80 FR 41056 - Proposed Information Collection: Surveys and Focus Groups To Support Outcomes-Focused Management

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 134 (July 14, 2015)

Page Range		41056-41057
FR Document		2015-17231

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a collection of information to support recreation planning and management on public lands. The respondents will be recreationists visiting BLM-managed areas and members of communities near BLM-managed areas. The BLM invites public comments on this proposed collection. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41056-41057]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17231]

[[Page 41056]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM EQD SSB-LLWO250000.L12200000.PM0000]

Proposed Information Collection: Surveys and Focus Groups To
Support Outcomes-Focused Management

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: 60-day notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) will ask the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) to approve a collection of information to support recreation
planning and management on public lands. The respondents will be
recreationists visiting BLM-managed areas and members of communities
near BLM-managed areas. The BLM invites public comments on this
proposed collection. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: Please submit comments on the proposed information collection by
September 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, fax, or electronic mail.
Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management,
1849 C Street NW., Room 2134LM, Attention: Anna Atkinson, Washington,
DC 20240.
Fax: to Anna Atkinson at 202-245-0050.
Electronic mail: amatkinson@blm.gov.
Please indicate ``Attn: 1004-XXXX'' regardless of the form of your
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Peter J. Fix, University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Department of Natural Resources Management, Fairbanks, AK
99775-7200; email: pjfix@alaska.edu; or phone: 907-474-6926.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The BLM's recently issued planning and management guidelines for
outdoor recreation in Handbook 8320-1 require managers to consider
recreational visitors' and local community members' perspectives on the
preferred characteristics of the resource area (e.g., the type and
amount of facilities/development, the number of other visitors present,
etc.), the desired recreational experience, and longer-term benefits
that might be realized. Information on these topics would assist with
the development of a Land Use Plan (LUP) and monitor implementation of
that LUP. The BLM proposes to collect information regarding these
topics from two populations, recreational visitors and local community
members, utilizing both surveys and focus groups.
For the surveys, the BLM would ask onsite, randomly selected
recreational visitors 10 questions related to specific areas visited,
activity participation, and basic demographics. After completion of
those questions, the BLM would ask if they are interested in
participating in a more in-depth mailback or internet survey. The
mailback/internet survey would ask approximately 25 detailed questions
about the trip, including: specific areas and attractions visited,
activity participation, reasons for visiting and expected outcomes,
evaluation of their visit, preferences for management of the area.
Demographic questions would also be included. A reminder postcard/email
will be sent after one week and a second survey will be sent to those
who did not respond after two weeks. Surveys would be conducted at no
more than 108 field offices.
As a random sample is not the goal of the focus groups,
participants would be solicited through a variety of methods including
agency lists of key stakeholder groups; outreach to BLM partners; BLM
field office Web sites; flyers at visitor centers, information kiosks,
BLM offices, public spaces of gateway communities, and local hotels and
restaurants; and local newspaper articles. During the focus group, the
BLM staff would lead participants through a series of topics regarding
how often participants visit the site in question, what makes the site
special to them/the local community, reasons for visiting, desired
outcomes from the site, perceived positive/negative changes to the
site, and the participants' thoughts on partnerships and management.
Questions asked of participants would include a mix of open-ended and
fixed-choice responses. Answers will be recorded by electronic clickers
and/or paper forms. The BLM field offices would be selected to
administer a visitor survey based on one of two conditions: (1) A
forthcoming Land Use Plan (LUP) in which Special Recreation Management
Areas (SRMA) might be considered (e.g., high visitation, unique
recreation opportunities, and unique natural features); or (2) a
recently completed LUP in which SRMAs were designated. Gateway
communities selected for focus groups would be those near a BLM field
office with a forthcoming or recently completed LUP in which SRMAs will
be considered or have been designated. The BLM would conduct a maximum
of 648 focus groups over a 3-year period within the 12 states in which
the BLM manages public lands.
The information gathered would be used to:
(1) Identify onsite experiences and longer-term outcomes desired/
attained by visitors, local residents, and other relevant local
stakeholders (e.g., improved health, improved family bonding, economic
diversity).
(2) Determine the field office's ability to respond to identified
recreational issues and opportunities and understand the relationships
among desirable/attained outcomes, activities, setting characteristics,
and service delivery systems (within BLM-administered and other public
lands as well as those provided by local communities) which those
outcomes and activities depend on.
(3) Develop LUPs that ensure visitor services and facilities are
appropriate to provide desired experiences, settings and longer-term
outcomes.
(4) Monitor progress towards meeting SRMA objectives put forth in
the LUP.
(5) Prepare and maintain a continuing inventory of outdoor
recreation values, kept current so as to reflect changing conditions
and identify new and emerging values.

