envelope. The envelope will only be opened 
later by a data processor, who will not be aware of how any particular 
student answered the questions.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated 
to respond.
    Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) 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.
    Agencies must also estimate the ``non-hour cost'' burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, if you, as the respondent, have costs to 
generate, maintain, and disclose this information, you should comment 
and provide your total capital and startup cost components or annual 
operation, maintenance, and purchase of service components. You should 
describe the methods you use to estimate major cost factors, including 
system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital 
equipment, discount rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. 
Capital and startup costs include, among other items, computers and 
software you purchase to prepare for collecting information, 
monitoring, and record storage facilities. You should not include 
estimates for equipment or services purchased: (i) Before October 1, 
1995; (ii) to comply with requirements not associated with the 
information collection; (iii) for reasons other than to provide 
information or keep records for the Government; or (iv) as part of 
customary and usual business or private practices.
    The MMS will summarize written responses to this notice and address 
them in the submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, 
MMS will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in the submission 
to OMB.
    Public Comment Policy: The MMS's practice is to make comments, 
including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public 
review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may 
request that their home address be withheld from the record, which will 
be honored to the extent allowable by law. If you wish to withhold your 
name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the

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beginning of your comment. However, anonymous comments will not be 
considered. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, will be made available for public 
inspection in their entirety.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, 
(202) 208-7744.

    Dated: July 3, 2003.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 03-17663 Filed 7-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P