[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48244-48245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18513]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NRSS-NPS0031626; PPWONRADE3, PPMRSNR1Y.NM0000 (211); OMB 
Control Number 1024-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Socioeconomic 
Monitoring Study of National Park Service Visitors

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we, the 
National Park Service (NPS), are proposing a new information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to Phadrea Ponds, NPS Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525; or by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Control Number 1024-NEW (SEM) in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Bret Meldrum by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at 970-267-7295. Individuals who are hearing or speech 
impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY 
assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections 
require approval under the PRA. We may not conduct or sponsor and you 
are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This 
helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements 
and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also

[[Page 48245]]

helps the public understand our information collection requirements and 
provide the requested data in the desired format.
    We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility.
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response).
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email 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 us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The NPS Social Science Program (SSP) is authorized by 54 
U.S.C. 100701 to collect information that will improve the ability of 
the NPS to provide state-of the-art management, protection, and 
interpretation of, and research on, the resources of the System. 
However, the data currently available from survey research is 
insufficient for generalizing findings across all national park units 
in the System with regards to visitor experiences, attitudes, and 
spending behaviors. Past and present socioeconomic research in NPS 
units do not allow for comparison across units or against a regional 
and nationwide benchmark of information. Without this data, local, 
regional, and national-level NPS managers lack a comprehensive 
understanding of visitor demographics, economic contribution, and 
visitation related experiences in park units needed to to monitor how 
well the System is serving the public.
    In 2016, the NPS SSP conducted a pilot study in 14 NPS units to 
identify and better understand the need for more advanced socioeconomic 
monitoring. The pilot study produced and verified a study design that 
will allow SSP to fully implement a Socioeconomic Monitoring Study 
(SEM). Building on the findings from the pilot study, the SEM will 
collect information from visitors in up to 30 National Park units 
annually to provide generalizable results for NPS managers and planners 
across the System to understand and monitor: visitor demographics, 
economic contribution, services, facilities and infrastructure 
investments. Individual park units will be able to compare their unit 
with regional and national-level data to make informed decisions in 
future planning and management efforts.
    Title of Collection: Socioeconomic Monitoring Study of National 
Park Service Visitors.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-NEW.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: General Public; any person visiting a 
national park during a sampling period.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 50,320. (37,000 on-
site surveys and 13,320 mail back surveys).
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: On-site Survey: 5 minutes; 
Mail back Survey: 15 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 6,413.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor nor is a person is required to 
respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Phadrea Ponds,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18513 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P