II. Data

OMB Control Number: This is a new collection; 1004-XXXX.
Title: Surveys and Focus Groups to Support Outcomes-Focused
Management.
Affected Public: Visitors to BLM resource areas, residents and
other relevant stakeholders (e.g., representatives of the business
community, local government, etc.) of communities near BLM resource
areas.
Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Annually, no more than 36 BLM field
offices would be surveyed (32 would be pre-LUP inventory/needs
assessment surveys and 4 would be post-LUP monitoring surveys) and no
more than 216 focus groups would be conducted.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: pre-LUP inventory/needs
assessment visitor surveys: 12,800; post-LUP monitoring visitor
surveys: 1,600; focus groups: 5,400
Annual Burden Hours: We estimate the public reporting burden to be
approximately 30 minutes per completed inventory/needs assessment
visitor survey, 10 minutes per

[[Page 41057]]

monitoring survey, and 90 minutes per focus group meeting participant.
Total annual burden hours: 14,772.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. B. C. D.
Type of response Number of Time per Total hours
responses response (Col. B x Col.
(minutes) C/60 min)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-RMP, onsite contact......................................... 20729 0.5 173
Pre-RMP, onsite survey (95% of above)........................... 19692 5 1641
Pre-RMP follow-up contacts (100% of above)...................... 19692 1 328
Pre-RMP follow-up completion of survey (65% of above)........... 12800 20 4267
-----------------------------------------------
Total for Pre-RMP........................................... .............. .............. 6409
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. B. C. D.
Type of response Number of Time per Total hours
responses response (Col. B x Col.
(minutes) C/60 min)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-RMP, onsite contact........................................ 2591 0.5 22
Post-RMP, onsite survey (95% of above).......................... 2462 1 41
Post-RMP follow-up contacts (100% of above)..................... 2462 1 41
Post-RMP follow-up completion of survey (65% of above).......... 1600 6 160
-----------------------------------------------
Total for Post-RMP.......................................... .............. .............. 264
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden:
There are no identified ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this
collection of information.

III. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (1) The practical utility of the
information being gathered; (2) the accuracy of the burden hour
estimate; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on respondents, including use of automated
information techniques or other forms of information technology.
Please note that the comments submitted 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 IC. 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 BLM in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying information from public review,
we cannot guarantee that it will be done.

Anna Atkinson,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Officer
(Acting).
[FR Doc. 2015-17231 Filed 7-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P

