Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Regional Economic Data Collection Program for Gulf Coast Alaska, 71135 [E6-20802]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 71135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20802]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Regional 
Economic Data Collection Program for Gulf Coast Alaska

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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 February 6, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Chang Seung, (206) 526-4250 or Chang.Seung@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The regional or community economic analysis of proposed fishery 
management policies is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA), National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), and Executive Order 12866, among others. To satisfy these 
mandates and inform policymakers and the public of the likely regional 
economic impacts associated with fishery management policies, 
appropriate economic models and the data to implement these models are 
needed.
    Much of the data required for regional economic analysis associated 
with Gulf Coast Alaska fisheries are either unavailable or unreliable. 
The accurate fishery-level data on employment, labor income, and 
expenditures in the Gulf Coast Alaska fishery and related industries 
are not currently available but are needed to estimate the effects of 
fisheries on the economy of Gulf Coast Alaska. In this survey effort, 
data on these important regional economic variables will be collected 
and used to develop models that will provide more reliable estimates 
and significantly improve policy-makers' ability to assess policy 
effects on fishery-dependent communities in Gulf Coast Alaska. The 
survey will be a one-time survey.
    Mail surveys will be used to collect data on employment and labor 
income from a random sample of 530 vessel owners whose boats delivered 
fish to Gulf Coast Alaska processors. In-person interviews and 
telephone calls (130) with businesses involved in the fishery and 
related industries will be used to obtain (a) Vessel expenditure/cost 
data; (b) regional economic data for non-fishery industries; and (c) 
regional economic data for the fish processing sector.

II. Method of Collection

    Mail surveys, in-person interviews, and telephone surveys will be 
used as described above.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 660.
    Estimated Time per Response: Mail survey: 10 minutes; phone call or 
local interview with fish processors: 30 minutes; phone calls with 
local small businesses: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 132 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: December 4. 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-20802 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P