81 FR 63492 - Proposed Information Collection; Natural Sounds/Quiet Valuation Survey

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 179 (September 15, 2016)

Page Range		63492-63493
FR Document		2016-22223

We (National Park Service, NPS) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2016. 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.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63492-63493]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22223]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NRSS-NSNSD-21927; PPWONRADN1, PPMRSNR1Y.NS000 (166)]


Proposed Information Collection; Natural Sounds/Quiet Valuation 
Survey

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We (National Park Service, NPS) will ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) 
described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take 
this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire 
on November 30, 2016. 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.

DATES: To ensure that we are able to consider your comments on this IC, 
we must receive them by November 14, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments on this IC to Phadrea Ponds, 
Information Collection Coordinator, National Park Service, 1201 
Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (mail); or [email protected] 
(email). Please reference Information Collection NATSOUNDS in the 
subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Turina, Night Skies and Natural 
Sounds Division, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort 
Collins, Colorado 80525 (mail); [email protected] (email); or (970) 
225-3530 (phone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Under the Organic Act of 1916 (54 U.S.C. 100701), the NPS is 
charged with conserving the scenery, natural and historic objects, and 
wildlife in its units. The acoustical environment or soundscape is a 
fundamental aspect of

[[Page 63493]]

NPS units and critical to visitors' interaction with and interpretation 
of said resources. While the NPS has policies in place to monitor and 
manage acoustical conditions, it does not have information on how 
visitors value preserving natural sounds and/or reducing noise impacts. 
NPS plans to conduct a stated-preference survey of visitors in two park 
units in order to estimate individual values for maintenance or 
improvement of acoustical conditions within a national park setting.
    The purpose of this IC is to continue survey development and pre-
testing activities that were initiated in 2013. This continuation will 
involve a series of focus groups in two NPS units. The intent of the 
focus groups is to refine and test existing survey materials. 
Specifically, previous pre-testing efforts indicated that further 
refinement and testing of stated-preference questions was necessary. 
Best practice guidelines in the conduct of stated-preference studies 
require that survey content, language and instructions be clearly 
understood by respondents so that the results are as accurate and 
reliable as possible.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1024-0269.
    Title: Natural Sounds/Quiet Valuation Survey.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Park visitors; individual and general households.
    Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 80 respondents. This 
collection will involve eight two-hour focus group sessions. We 
estimate that each group will have at most 10 participants.
    Annual Burden Hours: 160 hours; two hours per respondent.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
None.

III. Comments

    We invite comments concerning this information collection on:
     Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 
collection of information;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents.
    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 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 us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

    Dated: September 12, 2016.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-22223 Filed 9-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-EH-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 179 / Thursday, September 15, 2016 / Notices 63493

