[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54798-54799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15546]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; North Atlantic 
Right Whale Economic Benefit Study: Pre-test Data Collection

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), DOC.

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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 20, 
2006.

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. Kathryn Bisack, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 
02543; telephone: (508) 495-2324; or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) plans to conduct a 
pilot survey with the objective of testing a survey instrument that 
will be used to collect data for measuring the preferences U.S. 
residents have among the available management options to protect the 
northern right whale (Eubalena glacialis), which is a listed species 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 35). NMFS is 
charged with protecting this species and has in the past and will 
continue to implement management actions to allow the species to 
recover (69 FR 53040). Because available management options have 
potentially different socioeconomic impacts, it is important to 
understand the public's attitudes towards potential impacts on northern 
right whales and the fishing and shipping industries. This information 
is currently not available, yet is an additional socioeconomic 
component critical for improvement of the planning and evaluation of 
effective protection measures for northern right whales.
    The pilot instrument will present the latest information on 
northern right whales, current population levels, probabilities of 
extinction, alternative management options, and likely impacts of 
management options. The survey is expected to ask respondents for 
information regarding their knowledge and opinions on northern right 
whale conservation, and on the potential impacts of management options 
available to protect the species. Additional standard social-
demographic information needed to classify respondents will also be 
obtained. The pilot pre-test will gather a sufficient number of 
responses to evaluate the information, presentation, reliability, 
internal consistency, response variability, and other properties of a 
newly developed survey. The results from these pre-test activities will 
be used to make improvements to the survey instrument.
    A second Federal Register Notice will appear when the final survey 
is to be conducted. Ultimately, final survey results may provide 
information on the economic benefits of right whale protection. These 
results may supplement other materials to allow one to evaluate 
alternative protection measures. Such information may be used in an 
analysis to determine whether the benefits of stronger protection 
measures (i.e., right whale benefits) are commensurate with the costs.

II. Method of Collection

    Two modes are being considered, mail and the Internet; however, we 
are more likely to use mail as the method of collection.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 35 minutes.

[[Page 54799]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 117.
    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: September 14, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-15546 Filed 9-18-06; 8:45 am]
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