MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-NEW, Study of Sharing To Assess Community Resilience, New Collection; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request, 33324-33325 [2010-14122]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Minerals Management Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33324-33325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14122]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2010-OMM-0001]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010--NEW, Study of Sharing 
To Assess Community Resilience, New Collection; Submitted for Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a new information collection (1010--NEW).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information 
collection request (ICR) for approval of the paperwork requirements in 
the study being conducted in Alaska, Study of Sharing to Assess 
Community Resilience. This notice also provides the public a second 
opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory 
requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by July 12, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or e-mail 
(OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov) directly to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of 
the Interior (1010--NEW). Please also submit a copy of your comments to 
MMS by any of the means below.
     Electronically: go to https://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry titled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter docket ID MMS-2010-OMM-0001 
then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments 
and view supporting and related materials available for this 
collection. The MMS will post all comments.
     E-mail, mail, or hand-carry comments to 
cheryl.blundon@mms.gov; Department of the Interior; Minerals Management 
Service; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, 
Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference ICR 1010-NEW in your comment and 
include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon 
to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the survey that requires the subject 
collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Study of Sharing to Assess Community Resilience.
    OMB Control Number: 1010--NEW.
    Abstract: The United States Congress, through the 1953 Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) [Pub. L. 95-372, section 20] and 
its subsequent amendments, requires the Secretary of the U.S. 
Department of the Interior (USDOI) to monitor and assess the impacts of 
resource development activities in Federal waters on human, marine, and 
coastal environments. The OCSLA amendments authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to conduct studies in areas or regions of sales to 
ascertain the ``environmental impacts on the marine and coastal 
environments of the outer Continental shelf and the coastal areas which 
may be affected by oil and gas development'' (43 U.S.C. 1346).
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321-4347) requires that all Federal Agencies use a systematic, 
interdisciplinary approach to ensure the integrated use of the natural 
and social sciences in any planning and decision making that may have 
an effect on the human environment. The Council on Environmental 
Quality's Regulations for Implementing Procedural Provisions of NEPA 
(40 CFR 1500-1508) state that the ``human environment'' is to be 
``interpreted comprehensively'' to include ``the natural and physical 
environment and the relationship of people with that environment'' (40 
CFR 1508.14). An action's ``aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, 
social or health'' effects must be assessed, ``whether direct, 
indirect, or cumulative'' (40 CFR 1508.8).
    The USDOI/Minerals Management Service (MMS) is the Federal 
administrative agency created both to conduct OCS lease sales and to 
monitor and mitigate adverse impacts that might be associated with 
offshore resource development. Within the MMS, the

[[Page 33325]]

Environmental Studies Program functions to implement and manage the 
responsibilities of research. This study will facilitate the meeting of 
USDOI/MMS information needs on subsistence food harvest and sharing 
activities in coastal Alaska, with specific focus on the Beaufort Sea 
Planning Area.
    Many previous MMS studies have documented aspects of subsistence 
harvest throughout coastal Alaska, including information about 
household subsistence harvests by quantity, location, species, and 
month of harvest. However, most of these studies are limited to 
representing the importance of subsistence to livelihoods in measures 
of pounds per capita harvested or average per capita harvest. The study 
departs from this standard approach by systematically examining the 
complex social dynamics of sharing and consuming resources after 
resources have been harvested. In Alaska Native communities, the 
distribution and exchange of subsistence resources operate under 
traditional institutions (informal rules; codes of conduct) for 
reciprocity in exchanging harvested resources and the cultural 
obligation to share. Changes in ecosystem services, which may result 
from industrial development and climate change, could affect 
subsistence activities with related effects on community sharing 
networks. This research will make an important contribution to the 
study of northern subsistence by providing baseline quantitative data 
on the structure of sharing networks and by identifying the 
characteristics of system components and key nodes of networks. From 
the findings of the empirical data, we will model thresholds of change 
in community food distribution networks to assess communities' 
vulnerabilities and resilience.
    The 36-month study involves assessing the vulnerabilities of two 
North Slope and one interior Alaska village to the potential effects of 
offshore oil and gas development on subsistence food harvest and 
sharing activities. We will investigate the resilience of local sharing 
networks that structure contemporary subsistence-cash economies, using 
survey research methods that involve residents of the three Alaskan 
communities.
    Potential number of households is approximately 349 from the three 
partner communities. We seek to interview the ``head'' of each 
household, and in some cases that may be two people. This study will be 
conducted in a face-to-face setting. The questionnaires will be 
administered under the guidelines of 45 CFR part 46. The introduction 
that will be covered with each participant stresses that participation 
is voluntary and anonymity will be maintained. Procedures designed to 
protect the confidentiality of the information provided will include 
the use of coded selection and identification numbers to protect the 
identities of respondents.
    The information to be gathered is intended to inform regulatory 
agencies, academic researchers, and partner communities about local 
social systems in a way that can shape development strategies and serve 
as an interim baseline for impact monitoring to compare against future 
conditions. Without this data, MMS will not have sufficient information 
to make informed leasing and development decisions for these areas.
    Frequency: Voluntary, one-time event, per study.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Potential number 
of households is approximately 349 from the three partner communities. 
We seek to interview the ``head'' of each household, and in some cases 
that may be two people.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The MMS 
estimates the total annual burden hours to be 524 rounded hours (349 
respondents x 1.5 hours per questionnaire = 523.5 burden hours).
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified no paperwork non-hour cost burdens associated with the 
collection of information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated 
to respond.
    Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et 
seq.) requires each agency `` * * * to provide notice * * * and 
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies 
concerning each proposed collection of information * * * '' Agencies 
must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    To comply with the public consultation process, on January 12, 
2010, we published a Federal Register notice (75 FR 1648) announcing 
that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided 
the required 60-day comment period. This notice also informed the 
public that they may comment at any time on the collection of 
information and provided the address to which they should send 
comments. We received three comments from the same person, but none of 
the comments were germane to the paperwork burden of the collection. To 
view the comments that were submitted to MMS, follow the instructions 
under ``Electronically'' in the ADDRESSES section.
    If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send 
your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the 
information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to 
ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments by 
July 12, 2010.
    Public Availability of Comments: Before including your address, 
phone number, e-mail 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.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz, (202) 
208-7744.

    Dated: June 5, 2010.
William S. Hauser,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-14122 Filed 6-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P