NPS units and critical to visitors’ Comments that you submit in at (202) 208–2783 or by email to
interaction with and interpretation of response to this notice are a matter of jtrelease@osmre.gov.
said resources. While the NPS has public record. We will include or SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB
policies in place to monitor and manage summarize each comment in our request regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which
acoustical conditions, it does not have to OMB to approve this IC. Before implement provisions of the Paperwork
information on how visitors value including your address, phone number, Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13),
preserving natural sounds and/or email address, or other personal require that interested members of the
reducing noise impacts. NPS plans to identifying information in your public and affected agencies have an
conduct a stated-preference survey of comment, you should be aware that opportunity to comment on information
visitors in two park units in order to your entire comment, including your collection and recordkeeping activities
estimate individual values for personal identifying information, may [see 5 CFR 1320.8 (d)]. This notice
maintenance or improvement of be made publicly available at any time. identifies an information collection that
acoustical conditions within a national While you can ask us in your comment OSMRE will be submitting to OMB for
park setting. to withhold your personal identifying renewal. The collection is contained in
The purpose of this IC is to continue information from public review, we 30 CFR part 774—Revision; Renewal;
survey development and pre-testing cannot guarantee that we will be able to and Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of
activities that were initiated in 2013. do so. Permit Rights.
This continuation will involve a series OSMRE will revise burden estimates,
Dated: September 12, 2016.
of focus groups in two NPS units. The where appropriate, to reflect current
intent of the focus groups is to refine Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, reporting levels or adjustments based on
and test existing survey materials.
National Park Service. reestimates of burden or respondents.
Specifically, previous pre-testing efforts
[FR Doc. 2016–22223 Filed 9–14–16; 8:45 am] OSMRE will request a 3-year term of
indicated that further refinement and
approval for this information collection
testing of stated–preference questions BILLING CODE 4310–EH–P
activity.
was necessary. Best practice guidelines
Comments are invited on: (1) The
in the conduct of stated-preference
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR need for the collection of information
studies require that survey content,
for the performance of the functions of
language and instructions be clearly
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation the agency; (2) the accuracy of the
understood by respondents so that the
results are as accurate and reliable as and Enforcement agency’s burden estimates; (3) ways to
possible. enhance the quality, utility and clarity
[S1D1S SS08011000 SX066A0067F of the information collection; and (4)
II. Data 167S180110; S2D2D SS08011000 SX066A00 ways to minimize the information
OMB Control Number: 1024–0269. 33F 16XS501520] collection burden on respondents, such
Title: Natural Sounds/Quiet Valuation as use of automated means of collection
Survey. Notice of Proposed Information of the information. A summary of the
Type of Request: Renewal of a Collection; Request for Comments for public comments will be included in
currently approved collection. 1029–0116 OSMRE’s submission of the information
Affected Public: Park visitors; collection request to OMB.
AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining
individual and general households. Before including your address, phone
Respondent Obligation: Voluntary. Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
number, email address, or other
Frequency of Collection: One time. ACTION: Notice and request for personal identifying information in your
Estimated Number of Annual comments. comment, you should be aware that
Responses: 80 respondents. This your entire comment—including your
collection will involve eight two-hour SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the personal identifying information—may
focus group sessions. We estimate that be made publicly available at any time.
each group will have at most 10 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement (OSMRE) is While you can ask us in your comment
participants. to withhold your personal identifying
Annual Burden Hours: 160 hours; two announcing its intention to request
renewed approval from the Office of information from public review, we
hours per respondent. cannot guarantee that we will be able to
Estimated Reporting and Management and Budget (OMB) to
continue the collection of information do so.
Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’
for the Revisions; Renewals; and This notice provides the public with
Burden: None.
Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit 60 days in which to comment on the
III. Comments Rights. following information collection
We invite comments concerning this activity:
DATES: Comments on the proposed
information collection on: Title: 30 CFR part 774—Revisions;
information collection must be received Renewals; and Transfer, Assignment, or
• Whether or not the collection of by November 14, 2016, to be assured of
information is necessary, including Sale of Permit Rights.
consideration. OMB Control Number: 1029–0116.
whether or not the information will
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Summary: Sections 506 and 511 of
have practical utility;
• The accuracy of our estimate of the John Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Public Law 95–87 provide that persons
Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 seeking permit revisions; renewals; or
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

burden for this collection of
information; Constitution Ave. NW., Room 203–SIB, transfer, assignment, or sale of their
• Ways to enhance the quality, utility, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may permit rights for coal mining activities
and clarity of the information to be also be submitted electronically to submit relevant information to the
collected; and jtrelease@osmre.gov. regulatory authority to allow the
• Ways to minimize the burden of the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To regulatory authority to determine
collection of information on receive a copy of the information whether the applicant meets the
respondents. collection request contact John Trelease, requirements for the action anticipated.

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Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:18:23
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:18:23

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		Notice; request for comments.
Dates		To ensure that we are able to consider your comments on this IC, we must receive them by November 14, 2016.
Contact		Frank Turina, Night Skies and Natural Sounds Division, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 (mail); [email protected] (email); or (970) 225-3530 (phone).
FR Citation		81 FR 63492

81 FR 63492 - Proposed Information Collection; Natural Sounds/Quiet Valuation Survey

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIORNational Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 179 (September 15, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
National Park Service