[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29783-29784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12517]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[USGS-8327-CMG61]


Agency Information Collection: Comment Request; The State of 
Ecosystem Services Implementation Survey

AGENCY: United States Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a new collection.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) for 
a new collection of information: The State of Ecosystem Services 
Implementation Survey. This notice provides the public and other 
Federal agencies an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of 
this information collection request.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before June 22, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on this information 
collection directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior via e-mail to [email protected] or 
fax at 202-395-5806; and identify your submission as 1028--NEW. Please 
also submit a copy of your written comments to Phadrea Ponds, USGS 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 2150-
C, Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526-8118 (mail); 970-226-9230 
(fax); or [email protected] (e-mail). Please reference Information 
Collection 1028--NEW, ECOSERV in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Rudy Schuster by mail at U.S. Geological 
Survey, 2150-C Center Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526, or by telephone 
at (970) 226-9165. To see a copy of the entire ICR submitted to OMB, go 
to http://www.reginfo.gov (Information Collection Review, Currently 
under Review).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Ecosystem goods and services are defined by ecologists as the 
biophysical processes that give rise to social benefits. For example, 
in ecology, processes such as nutrient cycling, atmospheric regulation, 
pollination, and seed dispersal are considered ecosystem services. 
Indirect benefits are also considered; for example, recreation, avoided 
flood damage, and aesthetic benefits are also ecosystem services. In 
short, the benefits associated with an ecosystem service are the value 
that humans derive from that service. The objectives of this survey are 
to illustrate the various approaches that are being used to formulate 
ecosystem services projects and the state-of-the-art processes through 
which projects are implemented. The survey will gather information 
concerning: Methods used in ecosystem services projects, motivations 
for conducting projects, degree of project implementation, management 
actions resulting from project results (for completed projects), and 
characteristics of projects that have successfully implemented 
ecosystem services concepts.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028--NEW.
    Title: The State of Ecosystem Services Implementation Survey.
    Type of Request: This is a new collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals who are (currently or recently have 
been)

[[Page 29784]]

engaged in conducting an ecosystem services research project; potential 
respondents will include: Federal employees, non-governmental 
organization employees, and academic researchers. The population will 
include people from the United States as well as other nations.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated Annual Number of Non-Federal Respondents: 392.
    Estimated Total Annual Non-Federal Responses: 392.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes for complete response and 5 
minutes for non-respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 140 hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: 
We have not identified any non-hour cost burdens associated with this 
collection of information.

III. Request for Comments

    On September 13, 2010, we published a Federal Register notice (75 
FR 55598) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval 
and soliciting comments. The comment period closed on November 12, 
2011. We did not receive any comments in response to that notice.
    We again invite comments concerning this ICR on: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Please note that the comments submitted 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: May 3, 2011.
Anne Kinsinger,
Associate Director for Ecosystems.
[FR Doc. 2011-12517 Filed 5-20-11; 8:45 am]
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