[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 5061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02166]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Socioeconomics of Guided Whale-Watching Operations in the 
Stellwagon Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-xxxx.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (request for a new information 
collection).
    Number of Respondents: 30.
    Average Hours per Response: One hour and 45 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 53.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for a new information collection to 
benefit natural resource managers in Stellwagen Bank National Marine 
Sanctuary (SBNMS).
    The National Ocean Service (NOS) proposes to collect information 
from wildlife watching operations to ascertain the market value of 
marine wildlife via the ocean recreational industry in the Stellwagen 
Bank/Gulf of Maine region.
    Up-to-date socioeconomic data is needed to support the conservation 
and management goals of SBNMS to strengthen and improve conservation of 
marine wildlife, including whales, pinnipeds, seals, and seabirds 
within the jurisdiction of the sanctuary and to satisfy legal mandates.
    SBNMS is currently in the process of updating the 2010 Management 
Plan, and has identified a lack of baseline socioeconomic information 
on ocean recreation businesses. The type of data targeted for this 
collection has not been updated since 2008 and there are no source so 
information that detail operators' perceptions and attitudes towards 
the industry and sanctuary. Thus, current information on the importance 
of marine wildlife to the local tourism industry and operators is 
required. The primary focus for the survey will be to gather data on 
the non-consumptive, person-days of marine wildlife viewing and 
operators' perceptions and attitudes. Specifically, researchers will 
collect data to help determine the contribution of marine wildlife 
watching operations to the economy in the Stellwagen Bank region. The 
number of person-days of wildlife viewing is necessary to estimate the 
economic value that the industry makes to the region.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: Once.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: January 30, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-02166 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P