[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11346-11347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03433]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Economic 
Impacts of Marine Debris on Tourism-dependent Communities

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 24, 2017.

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 Amy V. Uhrin, Chief Scientist, NOS Office of Response 
and Restoration, Marine Debris Division, N/ORR, SSMC4, Rm. 10240, 1305 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (240)-533-0426, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 11347]]

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection.
    The National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, 
Marine Debris Program is sponsoring this data collection. The Marine 
Debris Program was created under the 2006 ``Marine Debris Research, 
Prevention, and Reduction Act'' (33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.) which was 
reauthorized in 2012 as the ``Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012'' 
(H.R. 1171) as part of the Coast Guard Maritime Transportation Act 
(H.R. 2838). Among other activities, the bill requires NOAA ``. . . to 
address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the United States 
economy . . .'' To that aim, the proposed data collection will support 
the goals of a larger study whose purpose is to develop a regional 
economic model to estimate the value to local economies of increased 
spending on recreation and tourism from the reduction or elimination of 
marine debris on beaches in seven coastal communities of the 
continental U.S. The data collection will consist of on-site sampling 
to generate a pool of respondents who will be sent a mail survey that 
asks questions related to beach attributes, local beach familiarity, 
number of beach trips taken, and ratings of marine debris encountered 
while on these trips. Onsite sampling will involve intercepting people 
at several beaches in each study area and asking them to participate in 
a mail survey. For those willing to take the mail survey, a brief 
onsite interview will ask the respondent's name and mailing address, as 
well as several demographic questions such as age and education. Those 
who do not agree to participate in the mail survey will only be asked 
the demographic questions, whether they participated in a single or 
multi-day trip, and zip code. A mail-survey mode will be used for the 
follow-up questionnaire. The mail survey instrument will combine a 
selection of questions from a previously OMB-approved survey instrument 
used in Orange County, California with new contingent behavior 
questions developed specifically for this study to determine the impact 
of the presence of marine debris on respondents' recreation choices. 
This data collection will determine the impact of marine debris on 
survey respondents' recreation choices at these seven coastal 
communities and represents the first component to be undertaken as part 
of the larger study.

II. Method of Collection

    People will be approached at several beaches in each study area and 
asked to participate in a mail survey.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-xxxx.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (request for a new information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1600.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 minutes for site intercept, 10 
minutes for mail survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 729 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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 16, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-03433 Filed 2-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P