[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67364-67366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9323]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[Docket No. NV-055-5853-EU]


Proposed Information Collection--Alternative Futures for the 
Upper Las Vegas Wash

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is partnering with Utah 
State University to undertake a scientific study focused on the Upper 
Las Vegas Wash, which is managed by the BLM and located near the city 
of Las Vegas, Nevada. The BLM wants a better understanding of the 
interaction of the adjacent communities with the natural environment in 
this area. There are important linkages between social conditions in 
the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area and ecological conditions of 
the surrounding landscape. Ecological disturbance stemming from human 
use of the Upper Las Vegas Wash is complex and involves important 
relationships between the demographic characteristics of residents 
living in proximity to the area, and the nature of attachments and use 
patterns that can connect residents to the area. An understanding of 
the socio-economic characteristics of residents in conjunction with 
their spatial proximity to the wash will aid in our understanding of 
the ecological disturbance impacts, and will assist the BLM in 
implementing protective actions in the future. Modeling the complex 
linkages between ecological disturbances and the social, economic, and 
demographic characteristics of local populations requires analysis of 
both existing and newly-collected data. Thus, a critical component in 
this study is a

[[Page 67365]]

social survey of residents who live adjacent to the Upper Las Vegas 
Wash.
    In order to obtain the required information from appropriate 
residents, a sampling design that will capture variation in spatial 
proximity to the wash is needed. For the purposes of consistency, 
continuity, and accuracy across multiple components of this research, 
the same linear transects established to determine the spatial 
attributes of disturbance fronts will be used to define the residential 
areas from which we will draw representative samples of local 
residents.

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or 
before January 22, 2007. The BLM will not necessarily consider any 
comments received after the above date.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 401LS, 1849 C Street, NW., 
Attention: Bureau Information Collection Clearance Officer (WO-630), 
Washington, DC 20240.
    You may send comments via Internet to: [email protected]. Please include ``ATTN: 1004-XXXX'' and your name 
and address with your comments. Before including your address, phone 
number e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you are advised that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public 
review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that 
we will be able to so.
    You may deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    Comments will be available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Gayle Marrs-Smith, CTA 
Project Manager, by telephone at (702) 515-5156, or by e-mail at Gayle 
[email protected] regarding the UPPER LAS VEGAS WASH SURVEY. 
Persons who use a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) on 1-800-877-8330, 24 
hours a day, seven days a week, to contact Gayle Marrs-Smith.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM 
must provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a 
proposed collection of information to solicit comments on: (1) The 
practical utility of the information being gathered; (2) the accuracy 
of the burden hour estimate; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden to respondents, including the use of automated 
information collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    The BLM strives to include best science in rendering management 
decisions. Information on existing urban development and its socio-
demographic composition adjacent to the Upper Las Vegas Wash is 
necessary to assess the impacts of future development on the sensitive 
resources.
    Title: Alternative Futures for the Upper Las Vegas Wash.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    OMB Control Number: TBD.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Description of Need: This proposal seeks approval to collect 
information from residents of selected neighborhoods in both Las Vegas 
and North Las Vegas via questionnaire in order to gain a better 
understanding of how socio-economic characteristics of nearby 
residential populations might affect the disturbance impacts in the 
Upper Las Vegas Wash. The questionnaire will seek information to answer 
the following research questions:
    (1) How could variation in the spatial proximity and accessibility 
of residential development to the wash influence levels of both 
positive and negative uses of the wash environment?
    (2) How could variation in the demographic composition of local 
neighborhood populations; particularly variation in age structure, 
stage in life cycle, household size and composition, income and socio-
economic status levels, and racial/ethnic composition influence both 
levels of positive and negative uses of the wash environment?
    (3) How could spatial proximity/accessibility and the demographic 
composition of local populations interact to influence levels of 
familiarity with and attachment to the wash environment?
    (4) To what extent might variations in familiarity with, and 
attachment to, the wash environment influence local residents' 
perceptions about the use, management, and protection of the area?
    (5) How willing are residents to impose formal as well as informal 
sanctions toward individuals who engage in negative uses of the wash?
    Automated data collection: At this time, we will not be gathering 
information in an automated way.
    Description of Respondents: In order to obtain the required 
information from appropriate residents, a sampling design that will 
capture variation in spatial proximity to the wash is needed. This 
proposal seeks approval to collect information from adults living in 
randomly selected households located within one-half mile corridors 
centered along eight linear transects. These transects have been 
designated for use in measuring ecological and disturbance conditions 
within the Upper Las Vegas Wash environment and extended south of the 
wash into nearby areas of residential development. The total sample 
size will be 1,000, with 125 residents sampled on each transect using a 
stratified random-sampling procedure. Each of the eight transects will 
be stratified into four one-mile segments. Fifty households will be 
randomly sampled for participation in the survey from the transect 
segments located within one mile of the wash; 25 households will be 
selected from each of the other transect segments. This will enable the 
recording of four different spatial gradients extending south from the 
wash, totaling 400 possible responses from the segments located nearest 
to the wash and 200 possible respondents from each of the other three 
gradients. In addition to this categorical breakdown of the residential 
location of each of the survey respondents, a more precise measure of 
linear distance to the wash will be calculated using the exact spatial 
location of each household sampled.
    The data collection process will consist primarily of a drop-off/
pick-up methodology. This procedure utilizes a survey instrument to 
obtain the desired information from respondents while increasing face-
to-face interaction through personal delivery and pick up of each 
questionnaire, all while maintaining the same level of confidentiality 
that more traditional mail survey methodology affords. The procedural 
protocol for drop-off/pickup methodology includes delivering the survey 
instrument and cover letter, which explains the purpose of the study, 
how answers will be kept confidential at all times, and who should 
complete the questionnaire (any adult residing in the house age 18 or 
older whose birthday occurred most recently). The cover letter also 
informs the respondent when the researcher will be back to pick up the 
completed survey or instructions for leaving it in an appropriate 
location if the respondent is going to be away from his or her 
residence. Due to potential access constraints in certain neighborhoods 
having gated security measures, more traditional mail survey 
methodology

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will be used in those areas. The same survey instrument and cover 
letter will be used, but will be mailed to the sampled households with 
a request that the adult age 18 or older whose birthday occurred most 
recently complete and return the questionnaire in a provided self-
addressed stamped envelope.
    Estimated average number of respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated average number of responses: 600.
    Estimated average burden hours per response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated annual reporting burden: 300 hours.
    The BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include 
them in the request for OMB approval. All comments will be a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: November 15, 2006.
Ted R. Hudson,
Bureau of Land Management, Acting Division Chief of Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 06-9323 Filed 11-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M