82 FR 28048 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Economic Value of Whale Watching in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 117 (June 20, 2017)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28048-28049]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12777]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Economic Value 
of Whale Watching in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

[[Page 28049]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Dr. Danielle Schwarzmann 240-533-0706 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection.
    NOAA is conducting research to estimate the market and non-market 
economic values associated with whale watching in Stellwagen Bank 
National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) and the surrounding region.
    The required information is to conduct surveys of the for hire-
operations that take people out for non-consumptive recreation to watch 
whales or other wildlife, to obtain total use by type of activity (e.g. 
whale watching, and other wildlife observation) and the spatial use by 
type of activity. Information will also be obtained on the knowledge, 
attitudes, and perceptions of for-hire operations towards the 
sanctuary, sanctuary resources and sanctuary processes.
    Surveys will also be conducted of the passengers of the for-hire 
operation boats to obtain their market and non-market economic use 
values for whales and other wildlife. Information collected from 
passengers will include their expenditures, number of trips, activities 
while visiting the sanctuary and non-market value for improvements to 
whales and other sanctuary resources. An on-site survey will obtain 
information on demographic profiles, annual number of whale watching 
trips in SBNMS, and their non-market economic use value for 
improvements to whales and sanctuary resources. Self-addressed, postage 
paid mail back questionnaires will be used for importance-satisfaction 
ratings and whale watching trip expenditures.

II. Method of Collection

    The data from the operators will be collected by scheduling 
appointments to meet with the owner and conduct the survey in-person. 
For the passengers, surveys will be conducted at the docks after the 
completion of their whale watching trip and via mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (new information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; businesses or other 
for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000 passengers on-site, 600 for 
importance-satisfaction mail back and 450 for the expenditure mailback; 
40 owners of whale watching operations.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 minutes per on-site interview of 
passengers, 20 minutes per importance-satisfaction mail back and 20 
minutes for the expenditure mail back. One hour per owner of whale 
watching operations.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 723.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 15, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-12777 Filed 6-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P