41056 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 2015 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR benefits that might be realized. near a BLM field office with a
Information on these topics would assist forthcoming or recently completed LUP
Bureau of Land Management with the development of a Land Use in which SRMAs will be considered or
[BLM EQD SSB– Plan (LUP) and monitor implementation have been designated. The BLM would
LLWO250000.L12200000.PM0000] of that LUP. The BLM proposes to conduct a maximum of 648 focus groups
collect information regarding these over a 3-year period within the 12 states
Proposed Information Collection: topics from two populations, in which the BLM manages public
Surveys and Focus Groups To Support recreational visitors and local lands.
Outcomes-Focused Management community members, utilizing both The information gathered would be
surveys and focus groups. used to:
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, For the surveys, the BLM would ask (1) Identify onsite experiences and
Interior. onsite, randomly selected recreational longer-term outcomes desired/attained
ACTION: 60-day notice and request for visitors 10 questions related to specific by visitors, local residents, and other
comments. areas visited, activity participation, and relevant local stakeholders (e.g.,
basic demographics. After completion of improved health, improved family
SUMMARY: In compliance with the those questions, the BLM would ask if bonding, economic diversity).
Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of they are interested in participating in a (2) Determine the field office’s ability
Land Management (BLM) will ask the more in-depth mailback or internet to respond to identified recreational
Office of Management and Budget survey. The mailback/internet survey issues and opportunities and
(OMB) to approve a collection of would ask approximately 25 detailed understand the relationships among
information to support recreation questions about the trip, including: desirable/attained outcomes, activities,
planning and management on public specific areas and attractions visited, setting characteristics, and service
lands. The respondents will be activity participation, reasons for delivery systems (within BLM-
recreationists visiting BLM-managed visiting and expected outcomes, administered and other public lands as
areas and members of communities near evaluation of their visit, preferences for well as those provided by local
BLM-managed areas. The BLM invites management of the area. Demographic communities) which those outcomes
public comments on this proposed questions would also be included. A and activities depend on.
collection. A Federal agency may not reminder postcard/email will be sent (3) Develop LUPs that ensure visitor
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not after one week and a second survey will services and facilities are appropriate to
required to respond to, a collection of be sent to those who did not respond provide desired experiences, settings
information unless it displays a after two weeks. Surveys would be and longer-term outcomes.
currently valid OMB control number. conducted at no more than 108 field (4) Monitor progress towards meeting
DATES: Please submit comments on the offices. SRMA objectives put forth in the LUP.
proposed information collection by As a random sample is not the goal of (5) Prepare and maintain a continuing
September 14, 2015. the focus groups, participants would be inventory of outdoor recreation values,
ADDRESSES: Comments may be solicited through a variety of methods kept current so as to reflect changing
submitted by mail, fax, or electronic including agency lists of key conditions and identify new and
mail. stakeholder groups; outreach to BLM emerging values.
Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, partners; BLM field office Web sites;
flyers at visitor centers, information II. Data
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C
Street NW., Room 2134LM, Attention: kiosks, BLM offices, public spaces of OMB Control Number: This is a new
Anna Atkinson, Washington, DC 20240. gateway communities, and local hotels collection; 1004–XXXX.
Fax: to Anna Atkinson at 202–245– and restaurants; and local newspaper Title: Surveys and Focus Groups to
0050. articles. During the focus group, the Support Outcomes-Focused
Electronic mail: amatkinson@blm.gov. BLM staff would lead participants Management.
Please indicate ‘‘Attn: 1004–XXXX’’ through a series of topics regarding how Affected Public: Visitors to BLM
regardless of the form of your often participants visit the site in resource areas, residents and other
comments. question, what makes the site special to relevant stakeholders (e.g.,
them/the local community, reasons for representatives of the business
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. visiting, desired outcomes from the site, community, local government, etc.) of
Peter J. Fix, University of Alaska perceived positive/negative changes to communities near BLM resource areas.
Fairbanks, Department of Natural the site, and the participants’ thoughts Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
Resources Management, Fairbanks, AK on partnerships and management. Frequency of Collection: Annually, no
99775–7200; email: pjfix@alaska.edu; or Questions asked of participants would more than 36 BLM field offices would
phone: 907–474–6926. include a mix of open-ended and fixed- be surveyed (32 would be pre-LUP
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: choice responses. Answers will be inventory/needs assessment surveys and
recorded by electronic clickers and/or 4 would be post-LUP monitoring
I. Abstract
paper forms. The BLM field offices surveys) and no more than 216 focus
The BLM’s recently issued planning would be selected to administer a visitor groups would be conducted.
and management guidelines for outdoor survey based on one of two conditions: Estimated Number of Annual
recreation in Handbook 8320–1 require (1) A forthcoming Land Use Plan (LUP) Responses: pre-LUP inventory/needs
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

managers to consider recreational in which Special Recreation assessment visitor surveys: 12,800; post-
visitors’ and local community members’ Management Areas (SRMA) might be LUP monitoring visitor surveys: 1,600;
perspectives on the preferred considered (e.g., high visitation, unique focus groups: 5,400
characteristics of the resource area (e.g., recreation opportunities, and unique Annual Burden Hours: We estimate
the type and amount of facilities/ natural features); or (2) a recently the public reporting burden to be
development, the number of other completed LUP in which SRMAs were approximately 30 minutes per
visitors present, etc.), the desired designated. Gateway communities completed inventory/needs assessment
recreational experience, and longer-term selected for focus groups would be those visitor survey, 10 minutes per

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 2015 / Notices 41057

monitoring survey, and 90 minutes per focus group meeting participant. Total
annual burden hours: 14,772.

