[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 10480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3992]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of 
Hawaii Resident Resource Users' Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of 
Coral Reefs in Two Hawaii Priority Sites

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 April 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Risa Oram, (808) 944-2124 or [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The United States (U.S.) Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) was 
established in 1998 by Executive Order 13089 to lead and coordinate 
U.S. efforts to address the threats facing coral reefs. The Hawaii 
Coral Reef Working Group (CRWG), composed of key state and federal 
partners involved in coral reef management, was established through a 
local charter to provide guidance to the State of Hawaii's coral 
program and to prioritize sites to implement specific ridge-to-reef 
management activities. Priority sites are areas where coral reef 
ecosystems of high biological value are threatened but have strong 
potential for improvement with management intervention. The current two 
priority sites in Hawaii are South Kohala on the Big Island (Pelekane 
Bay-Puako-Anaeho`omalu Bay, Hawai`i) and West Maui (Ka`anapali-
Kahekili, Maui). At both sites, multiple partners are collaborating to 
produce conservation action plans to conserve resources and human uses.
    The Human Dimensions Research Program at NOAA Fisheries Pacific 
Islands Fisheries Science Center is initiating a survey to support 
development of these conservation action plans, including management 
actions in watersheds and in the coral reef ecosystems in the two 
priority sites. The purpose of this survey is to identify resident 
users' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding coral reef and 
watershed conditions and alternative management strategies to protect 
resources at the two priority sites.
    Information from this survey is needed to inform the conservation 
action planning process initiated by the State of Hawaii Department of 
Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Aquatic Resources (HDAR) 
and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) at the South Kohala site and to inform 
conservation and watershed planning being implemented by HDAR, The U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, and other partners at the West Maui site. 
Managers have indicated a more immediate need for information at the 
South Kohala site; therefore, we will conduct the survey there first 
and the survey at West Maui afterwards. The information gained from the 
survey will provide priority site managers with essential information 
about the population of resident users who can both threaten reef 
health and play a key role in stewardship of reef resources. 
Conservation planners will gain information about the threats and 
status of coral reefs from the resident users who interact most with 
those systems, and help managers identify topics for public outreach 
and education. A representative study of resident users' knowledge, 
attitudes, and perceptions will supplement broader public input into 
the conservation planning processes at the sites.

II. Method of Collection

    Data will be collected through an intercept survey of adult 
residents visiting the coastal area included within the boundary of the 
two priority sites. Sampling will be stratified by season (wet/dry); 
day of the week (weekend-holiday/weekday) and time of day (morning/
afternoon/evening) to account for the expected variation in use levels 
by residents. The target sample size is 200 respondents at each site. 
The only wording that would change on the surveys would be interviewer 
introductions to the survey and specifics about the priority site 
boundaries.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 400.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 133.
    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: February 15, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-3992 Filed 2-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P