[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32809-32810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13794]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


30-Day Notice of Submission to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB); Opportunity for Public Comment

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 
CFR Part 1320, Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, the National 
Park Service (NPS) invites public comments on a proposed new collection 
of information (OMB 1024-XXXX).

DATES: Public comments on this Information Collection Request (ICR) 
will be accepted on or before July 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments directly to the Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior (OMB 1024-XXXX), Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, by fax at 202/395-5806, or by 
electronic mail at [email protected]. Please also send a copy of 
your comments to Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Land, Indiana 
University Research Park, RE ASIS, 501 Morton Street, Suite 101, 
Bloomington, Indiana 47404; or via fax to 812/855-5600; or via e-mail 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Gramann, NPS Social Science 
Division, 1201 ``Eye'' St., Washington, DC 20005; or via phone 202-513-
7189; or via e-mail [email protected]. You are entitled to 
a copy of the entire ICR package free-of-charge. You may access this 
ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/.
    Comments Received on the 60-Day Federal Register Notice: The NPS 
published a 60-day notice to solicit public comments on an information 
collection request entitled ``Assessing Visitor Attitudes, Experiences, 
and Expectations Associated with the Management and Use of Oversand 
Vehicles at Assateague Island National Seashore'' in the Federal 
Register on February 8, 2008 (Vol. 73, No. 34, Page 9354-9355). 
Publication of the Federal Register notice was supplemented by multiple 
notifications to stakeholders about the proposed study. The NPS 
received 43 comments as a result the 60-day notice and the stakeholder 
notifications. The comments and responses are summarized below:
    (1) A number of comments either supported or opposed the use of 
oversand vehicles (OSVs) at Assateague Island National Seashore. These 
comments related to possible management actions NPS might take, but did 
not relate to the need for the information collection or the burden of 
the collection.
    (2) Three commenters requested a copy of the draft survey. Copies 
were sent to each of the parties requesting them.
    (3) The Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological 
Diversity sent a joint set of comments. Some of these comments 
concerned the current management of the OSV zone, while others included 
specific thoughts on the proposed survey. As a result, the Defenders of 
Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity, along with the 
Assateague Mobil Sport Fishermen's Association, were invited to comment 
on the content and wording of the draft questionnaires. The Defenders 
of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity declined to provide 
additional comments. The Assateague Mobil Sport Fishermen Association 
did provide additional feedback, including recommendations for wording 
changes in some questions, along with guidance to make sure the 
information collected was relevant to issues surrounding the OSV zone. 
There were also concerns that a particular area of the OSV Zone was 
being targeted in a number of the questions. The surveys were modified 
as a result of these comments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Assessing Visitor Attitudes Experiences and Expectations 
Associated with the Management and Use of Oversand Vehicles at 
Assateague Island National Seashore.
    Bureau Form Number(s): None.
    OMB Number: To be requested.
    Expiration Date: To be requested.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Description of Need: The proposed study will supply input into 
identifying and evaluating alternatives for future management of 
Oversand Vehicle (OSV) use at Assateague Island National Seashore 
(ASIS), Maryland. The purpose of this research is to provide park 
managers with information about the characteristics of visitors to the 
OSV zone and adjacent backcountry areas in the park, attributes of the 
OSV zone that are important to the quality of visitor experiences, and 
visitor attitudes regarding OSV management, use, and resource 
protection practices.
    The use of OSVs for access and recreation is a traditional activity 
that occurred at Assateague prior to the establishment of the National 
Seashore in 1965. Management of OSVs was formalized with the adoption 
of special regulations (36 CFR 7.65) in 1974, which established vehicle 
and equipment requirements, an OSV permit system, general requirements 
for legal operation, and a maximum limit of 145 vehicles using the 
Maryland District OSV zone at any time. OSV use was reevaluated in 1982 
during the Seashore's general management planning process. The General 
Management Plan (GMP) designated a ``Traditional Recreation Subzone'' 
in the Maryland District approximately 12 miles long to be managed for 
multiple uses, including oversand travel by properly equipped and 
permitted OSVs. The Traditional Recreation Subzone also includes a 
small area for overnight accommodation of self-contained OSVs and two 
hike-in backcountry campgrounds. In 2008, the NPS began a revision of 
the GMP for ASIS. The revised GMP will: (1) Clearly define the desired 
natural and cultural resource conditions to be achieved and maintained 
over time; (2) clearly define the necessary conditions for visitors to 
understand, enjoy, and appreciate the park's significant resources; (3) 
identify the kinds and levels of management activities, visitor use, 
and development that are appropriate for maintaining the desired 
conditions; and (4) identify indicators and standards for maintaining 
the desired conditions.
    The proposed study will assist in the GMP revision by informing 
decisions related to the management of OSV use at ASIS. The study has 
two primary objectives: (1) Develop baseline data on users of the 
Traditional Recreation Subzone, including types, frequency and patterns 
of use, and their socio-economic and demographic characteristics; and 
(2) provide input into potential indicators and standards of quality 
for maintaining the desired

[[Page 32810]]

visitor experience in the Traditional Recreation Subzone. The study 
includes two questionnaires. The first will be administered to a 
representative sample of OSV users in the Traditional Recreation 
Subzone; the second will be given to a representative sample of non-OSV 
users in the Subzone.

1. Survey OSV Permit Holders Utilizing the Traditional Recreation 
Subzone

    A randomly selected group of current OSV permit holders will 
receive a mailback questionnaire, with an option to complete the survey 
on-line using a unique identification code. The survey includes 
questions about OSV users' demographics; the frequency, patterns, and 
type of OSV use; factors influencing the quality of visitor 
experiences; and attitudes toward current and potential OSV management 
and resource protection practices. This research is proposed for the 
summer and fall of 2010.

2. Survey Backcountry Users of the Traditional Recreation Subzone

    A randomly selected group of visitors issued backcountry camping 
permits in 2009 will receive a mailback questionnaire, with an option 
to complete the survey on-line using a unique identification code. The 
survey will include questions similar to those in the OSV 
questionnaire, but specific to backcountry camping experiences. This 
survey also is proposed for summer and fall of 2010.
    Automated data collection: This information will be collected via 
mailback surveys distributed through U.S. Postal Service mail. 
Participants also will be given the opportunity to respond to the 
survey on-line by using a unique identification code and password.
    Description of respondents: Current OSV permit holders and current 
backcountry permit holders at Assateague Island National Seashore.
    Estimated number of respondents: 500 OSV permit holders (350 
respondents and 150 non-respondents); 330 backcountry permit holders 
(230 respondents and 130 non-respondents); 40 non-respondents contacted 
for a short non-respondent survey.
    Estimated average burden hours per response: 3 minutes for initial 
contact; 15 minutes for OSV survey; 10 minutes for backcountry survey; 
5 minutes for non-respondent survey.
    Frequency of Response: 1 time per respondent.
    Estimated annual reporting burden: 171 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) The practical utility of the 
information being gathered; (2) the accuracy of the burden hour 
estimate; and (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information being gathered. 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 we will be able to do so.

    Dated: June 3, 2010.
Stephanie Leonard,
NPS, Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-13794 Filed 6-8-10; 8:45 am]
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