[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53064-53065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13383]


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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; Evaluation of Public Visitors' Experience at the National 
Marine Sanctuaries Visitor Centers and Exhibits

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 August 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 0648-0582 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. Giselle Samonte, Economist, NOAA Office of National Marine 
Sanctuaries, 1305 East West Highway, SSMC4, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910; (301) 427-8606 or email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is requesting 
revision and extension of a currently approved information collection. 
The evaluation of visitor demographics, experiences, and opinions about 
visitor centers and exhibits is needed to support the conservation, 
education, and management goals of ONMS to strengthen and improve the

[[Page 53065]]

stewardship, sustainable use, and protection of natural, cultural, and 
historical resources. Under the jurisdiction of ONMS and to satisfy 
legal mandates, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) is authorized to conduct evaluations, such as this information 
collection, under section 314(c) of the American Innovation and 
Competitiveness Act to ensure education programs have measurable 
objectives and milestones as well as clear, documented metrics for 
evaluating its programs.
    For example, the Mokup[amacr]papa Discovery Center (Center) is an 
outreach arm of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument 
that reaches more than 75,000 people each year in Hilo, Hawai`i. The 
Center was created almost two decades ago to help raise support for the 
creation of a national marine sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands. Since that time, the area has been proclaimed a marine 
national monument and the main messages we are trying to share with the 
public have changed to better reflect the new monument status, UNESCO 
World Heritage status, and the joint management by the three co-
trustees of the monument.
    ONMS recently updated its Strategic Plan and has identified a lack 
of information on the effectiveness of its education, outreach, and 
communications initiatives as they relate to sanctuary/monument visitor 
centers, exhibits (permanent or traveling/temporary), kiosks, and 
educational programming conducted by its visitor centers and partner 
facilities.
    We therefore are conducting an optional exit survey to determine if 
people visiting ONMS' visitor centers and exhibits are receiving our 
new messages. ONMS is requesting to conduct a survey to evaluate patron 
acuity to determine successful concept attainment. Conducting thorough 
evaluations will aid in vital decisions regarding exhibit renovation, 
new exhibits, interpretation programs, and educational content.

II. Method of Collection

    Information collection is voluntary via completion of an ONMS 
Visitor Center and Exhibit Survey provided at the ONMS and Partner 
Outreach Facilities.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0582.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (extension of current information 
collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,750.
    Estimated Time per Response: Center Survey: 8 minutes; Visitor and 
Exhibit Survey: 12 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,734.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: National Marine Sanctuary Act.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit ONMS to: (a) Evaluate 
whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper 
functions of the Department of Commerce, 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 information collection request. Before including 
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, please 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 Undersecretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-13383 Filed 6-24-24; 8:45 am]
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