[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89407-89408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28504]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Resident Perceptions of Offshore Wind Energy Development Off 
the Oregon Coast and Along the Gulf of Mexico

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before February 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0744 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Dr. Theresa L Goedeke, Supervisory Social Scientist, 1305 East-West 
Hwy., SSMC 4, Silver Spring, MD 2091, Email: [email protected], 
Ph: (240) 653-9143.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for revision to an existing information 
collection. Pursuant to E.O. 14057 (Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean 
Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability), the Outer 
Continental Shelf Land Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and 
the Coastal Zone Management Act, the requested revision will expand the 
existing data collection, which is currently focused on coastal Oregon, 
by adding a new geographical location, specifically, coastal Texas and 
Louisiana along the Gulf of Mexico.
    The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) held its first leasing 
auction for the Gulf of Mexico in August 2023. BOEM finalized four Wind 
Energy Areas (WEAs) in the Gulf of Mexico in October 2023. Outside of 
official public engagement forums, preferences about offshore wind 
energy development generally remain unknown for members of the public, 
as well as for groups who may not perceive themselves as stakeholders. 
Failure to gain the perspective of communities regarding potential 
benefits or impacts is problematic, particularly when latent 
stakeholders to local projects emerge late in the planning process.
    The National Ocean Service (NOS) proposes to expand collection of 
data on the opinions, values, and attitudes relative to offshore wind 
energy development to coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana along 
the Gulf of Mexico in addition to coastal Oregon. Respondents (age 18 
years and older) will be randomly sampled from households in 39 coastal 
counties in Texas and Louisiana. This information will be used by NOAA, 
BOEM, and others to understand what is important to communities; 
understand how differing values and perceptions across communities 
influence local receptivity to proposed development; and improve 
communication efforts targeted to residents, enabling agencies to more 
effectively and efficiently direct outreach and community inclusion 
activities. NOAA has a vested interest in offshore wind energy 
development, from many perspectives, including as it relates to the 
resilience, well-being, and sustainability of coastal communities.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected with a combination of mail 
recruitment with push-to-web and mail-back survey instruments.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0744.

[[Page 89408]]

    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission. Revision of a currently 
approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,665.
    Estimated Time per Response: Focus groups: 1 hour; Questionnaire: 
20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,286.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: NOAA's Programmatic Authority--Integrated Coastal 
and Ocean Observation System Act (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.); BOEM's 
Programmatic Authority--Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1346).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    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 may 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-28504 Filed 12-26-23; 8:45 am]
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