A. B. C. D.

Type of response Number of Time per Total hours
responses response (Col. B × Col.
(minutes) C/60 min)

Pre-RMP, onsite contact .............................................................................................................. 20729 0.5 173
Pre-RMP, onsite survey (95% of above) ..................................................................................... 19692 5 1641
Pre-RMP follow-up contacts (100% of above) ............................................................................ 19692 1 328
Pre-RMP follow-up completion of survey (65% of above) .......................................................... 12800 20 4267

Total for Pre-RMP ................................................................................................................ ........................ ........................ 6409

A. B. C. D.

Type of response Number of Time per Total hours
responses response (Col. B × Col.
(minutes) C/60 min)

Post-RMP, onsite contact ............................................................................................................ 2591 0.5 22
Post-RMP, onsite survey (95% of above) ................................................................................... 2462 1 41
Post-RMP follow-up contacts (100% of above) .......................................................................... 2462 1 41
Post-RMP follow-up completion of survey (65% of above) ........................................................ 1600 6 160

Total for Post-RMP ............................................................................................................... ........................ ........................ 264

A. B. C. D.

Type of response Number of Time per Total hours
responses response (Col. B × Col.
(minutes) C/60 min)

Focus group ................................................................................................................................. 5400 90 8100

Estimated Reporting and review, we cannot guarantee that it will number 1004–0185 to this information
Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’ be done. collection.
Burden: There are no identified ‘‘non- DATES: Submit comments on the
Anna Atkinson,
hour cost’’ burdens associated with this proposed information collection by
collection of information. Bureau of Land Management, Information
Collection Clearance Officer (Acting). September 14, 2015.
III. Request for Comments [FR Doc. 2015–17231 Filed 7–13–15; 8:45 am] ADDRESSES: Comments may be
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
submitted by mail, fax, or electronic
Comments are invited on: (1) The mail.
practical utility of the information being Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior,
gathered; (2) the accuracy of the burden DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C
hour estimate; (3) ways to enhance the Street NW., Room 2134LM, Attention:
quality, utility, and clarity of the Bureau of Land Management Jean Sonneman, Washington, DC 20240.
information to be collected; and (4) Fax: to Anna Atkinson at 202–245–
ways to minimize the burden of the [LL WO31000.L13100000.PB0000.15X] 0050.
collection of information on Electronic mail: amatkinson@blm.gov.
respondents, including use of Renewal of Approved Information Please indicate ‘‘Attn: 1004–0185’’
automated information techniques or Collection; OMB Control No. 1004– regardless of the form of your
other forms of information technology. 0185 comments.
Please note that the comments AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
submitted in response to this notice are Interior. Jennifer Spencer, Division of Fluid
a matter of public record. We will ACTION: 60-day notice and request for Minerals, at 202–912–7146. Persons
include or summarize each comment in comments. who use a telecommunication device for
our request to OMB to approve this IC. the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Before including your address, phone SUMMARY: In accordance with the Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
number, email address, or other Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of 1–800–877–8339, to leave a message for
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

personal identifying information in your Land Management (BLM) invites public Ms. Spencer.
comment, you should be aware that comments on, and plans to request SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB
your entire comment, including your approval to continue, the collection of regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which
personal identifying information, may information pertaining to Federal and implement provisions of the Paperwork
be made publicly available at any time. Indian oil and gas leasing and drainage Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3521,
While you can ask BLM in your protection (except on the Osage require that interested members of the
comment to withhold your personal Reservation). The Office of Management public and affected agencies be given an
identifying information from public and Budget (OMB) has assigned control opportunity to comment on information

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Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:19:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:19:49

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		60-day notice and request for comments.
Dates		Please submit comments on the proposed information collection by September 14, 2015.
Contact		Dr. Peter J. Fix, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Natural Resources Management, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7200; email: [email protected]; or phone: 907-474-6926.
FR Citation		80 FR 41056

80 FR 41056 - Proposed Information Collection: Surveys and Focus Groups To Support Outcomes-Focused Management

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 134 (July 14, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management