[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61097-61098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16757]


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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; Marine Recreational Fishing Expenditure Survey

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 September 30, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0693 in the subject line of your 
comments. All comments received are part of the public record and will 
generally be posted on https://www.regulations.gov without change. 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 Sabrina Lovell, Economist, Office of Science and Technology, NMFS, 
1315 East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel: (301) 427-8153 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for revision and extension of an approved 
information collection.
    As specified in the Magnuson-Stevenson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act of 1996 (and reauthorized in 2007), NMFS is required to 
enumerate the economic impacts of the policies it implements on fishing 
participants and coastal communities. The objective of the survey is to 
collect information on marine (saltwater) recreational fishing trip 
expenditures and durable good expenditures made by marine recreational 
anglers. The survey has two parts which may be conducted either jointly 
during the same calendar year or in separate years. The trip 
expenditure portion will ask anglers about the expenses incurred on 
their most recent marine recreational fishing trip. The durable goods 
portion will ask anglers about their purchases of durable goods such as 
fishing gear, boats, vehicles, and second homes over a 12 month period. 
The expenditure data collected in this regular survey is widely used by 
both federal, state, and non-governmental organizations for research 
and analysis regarding the economic importance and contributions of 
marine recreational fishing to each coastal state and nationwide. The

[[Page 61098]]

program office would like to make minor changes to a few of the 
questions on the survey. These changes will not affect the integrity or 
overall purpose of said survey. The NMFS Office of Science and 
Technology conducts the survey and publishes the results in both 
technical reports and the annual `Fisheries Economics of the U.S.' 
report series.

II. Method of Collection

    The trip expenditure portion of the survey may be conducted using 
in-person interviews at fishing sites or using email or mail 
invitations to an online web survey (with a paper version of the survey 
for anglers without internet access). The durable goods expenditure 
portion will use email or mail invitations to an online web survey 
(with a paper version of the survey for anglers without internet 
access).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0693.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension and revision of a 
current information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 86,650: 13,350 for durable goods 
expenditure survey; 73,300 for trip expenditure survey.
    Estimated Time per Response: Durable goods expenditure survey, 15 
minutes; trip expenditure survey 5 minutes (intercept); 8 minutes 
(web); 15 minutes (Hawaii trip/durable combination).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,289
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in record keeping and 
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevenson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act of 1996 (and reauthorized in 2007).

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. 2024-16757 Filed 7-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P