[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5340-5341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2165]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R9-R-2010-N023; 93261-99CS-0000-4A]


Information Collection Sent to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for Approval; Survey of National Wildlife Refuge Visitors

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  We (Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. The ICR, which 
is summarized below, describes the nature of the collection and the 
estimated burden and cost. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person 
is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: You must send comments on or before March 4, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information 
collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at 
OMB-OIRA at (202) 395-5806 (fax) or [email protected] (e-mail). 
Please provide a copy of your comments to Hope Grey, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 222-ARLSQ, 
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (mail) or hope_
[email protected] (e-mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Hope Grey by mail or e-mail (see ADDRESSES) or 
by telephone at (703) 358-2482.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 1018-NEW. This is a new collection.
    Title: Survey of National Wildlife Refuge Visitors.
    Service Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: New.
    Affected Public: Visitors to national wildlife refuges.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.

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                                   Number of annual    Number of annual   Completion time per    Annual burden
            Activity                  respondents          responses            response             hours
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Initial Contact Onsite..........              12,500              12,500  2 minutes..........                417
Visitor Survey..................              10,000              10,000  25 minutes.........              4,167
Nonresponse Bias Check Survey...                 750                 750  5 minutes..........                 63
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    Totals......................              23,250              23,250  ...................              4,647
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[[Page 5341]]

    Abstract: We have contracted with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 
to conduct a survey of national wildlife refuge visitors so that we can 
better understand their recreational, educational, and information 
experiences. The Policy Analysis and Science Assistance Branch of the 
USGS will conduct the survey onsite at approximately 75 national 
wildlife refuges nationwide. Respondents will have the option to return 
the survey by mail or to complete it online.
    We will use this survey to measure visitor satisfaction with 
current visitor services and facilities and their desire for future 
services and facilities. Information from this survey will provide 
refuge managers, planners, and visitor services professionals with 
scientifically sound data that can be used to:
     Prepare conservation planning documents,
     Improve the design of visitor facilities,
     Tailor visitor services and facilities to match visitor 
interests and needs,
     Better protect refuge resources by combining this data 
with biological data, and
     Understand the economic impact of visitors to the local 
community.
Additionally, this survey can target public access and transportation 
planning issues related to wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities 
such as automobile tour routes, trails, parking lots, and roads.
    Comments: On February 3, 2009, we published in the Federal Register 
(74 FR 5940) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this 
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 
days, ending on April 6, 2009. We received three comments and addressed 
them as follows:
    Comment: One commenter requested that the survey include questions 
on:
     Whether the visitor is a consumptive or nonconsumptive 
wildlife user,
     What activities visitors do on national wildlife refuges,
     Whether or not visitors are aware that hunting and 
trapping are allowed on national wildlife refuges,
     Appropriateness of allowing sport hunting and trapping on 
national wildlife refuges, and
     Compatibility of sport hunting and trapping to the purpose 
of national wildlife refuges.
    Response: The survey contains questions that directly address the 
first two issues. Measuring public understanding or perceptions about 
the appropriateness of hunting on national wildlife refuges is not an 
objective of this study. However, the survey asks visitors to rate the 
importance of and their satisfaction with a list of uses and services 
provided on refuges, including hunting. The survey also provides an 
opportunity for visitors to express their opinions or concerns 
concerning national wildlife refuge policies (such as hunting and 
trapping on refuges).
    Comment: The commenter stated that we have conducted this survey 
every 5 years and that is enough. The commenter also stated opposition 
to hunting.
    Response: We believe the commenter is referring to the National 
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. That 
survey is of the general public and asks questions about activities on 
all types of lands (Federal, State, local, and private). The proposed 
survey is of visitors to national wildlife refuges only. Responses to 
questions on the proposed survey will help us better manage national 
wildlife refuges.
    Comment: We received a request for a copy of the survey instrument 
and information on sampling frames.
    Response: The USGS provided a copy of the draft survey instrument 
and a description of the sampling frames.
    We again invite comments concerning this information collection on:
     Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 
collection of information;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you 
should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal 
identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you can ask OMB in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it 
will be done.

    Dated: January 26, 2010
Hope Grey,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service.
FR Doc. 2010-2165 Filed 2-1-10; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 4310-55-S