[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70233-70234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31139]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121203A]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Socio-economic 
Assessment of Marine Protected Areas Management Preferences

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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)).

[[Page 70234]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 17, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Dr. Juan Agar, Department of Commerce, NOAA, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 
Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149, (305 361 4218).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to conduct a survey 
to collect socio-economic data to strengthen the management, 
protection, and conservation of existing and proposed Marine Protected 
Areas (MPAs) in the U.S. Caribbean (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin 
Islands). MPAs are any area of the marine environment that has been 
reserved by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, or local laws or 
regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the 
natural and cultural resources therein. The survey intends to collect 
demographic, cultural, and economic information from communities that 
are dependent on the estuarine and marine resources for their 
livelihood. The proposed data collection is necessary to develop 
science-based criteria and protocols to identify and evaluate the 
economic impacts of management decisions. The information will be used 
to protect the sustainable use of estuarine and marine ecosystems for 
present and future generations. The information collected will also be 
used to satisfy legal mandates under Executive Order 13158, the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act, the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act, the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act, the 
Coastal Zone Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and 
other pertinent statues.

II. Method of Collection

    The socio-economic information will be collected via personal 
interviews and mail surveys.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 700.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 700.
    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, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-31139 Filed 12-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S