Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request: Socioeconomics of Maritime Heritage Divers in National Marine Sanctuaries and Proposed Sanctuaries, 27694-27695 [2017-12567]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 115 (Friday, June 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27694-27695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12567]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request: Socioeconomics 
of Maritime Heritage Divers in National Marine Sanctuaries and Proposed 
Sanctuaries

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 15, 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 pracomments@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Dr. Danielle Schwarzmann 240-533-0705 or 
danielle.schwarzmann@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection to benefit 
resource managers in sanctuaries and proposed sanctuaries (minimum of 
two sites) that protect marine heritage resources. Maritime heritage 
preserves and protects valuable historical, cultural and archaeological 
resources within coastal, marine and Great Lake environments. Maritime 
heritage resources include prehistoric sites, shipwrecks and naval 
battlefields. The National Ocean Service (NOS) proposes to collect 
information from passengers aboard dive and SCUBA operations to 
ascertain the operator knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards the 
sanctuary or proposed sanctuary and the number of person-days of diving 
in the sanctuary/proposed sanctuary and the larger region at a minimum 
of two sites.
    Up-to-date socioeconomic data is needed to support the conservation 
and management goals of marine heritage resources and to satisfy legal 
mandates under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et 
seq.), Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). National Environmental Policy 
Act (42 U.S.C. 4321), Executive Order 12866 (E.O. 12866), and other 
pertinent statutes.
    The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) has a data gap in 
the economic value of maritime heritage resources. The information is 
about person-days and economic value of diving on maritime heritage 
sites is not available to assess the possible economic benefits of 
maritime heritage protection to the local economy, or the potential 
impact on marine and Great Lakes recreation businesses. The type of 
data targeted for this collection; that is, information on 
expenditures, main purpose for their trip, knowledge, attitudes and 
perceptions of divers towards maritime heritage resources and the 
sanctuary/proposed sanctuary. Thus, current economic information on the 
importance of dive and SCUBA operations to the local tourism industry 
is required. The primary focus for the survey will be to gather data on 
the non-consumptive, market value of diving on maritime heritage 
resources. Specifically, researchers will collect data to determine the 
contribution of divers to the economy of marine heritage resources in 
sanctuaries and proposed sanctuaries.

II. Method of Collection

    On-site interviews will be completed. Sanctuary staff or 
representatives will contact each dive operation and survey passengers 
aboard the dive boats at the end of their trip. An on-site survey will 
be supplemented by either mailback follow-up surveys or on-line surveys 
for data like expenditures and importance-satisfaction ratings that 
cannot be done face-to-face.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (request for a new information 
collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15-20 minutes on-site plus 15-20 
minutes for expenditure survey (mail or on-line) and 10 minutes for an 
importance-satisfaction (mail or on-line). At most, this will be 50 
minutes per completed survey (includes the three modules)
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: Other than burden hours 
there will be no cost to the public.

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

[[Page 27695]]

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 13, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-12567 Filed 6-15-17; 8:45 am]
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